Hiding folders in Windows 7. Three ways to hide folders in Windows: simple, advanced and cool

Useful tips

The problem of protecting information from prying eyes is very relevant if relatives, colleagues or friends have access to your computer. You probably have files that are not intended for public viewing. This article will discuss how to hide and protect such information.

The methods that I will show will not hide the folder from an advanced PC user, but the protection will be reliable from inexperienced users. Encryption can provide effective protection. How to do it is written at the end of this instruction.

I would like to note that there are more effective methods of data protection. For example, . Still, simply hiding is also one of the methods. The usage examples will take place on a Windows 7 system.

Hide in Windows Settings

The easiest way is to disable showing hidden folders. Anyone familiar with this setting can easily detect the hidden folder.

To do this, go to Start menu >> Control Panel ( make it look like big icons) >> Folder options.

Then go to the “View” tab and check the “Do not show hidden files, folders and drives” checkbox as in the image below.

Now you need to go to properties. Right-click to bring up the context menu and select it.

Here, check the “Hidden” attribute and save the result.

This will hide the folder. To see it, you will need to turn on the display of hidden elements again.

This video shows another method using num numbers on the keyboard ( may be missing), which will make the name and icon invisible on the desktop. Perfect for use with other methods.

Change your appearance

The whole point is to change the name and icon. I'll show you with my own example. This is what my hidden folder looks like.

To do this, go to properties.

Select the “Settings” tab and in it find the “Change Icon” button as in the image below.

Select the icon that looks like a printer ( or any other you like) and rename the folder accordingly to completely mask it.

Outwardly, no one will guess that you have any files stored there. Can be effectively combined with the other two.

Advanced method

In this method, you need to pack the folder and image into an archive. Change the default opening program and change the icon. Double-clicking will open the image, and opening with an archiver will open the hidden folder.

Before this, you should prepare. In the folder options, make extensions invisible if they are visible.

Now find any ordinary picture. Select it along with the folder and create an archive.

Then rename it to the image name and go to properties. Here you will need to change the application with which the archive will be opened.

Select the application you usually use to open images.

Half the job is done, but the icon looks unnatural. We need to fix this. Download the utility for changing icons and run it. It does not require installation. Go to file extension.

Here, in the search, enter the extension of your archive. I have a ZIP.

Now select the icon that appears on the rest of the images.

It should look something like mine. Now, to get to the hidden folder, select from the context menu >> open with >> Windows Explorer ( or archiver). When you simply open it, a picture will be shown.

But unfortunately there are 2 drawbacks:

The icon and program for opening changes for all archives with a certain extension.
The file type is not hidden in properties.

If these shortcomings do not bother you, then feel free to use it.

Forbidden file program

This program does not hide, but encrypts the folder, thereby ensuring reliable information protection. Very convenient and can be used in conjunction with other methods. The main thing is not to forget the decryption password.

You can only gain access using a password and this program. If you forget it, you will lose your files forever.

I will show an example of use on my folder ( sitemozg). Download it and. Run the source. A window will appear in front of you in which you need to specify the path to the folder.

Specify the path.

Now enter your password and check the box to delete the original file. Perform encryption.

Since the program does not require installation, it can be stored on a flash drive.

The extension .ciphered will be added to all files stored in this folder.

The opening process is just as simple. Launch the program and in the “Decryption” tab, specify the path to the folder, and then enter the password. Click "Decrypt" as in the image below.

Then go into it and you will see that the extension ( .ciphered) is gone and you can safely work with files. Don't forget to encrypt again when you're done.

Which method did you use?

Sometimes you need to hide important or confidential information from prying eyes. Moreover, you need to not only set a password for a folder or file, but make them completely invisible. This need also arises if the user wants to hide system files. So, let's figure out how to make a file or folder non-displayable.

All methods of hiding files and folders on a PC can be divided into two groups, depending on what will be used: third-party software or internal capabilities of the operating system. It should also be noted that before using many of these methods, you should check that the ability to use the hide attribute is configured in the OS itself. If the application of invisibility is disabled, then you should change the settings in the folder options at the global level. How to do this? is covered in a separate article. We'll talk about how to make a specific directory or file invisible.

Method 1: Total Commander

First of all, let's consider the option of using a third-party program, namely the popular file manager Total Commander.

If the display of hidden elements in Total Commander is disabled, then the objects will become invisible even through the interface of this file manager.

