How to List All Files in Ubuntu Including Hidden

Managing files in Ubuntu often requires viewing hidden configuration files that are normally concealed from standard directory listings. This guide explains the specific command-line instructions needed to reveal every file within your current working directory, ensuring you can access system settings and user configurations without difficulty.

In Linux systems like Ubuntu, hidden files are identified by a dot (.) at the beginning of their filename. The standard list command does not show these files by default to keep the directory view clean. To see them, you need to use the ls command with a specific flag.

Open your terminal and navigate to the desired directory. Type the following command and press Enter:

ls -a

The -a flag stands for “all.” This instructs the terminal to display all non-dot files, dot files, and multiple-dot files. You will now see entries like .bashrc or .profile alongside your regular files.

If you require more detailed information such as file permissions, ownership, and size along with the hidden files, combine the flags using this command:

ls -la

This combines the “all” flag with the “long listing format” flag. These commands provide complete visibility of your directory contents within the Ubuntu operating system.