There are three methods in total to fix the issue of folders showing empty but files exist in Windows 10/8/7. The table below gives an overview of the solutions, and you can read on for the detailed steps.

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Solutions That Work Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Solution 1. Recover Files with Software The most effective way to reveal hidden and recover lost or missing files is by using a data recovery tool...Full Steps
Solution 2. Display the File in File Explorer Type "Folder Options" in the search bar, then click on "View". Select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives"...Full Steps
Solution 3. Show the File with Command Prompt Press Windows key + R simultaneously, type "cmd" in the search bar. Open Command Prompt...Full Steps

The folder appears empty but has a size overview.

"Strange! The folder appears empty, but the files are there. A few days ago, I transferred all my photos from a Canon camera to the computer and saved them in a folder on Drive D. Today when I clicked the folder, it was empty! I am sure that all the files were successfully transferred, but they got lost due to some unknown reason. To make matters worse, I didn't keep a copy on the camera storage. So, how can I recover files if the folder is showing up incorrectly as empty?"

Have you ever seen a folder that should contain files, but appears empty? As shown in the picture, the folder is empty.

The folder is showing empty but it should not be

But, in fact, this folder does have a size.

Folder shows empty but still takes up space

Imagine this: you create a folder to store certain files, like downloaded apps, photos, documents, or videos. One day, when you try to open it to view the contents, you find nothing in there, and you can't move anything to another storage location. What could have happened? How do we fix the issue of "This folder is empty"? Read on to find solutions.

Why does a folder appear empty but still contain files?

The fact that most of the files/folders are not showing in Windows 10, yet they are there, indicates that they have the Hidden attribute set, meaning that you've hidden the files, and that's why they don't show up in the folder. As a result, the folder appears empty but has a size.

A folder showing empty but contains files might be due to virus or malware infection that hides files, making the folder appear empty but with size. Other possible causes include improper ejection of external hard drive/USB flash drive/memory card, system update, or hard disk damage that prevents normal viewing. If your storage device is corrupted, first, try repairing the corrupted external hard drive / USB / SD card and then recover your data promptly with the following three solutions.

Video tutorial: How to recover lost files from your hard drive.

Solutions to Fix "This Folder Is Empty" and Recover Lost Files

There are three ways to fix a folder that appears empty but actually has files on Windows 10, 8, or 7. These methods involve showing hidden files in File Explorer, using the Command Prompt, and third-party data recovery software like Data Recovery Wizard.

[1] Recover Hidden Files from Empty Folder Using Data Recovery Software

The most effective way to show hidden and recover lost/missing files is by using a third-party data recovery tool. Here, we highly recommend that you try the Data Recovery Wizard tool to retrieve various deleted, hidden, or mysteriously vanished files. It requires no computer skills, and the recovery process is straightforward. Follow these three simple steps to find your lost files.

Step 1: Select the virus-infected drive to scan

Run an antivirus file recovery software on your Windows computer. Select the disk that was infected by the virus to scan for lost or hidden files. Please note that:

    • If the virus has hidden or deleted files on an HDD, it is recommended to install the software on a different partition or external USB drive to avoid overwriting data. • If the infected device is an external hard drive, a flash drive, or a memory card, it does not matter where you install the software – on a local disk of the computer.
Select the location to scan

【Step 2】Check all the scanned results.

The Data Recovery Wizard will immediately start scanning the virus-infected hard drive to find deleted or hidden files. To quickly locate the needed files, you can use the "Filter" or "Group by Type" options to display only images, videos, documents, emails, and so on.

Filter out deleted or hidden files

Step 3: Preview and recover the deleted/hidden files

Once the scan is complete, you can preview the files found. Select the ones you need and click the “Recover” button. You should save the recovered files to a different secure location on your computer or storage device, instead of the original spot where they were lost.

Recover files from virus attack

2. Show Hidden/Deleted Files in an Empty Folder in File Explorer

Microsoft provides a detailed guide to show hidden files in all versions of Windows, 10/8.1/8/7. While the procedure varies slightly in each version, the basic operation is the same – finding the “unhide” option in File Explorer. In Windows 10, you can unhide all files with these two steps.

Step 1: Type Folder Options in the search box on the taskbar, and then click View.

Step 2: Under Hidden files and folders, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives. Click OK.

The folder appears empty but the files actually exist

3. Displaying Missing Files in Empty Folders from the Command Prompt

One advanced way to view hidden files is through the command line. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Press Windows + R simultaneously to open the Run dialog box. Type `cmd` and run it as an administrator.

Step 2: Identify the drive with the missing files, for example, G:, and type in the command attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:\*.* and hit Enter. Refresh the folder and check if the files show up.

Restore empty folders using cmd

Manual command-line execution is suitable for computer professionals, as incorrect commands can do more harm than good. For safety and ease of use, we highly recommend trying a command-line alternative – CleanGenius. This handy tool lets you check and fix file system errors, enable/disable write protection, and update your system with a single click, without the need to type complex command lines.

With this one-click repair tool, you can show hidden files with these simple steps.

Step 1: Download the free CleanGenius tool.

Step 2: Launch CleanGenius, and then select “Optimize” from the left pane. Click on “File Visibility” from the right.

Show Hidden Files - Step 2

Step 3: Select the hard drive, then click “Execute.”

File Repair - Step 2

Step 4: Once done, click on this link to view the hidden files.

Show Hidden Files - Step 3

Conclusions

In a nutshell, don't panic when you find an empty folder that's supposed to contain files. You can surely restore all the lost folder contents by applying the above quick methods.