diff --git a/actix-files/CHANGES.md b/actix-files/CHANGES.md
index c4d56010f..afd4696e8 100644
--- a/actix-files/CHANGES.md
+++ b/actix-files/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Changes
 
 ## Unreleased - 2020-xx-xx
+* Optionally support hidden files/directories. [#1811]
+
+[#1811]: https://github.com/actix/actix-web/pull/1811
 
 
 ## 0.4.1 - 2020-11-24
diff --git a/actix-files/src/files.rs b/actix-files/src/files.rs
index a99b4699e..d0cac6aa4 100644
--- a/actix-files/src/files.rs
+++ b/actix-files/src/files.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ pub struct Files {
     mime_override: Option<Rc<MimeOverride>>,
     file_flags: named::Flags,
     guards: Option<Rc<dyn Guard>>,
+    hidden_files: bool,
 }
 
 impl fmt::Debug for Files {
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ impl Clone for Files {
             path: self.path.clone(),
             mime_override: self.mime_override.clone(),
             guards: self.guards.clone(),
+            hidden_files: self.hidden_files,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ impl Files {
             mime_override: None,
             file_flags: named::Flags::default(),
             guards: None,
+            hidden_files: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -213,6 +216,13 @@ impl Files {
 
         self
     }
+
+    /// Enables serving hidden files and directories, allowing a leading dots in url fragments.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn use_hidden_files(mut self) -> Self {
+        self.hidden_files = true;
+        self
+    }
 }
 
 impl HttpServiceFactory for Files {
@@ -251,6 +261,7 @@ impl ServiceFactory for Files {
             mime_override: self.mime_override.clone(),
             file_flags: self.file_flags,
             guards: self.guards.clone(),
+            hidden_files: self.hidden_files,
         };
 
         if let Some(ref default) = *self.default.borrow() {
diff --git a/actix-files/src/path_buf.rs b/actix-files/src/path_buf.rs
index 2f3ae84d4..dd8e5b503 100644
--- a/actix-files/src/path_buf.rs
+++ b/actix-files/src/path_buf.rs
@@ -15,12 +15,19 @@ impl FromStr for PathBufWrap {
     type Err = UriSegmentError;
 
     fn from_str(path: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        Self::parse_path(path, false)
+    }
+}
+
+impl PathBufWrap {
+    /// Parse a path, giving the choice of allowing hidden files to be considered valid segments.
+    pub fn parse_path(path: &str, hidden_files: bool) -> Result<Self, UriSegmentError> {
         let mut buf = PathBuf::new();
 
         for segment in path.split('/') {
             if segment == ".." {
                 buf.pop();
-            } else if segment.starts_with('.') {
+            } else if !hidden_files && segment.starts_with('.') {
                 return Err(UriSegmentError::BadStart('.'));
             } else if segment.starts_with('*') {
                 return Err(UriSegmentError::BadStart('*'));
@@ -96,4 +103,17 @@ mod tests {
             PathBuf::from_iter(vec!["seg2"])
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_path() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            PathBufWrap::parse_path("/test/.tt", false).map(|t| t.0),
+            Err(UriSegmentError::BadStart('.'))
+        );
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            PathBufWrap::parse_path("/test/.tt", true).unwrap().0,
+            PathBuf::from_iter(vec!["test", ".tt"])
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/actix-files/src/service.rs b/actix-files/src/service.rs
index cbf4c2d3b..dc4f2bd2c 100644
--- a/actix-files/src/service.rs
+++ b/actix-files/src/service.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ pub struct FilesService {
     pub(crate) mime_override: Option<Rc<MimeOverride>>,
     pub(crate) file_flags: named::Flags,
     pub(crate) guards: Option<Rc<dyn Guard>>,
+    pub(crate) hidden_files: bool,
 }
 
 type FilesServiceFuture = Either<
@@ -83,10 +84,11 @@ impl Service for FilesService {
             )));
         }
 
-        let real_path: PathBufWrap = match req.match_info().path().parse() {
-            Ok(item) => item,
-            Err(e) => return Either::Left(ok(req.error_response(e))),
-        };
+        let real_path =
+            match PathBufWrap::parse_path(req.match_info().path(), self.hidden_files) {
+                Ok(item) => item,
+                Err(e) => return Either::Left(ok(req.error_response(e))),
+            };
 
         // full file path
         let path = match self.directory.join(&real_path).canonicalize() {