How to hide files on your Computer

Computers has become essential part of our daily life as well as our business too. We always wish to keep some secret files in our computer that only we can access. Some files or folder or complete part of hard dive has to keep confidential from strangers either family members or friends. Just follow the article and learn how to keep your files hidden in computer. -



A lots people don't want to use any other software or don't know to use them even there are a lots of methods to do it. I am going to give a list of few among them. Check out the complete tutorials for common user to hide files and folder on desktop in various operating system. -

1. Common User Press Key Method :-



a. Go to your targeted drive or file or folder.
b. Create a blank folder there.
c. Go to targeted file or folder or drive.
d. Click windowkey+R : Run command dialog box will appear.
e. Type "cmd" and press enter. A command prompt window will display.
f. Type "attrib +s +h C:target file" and press enter.

Now your "target file" folder is hidden. Even you can’t view the "target file" folder normally. Wheneveryou need to see themjust replace the same command '+' with '-' on both flags’s’ and 'h' to view this folder once again.

2. Operating System (OS) Windows files and folders hide :-

A. In Windows XP :-





a. Go to My Computer or Windows Explorer.
b. Go to Tools menu.
c. Choose Folder Options
d. View tab in the Folder Options window.
e. Go to Advanced settings
f. Choose text area ( locate the Hidden files and folders category )
g. Select Do not show hidden files and folders radio button .
h. Hit OK at the bottom of the Folder Options window.

Now your targeted files and folders even drive have gone to hidden attribute and no one can check them normally. You can test it from searching for or navigating to the locations and you have noticed the files or folders no longer exist. Actually the Files and folders that are marked as hidden are now "invisible" to you but they do still exist for advance mode.

You can view your hidden file or folder by checking

a. My Computer--->>
b. Tools menu --->>
c. Choose Folder Options-->>
d. Go to the View tab in the Folder Options windows-->>
e. Advanced settings: text area-->>
f. Locate the Hidden files and folders category -->>
g. Go to the show hidden files and folders radio windows-->>
h. OK-->>

Check your targeted files and folder. But you can do this directly from navigating to the C:targeted files sand folder. You will see a number a number of folders beginning with $NtUninstallKB and access your targeted files or folders even drive too.

B. In VISTA :-





a. Start button
b. Control Panel.
c. Appearance
d. Personalization link
e. Folder Options link
f. View tab in the Folder Options
g. Advanced settings: section,
h. Locate the Hidden files and folders category
i. Go do not show hidden files and folders radio button window
j. Click OK at the bottom of the Folder Options window

No files and folders will show with the hidden attribute turned on in any search or folder view by any user even you too.

C. In WINDOWS 7 :-




a. Start button
b. Control Panel
c. Appearance
d. Personalization link
e. Folder Options link
f. View tab on the Folder Options window
g. Advanced settings
h. Locate the Hidden files and folders category

D. In Windows :-



a. Settings
b. Control Panel
c. Run
d. Type folder option
e. Show hidden files and folder
f. Check to the don't show hidden files and folder or drives
g. Select OK or Apply




a. Create a folder in your “Home” directory
b. Type following:mkdir .targetdfolder
c. Go to your home directory
d. Click on Go
e. Go to Folder. such as type the following:~/.targetedfolder [replace targetedfolder with your own]
f. Put stuff in your hidden folder
g. Hit enter

You have finished hiding your folders or files or drives. But keep in mind your hiding stuffs for future access. To view the hidden stuffs, you have follow similar steps but step no (v) type following: ~/.hidden folders/hidden drives.

Verdict :-

Hidden files and folders does not delete anything from your computer either it is in Windows or MAC Ox. It means Files and folders that are marked as hidden are simply no longer visible for normal viewers or users. I have listed only popular methods to hide files and folders or drives. Do list in comments if you know any other methods too.