But, in any case, through Windows Explorer Objects hidden in this way should not be visible if the settings in the folder parameters are set correctly.

Method 2: Object Properties

Now let's see how to hide an element through the properties window using the built-in operating system tools. First, let's look at hiding a folder.

Now let's see how to make a separate file hidden through the properties window, using standard OS tools for these purposes. In general, the algorithm of actions is very similar to the one that was used to hide folders, but with some nuances.

Method 3: Free Hide Folder

But, as you might guess, by changing attributes it is not difficult to make an object hidden, but it is just as easy to display it again if desired. Moreover, even third-party users who know the basics of working on a PC can do this freely. If you need to not only hide objects from prying eyes, but also make sure that even a targeted search for an intruder does not produce results, then the free specialized application Free Hide Folder will help in this case. This program can not only make selected objects invisible, but also protect the hidden attribute from changes with a password.

After launching the installation file, a welcome window opens. Click "Next".

In the next window you need to indicate which directory on your hard drive the application will be installed into. By default this is a directory "Programs" on disk C. It is better not to change the specified location unless absolutely necessary. So click "Next".

In the program group selection window that opens, click again "Next".

In the next window, the Free Hide Folder installation procedure starts directly. Click "Next".

The application installation process is in progress. After completion, a window appears indicating the successful completion of the procedure. If you want the program to be launched immediately, make sure that next to the parameter "Launch Free Hide Folder" there was a flag. Click "Finish".

A window opens "Set Password", where needed in both fields ( "New Password" And "Confirm Password") specify the same password twice, which in the future will serve to activate the application, and therefore to access hidden elements. The password can be arbitrary, but preferably as strong as possible. To do this, when compiling it, you should use letters in different registers and numbers. Under no circumstances use your name, the names of close relatives, or dates of birth as a password. At the same time, you need to make sure that you don't forget the code expression. After entering the password twice, press "OK".

A window opens "Registration". You can enter your registration code here. Don't let this scare you. This condition is not required. So just click "Skip".

Only after this does the main Free Hide Folder window open. To hide an object on your hard drive, click "Add".

A window opens "Browse folders". Move to the directory where the element you want to hide is located, select this object and click "OK".

After this, an information window opens informing you about the desirability of creating a backup copy of the protected directory. This is a matter for each user individually, although, of course, it is better to be on the safe side. Click "OK".

The address of the selected object will be displayed in the program window. Now it's hidden. This is evidenced by the status "Hide". However, it is also hidden from the Windows search engine. That is, if an attacker tries to find the directory through a search, he will not succeed. In the same way, you can add links to other elements that need to be made invisible to the program window.

To make a backup, which has already been discussed above, you need to mark the object and click on "Backup".

A window will open "Export Hide Folder Data". It requires you to specify the directory in which the backup copy will be placed as an element with the FNF extension. In field "File name" enter the name you want to assign to it, and then press "Save".

To make an object visible again, select it and click "Unhide" on the toolbar.
As we can see, after this action the object attribute was changed to "Show". This means that it has now become visible again.
It can be hidden again at any time. To do this, mark the address of the element and click the active button "Hide".
The object can be completely removed from the application window. To do this, mark it and click on "Remove".
A window will open asking if you really want to remove the item from the list. If you are confident in your actions, then click "Yes". After deleting an element, no matter what status the object has, it will automatically become visible. At the same time, in order to hide it again using Free Hide Folder, if necessary, you will have to add the path again using the button "Add".
If you want to change the password to access the application, then click on the button "Password". After that, in the windows that open, enter the current password sequentially, and then twice the code expression to which you want to change it.

Of course, using Free Hide Folder is a more reliable way to hide folders than using the standard options or Total Commander, since changing the invisibility attributes requires knowing the password set by the user. When trying to make an element visible in the standard way through the properties window, the attribute "Hidden" will simply be inactive, which means that changing it will be impossible.

Method 4: Using the Command Line

You can also hide items in Windows 7 using the command line ( cmd). This method, like the previous one, does not make it possible to make an object visible in the properties window, but, unlike it, it is performed exclusively by built-in Windows tools.

But, as we remember, if you need to make the directory visible again, this cannot be done in the usual way through the properties window. Visibility can be restored using the command line. To do this, you just need to enter almost the same expression as for making invisibility, but only in front of the attributes instead of the sign «+» put «-» . In our case we get the following expression:

attrib -h -s "D:\New folder (2)\New folder"

After entering the expression, do not forget to click Enter, after which the directory will become visible again.

