There can be many times when you want to hide a folder from your Windows PC. Hiding files ensures that others do not have access to some of your data. The method to hide files or folders in Windows is an easy one and is a great way to keep folders away from parents or people who know only the basic functions of a computer.
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As your folder will be hidden, they may never bother to look for it especially when you hide it deep in operating system directories. You should not create the new folder that you want to hide at some common locations like desktop or My Documents. You can create it under C:\Program Files\Common Files and the like.
Here are the simple steps to hide files or folders in Windows:
- The first step is to create folder in a strange location.
- Right click the folder and select Properties.
- Enable the checkbox named Hidden and Click Apply button to hide the file instantly.
- Refresh (Ctrl +F5) to reflect the change.
It is possible that the folder may continue to appear, and if this happens, you need to change the option called “Show hidden files and folders.” To do this, click on My Computer and from the menu, Click on Tools and then Folder Options. In Windows 7, you can click Organize and then Folder and Search Options. You can also go to Control Panel, and click on Folder Options.
Click the View tab and choose the button that says “Don’t show hidden files, folders or drives.” Click OK to save the changes. You should also make sure that the boxes that say Hide extensions for known file types and Hide protected operating system files are checked.
Hide files or folders in Windows using third-party application:
Free Hide Folder
Free Hide Folder is a free application that lets you hide as many folders as you want. Just select the folders that you want to hide and click Hide button in the main menu. Your selected folders will magically disappear. It is an easy to use app and is effective to keep your sensitive files protected.
To get access to hidden files or folders, you will pass through the program which requires a pre-selected password. It offers an efficient way to hide files or folders in Windows but comes with small usability issues.
If you know some other ways to hide files or folders in Windows, please feel free to share them with us in the comments.