Method 5: Changing the Icon

Another option to make a directory invisible involves achieving this goal by creating a transparent icon for it.

This method is good because when using it you don’t need to bother with attributes. And, besides, most users, if they try to find hidden elements on your computer, are unlikely to think that this particular method was used to make them invisible.

As you can see, in Windows 7 there are many options for making objects invisible. They are feasible both by using internal OS tools and by using third-party programs. Most methods offer to hide objects by changing their attributes. But there is also a less common option that simply makes the directory transparent without changing the attributes. The choice of a specific method depends on the convenience of the user, as well as on whether he simply wants to hide materials from casual eyes, or wants to protect them from the targeted actions of intruders.

Users of Windows 7 and other OS editions from Microsoft can set the attributes of any folder, except for some system ones.

What is an attribute

An attribute is metadata describing additional parameters of a file/directory. Compared to other metadata related to folders, the concept of “attribute” does not include the date of creation and modification of the directory, or access rights to it.

For the average user, the presence of such metadata means that he will be able to make directories in Windows invisible in Explorer and file managers, archive and index files located in the directory, as well as compress data to save disk space and encrypt the contents of the directory. From the entire list, we are interested in the ability to hide a folder.

How to assign attributes

In any Windows released in the last 15 years, creating hidden directories is extremely easy, so any user can handle the task. Let's look at how this is done, in several ways.

Using the proposed method to hide confidential data is unreliable: any user will be able to detect hidden folders and the information they contain. Therefore, the method can only be used to temporarily hide data from users who are less knowledgeable about the intricacies of the Windows file system, for example, very young users.

Launch Explorer and open the folder or drive where the target directory (which we want to hide) is located.
Using the context menu or the “Alt+Tab” combination, call up its context menu.

In the window that opens, on the first tab “General”, find the “Attributes” field located at the bottom and check the box next to “Hidden”.

Click “Apply”.
When a window appears to confirm the change of attributes, select a satisfying condition and click “OK”.

We go back to the folder where our hidden object is located, or update the contents of the explorer by clicking F5.

Folders are painted in a less bright color. This symbolizes that everything worked out.

Activate the option to not display hidden directories

To ensure that directories assigned the “Hidden” attribute are not visible in Windows Explorer, you must disable the option to show hidden objects.

Call up the Explorer window by going to any directory, disk, or launching “My Computer”.
Call the main menu item called “Arrange”.

If it is not there, press the hardware “Alt” key.

Activate the “View” tab and move down the list of additional parameters.
Move the checkbox to the “Do not show...” position so that hidden directories become invisible to the user.

To make Windows start visualizing objects with the “Hidden” attribute again, move the switch to “Show...”.

Save the new settings for displaying hidden objects by clicking “Apply”.
We get acquainted with the information in the warning dialog and take note of the information provided.

Close the settings window.

Working with hidden directories in Total Commander

When using a file manager on a computer as an alternative to a primitive explorer, Total Commander and other analogues also allow you to change the attributes of directories and files located in them.

Move the cursor to the required directory or select it.
Call the dialog for changing object attributes in Total Commader.
Check the “h Hidden” option.

Click "OK". The catalog display color has changed.

To enable the option of not displaying hidden objects, call “Settings”, located in the “Configuration” item of the main menu.

On the “Panel Contents” tab, deactivate the “Show hidden files” option and save the new configuration.

We will not consider working with attributes via the command line due to the fact that this method of hiding folders will seem difficult to the vast majority of beginners.

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Good day! Lately, I have been increasingly asked how to hide a folder on a computer from children or unwanted eyes, so I decided to write a short article on how to independently make your folder disappear from visibility and not provoke anyone to look into it.

Regardless of where it is located, and without resorting to third-party programs, which in the future we will definitely consider how to use them, but now about the important things. There are a lot of options for hiding a folder, but we will look at the two simplest methods.

Keep in mind that none of the considered methods for hiding a folder on a computer will hide your data from a user who is good at using a computer.

How to hide a folder on your computer in Windows 7 without resorting to third-party programs.

Using this method, you can hide absolutely any folder, regardless of its location on the computer. We will look at how to hide a folder on the desktop using Windows 7.

Step 1. Click right click on the folder that you want to hide from prying eyes, then select Properties

Step 2. On the General tab at the bottom check the Hidden box and press the button OK or Apply and then on OK.

Your folder has all disappeared.

How to hide a folder on your computer in Windows 7 using a life hack

To hide a folder in this way, we also do not need additional programs; you and I can hide the folder on the computer using a little trick.

So, let's get started.

Step 1. Create a new folder on your desktop, or select your existing folder.

Step 2. Click right click on the newly created folder, select Rename, press on the keyboard Alt key while holding down the Alt key, dial 0160 on the additional numeric keypad, release the Alt key and press the Enter key. Our folder's name has disappeared, but the folder is still visible. Next, what we need to do with this folder is to change the stash of this folder. Let's move on.

Step 3. Click right click on our untitled folder, then select in the context menu Properties, in the window that opens, go to the top menu - Settings

Click on the button Change icon. We scroll to the right the shortcuts offered to us, looking for the transparent icon we need, in our case this is an empty area, select it with the left mouse button, then we need click on the OK button, as shown in the figure below.

Today I will tell you how to hide a folder in Windows 7. There are several hiding methods to accomplish this task and all of them are simple. After reading this article, you will know at least 2 ways how to do this.

Hiding a folder using standard Windows 7 tools

If you are not familiar with any method to hide a folder, then I recommend this method to you, because it differs from others in its simplicity and speed, as well as the absence of the need to install any additional programs.

First you need to set the “Hidden” property for the folder itself that you want to make invisible to others. Right-click on the folder icon and click on “Properties”. A window will open in which, in the “General” tab, at the bottom, check the box next to “Hidden”, as in the picture below.

When you click OK, you will see that the folder icon has become paler than usual. But this is what you see now. But if you do not have settings specified to see hidden folders, then the folder that you made hidden will disappear completely.

How to permanently hide a folder? You need to go to the “Control Panel” menu and select “Folder Options”. If this option is not there, select “View: Small Icons” at the top right. Next, look in the “View” tab, check the “Do not show hidden files, folders and drives” checkbox and click “OK”.

When this is done, your folder with the Hidden attribute will become invisible, and now I will tell you how to find the hidden folder in this case. All you need is to go back to the “Control Panel” menu and the “Folder Options” item and in the “View” tab, select “Show hidden files, folders and drives”. In the screenshot above, this item is below. Now you will be able to see the folder again in the same place where it was before. If you want to make the folder visible again, then go to “Properties” again and uncheck “Hidden”, that’s all you need to know about how to view hidden folders.

Hiding folders using the command line

Contrary to the name, this option to hide a folder is no less simple. To learn how to do this using the Command Prompt, you first need to launch Command Prompt, which lets you specify commands for Windows using special sets of commands and parameters. Windows will decipher the commands and perform the desired action. Click on the “Start” menu and enter cmd in the search bar and click on the program that appears with the same name.

Now you need to enter the command in the window that opens.

attrib +h “Folder address”

The folder address must be replaced with your path to the folder; to find it out, you need to go to the folder and click once on the empty space in the top line of Explorer. The path that appears needs to be selected and copied, then you can paste the path into the command line without typing on the keyboard, right-click on the command line and select “Paste”. The Ctrl+V combination does not work here, so you can only paste the address using the mouse.

Press “Enter” and now you need to select “Do not show hidden files and folders”, as in the previous case, so that the folder is completely invisible. And you can also make it visible, as in the previous case. Now you know how you can hide folders and files, but to make it visible you can type the command:

attrib -h “Folder address” and press "Enter".

Here we have looked at another way to make hidden folders visible.

Making an invisible folder on the desktop

Now I will tell you how to hide a folder on the desktop without changing its properties. Although you can hide a folder on your desktop using the method described above. To do this, you need to place the folder on your desktop, right-click on it and select “Properties”. In the window that opens, in the “Settings” tab, select “Change icon”.

From all the icons, select transparent, click “OK” and “OK” again.

If this does not happen, copy the folder with the changed icon to another drive, delete it on the desktop, and then move it back and the icon will disappear. Now we need to remove the title. To do this, right-click on the folder icon and click “Rename”. Erase the name and type 255 while pressing ALT. This will allow you to set the folder name to a space, which means the name will no longer be visible.

Finding this folder will be easy only if you know that it exists, and everyone else will only see an empty space on the screen!