Another way to hide files and folders in Windows XP

Posted on November 7, 2007 at 8:05 am

Make sure to read other posts from the Hide Files and Folders series!

How to hide files and folders in Windows XP – The easy way
How to create a secured and locked folder in Windows XP
Another way to hide files and folders in Windows XP
How to create an "Invisible" hidden drive in Windows

It seems like people just can’t get enough of how to create hidden folders or locked folders, etc in Windows. I’ve already written two guides on how to hide a folder, one using a very simple built-in feature of Windows and another by using some Windows scripts. In the latter article, I also mentioned a free program that you can use called Folder Hide to completely remove a folder from visibility.

But there’s yet ANOTHER way you can hide a files and folders which is similar to the first post I mentioned above, but is definitely way more secure. It actually involves using the command prompt and a built-in Windows function to change certain attributes of a file or folder. Once the attributes have been changed, the files cannot be seen by the system.

The reason I like this method is because it does not involve any third part software (if someone sees FOLDER HIDE, they might ask you what exactly you’re trying to hide from them) and it’s not as simplistic as the first method I wrote about where you simply change the properties of the file or folder to hidden and anyone can easily un-hide the folder by configuring the Windows Explorer setting to “Show Hidden Files and Folders”.

Here’s how you can create a hidden folder in Windows for free that’s pretty secure:

1. Go to Start, Run and then type in CMD to open the command prompt window

2. Now navigate to the parent folder of the folder you want to hide. If you want to hide a file, navigate to the folder where the file is located. For example, I want to hide a file in C:\Test, so I would type in the following:

CD C:\Test

3. Now type in the following command, replacing the word filename with the name of the file you want to hide.

attrib filename +s +h

And that’s it! Your file or folder is now completely hidden! It won’t show up in My Computer, it won’t show up if you browse via the command prompt and it won’t even show up if you select “Show all Hidden Files and Folders”.

If you want to un-hide the folder you simple follow the same steps, expect now you’ll run this command:

attrib filename -s -h

You can use this command for both files and for folders. In our example, if I wanted to hide C:\Test, I would go one level above to C:\ and then type in attrib Test +s +h.

You’ll definitely need to remember which folders or files you have hidden as there is no easy way of determining what’s missing, so make sure you remember what you hide!

So now you have three ways to make a folder or file in Windows XP invisible! Any questions, post a comment! Enjoy!

» Filed Under Computer Tips

Comments

32 Responses to “Another way to hide files and folders in Windows XP”

Syahid Ali said on : November 8th, 2007 at 12:54 am

yeah, folder hide is awesome. i use it everyday to hide my , err.. secret.

Madhur Kapoor said on : November 8th, 2007 at 11:15 am

Nice tip buddy . A cool way .

georgectr said on : November 10th, 2007 at 11:51 am

i have been searching for a while to find out about this method that my friend saw somewhere. This has a drawback as well +h option makes it hidden, +s option makes it system file, they can both be revealed in folder options
tools->folder options->uncheck hide protected operating system files and choose show hidden files and folders.

dinto said on : November 18th, 2007 at 8:25 am

Supper method for hiding the folder.

vniod said on : November 19th, 2007 at 4:45 am

sorry for my bad english

i have a problem when i uncheck the “hide files extention” option and check again, it trun on is, there any virus effect that do like this..

Prince said on : December 4th, 2007 at 3:30 am

Thank you very much! I saw your other methods but this is the best as I was searching for a manual way to hide a folder, so that even when the option ’show hidden files & folders’ is ticked, the file/folder should not show! Thank you very much for sharing this with us!

DonPEARTON said on : December 5th, 2007 at 10:33 pm

Good, sensible, FREE software – Keep up the tips

anil said on : January 4th, 2008 at 12:53 am

Above technique has one drawback.
If you go to tools->Folder Options->View and unckecked the “Hide protected operating system files” and clicke on “Apply” “Ok” then hidden files get visible.

akishore said on : January 4th, 2008 at 9:29 am

Anil, thanks for the tip there, I tried it out and it does show up if you uncheck the hide operating system files. Again, the best way to hide folders and files in XP would be to use FolderHide.

sohel said on : February 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am

attrib is a good fine command.

Thanks a lot

Roshan said on : February 25th, 2008 at 11:57 am

Is there is way to protect my file on a cd without ziping

vakeel ahmad said on : March 11th, 2008 at 10:16 pm

as anil said that one drawback have i.e

If you go to tools->Folder Options->View and unckecked the “Hide protected operating system files” and clicke on “Apply” “Ok” then hidden files get visible.

but one solution have………..

you disable the folder option with gpedit.msc

Arbeni said on : April 12th, 2008 at 5:54 am

Hi, I came across to this website looking a way to hide some files, but every time I type C:\filename and click ENTER or I type C:\attrib filename +s +h and click ENTER I get message where it states that I type it wrong or the path can not be found.
Thank you

Khurram said on : June 30th, 2008 at 5:41 am

i have a problem with my folder option, when i uncheck the “hide files extention” option and check again, it turn on. how i solve this.

ermon said on : July 1st, 2008 at 11:38 am

thanks a lot….very nice !!!!!!
Question…. i hide already the folder, but if someone open my files and seen to be empty and the delete.How can i can i restore the folder? Or before it be happen, i can do ‘ HIDE ‘ this folder to avoid confusing by somebody. Or there is a chance to set this folder to NOT to delete….thanks again..GODBLESS

somebody said on : July 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 pm

This actually isn’t a bad way to do it, in most cases… especially on any kind of windows.

The drawback is not that you can reveal it, anything can be revealed. The drawback is you shouldn’t be trying to hide anything on a computer where people are likely to actually check the settings that people mention, especially on Windows.

Even on linux or unix, which has more strict permissions, you can make it so there is NO WAY other people can view anything you own, UNLESS they have root (or sudo, or whatever). If they do, they can change your permissions regardless. And even failing that, there are drive forensic tools that will read the raw data straight from the drive, even after you ‘deleted’ something.

So THE best way to hide something… is not have it on the system in the first place.

Milan Chheda said on : July 16th, 2008 at 5:03 am

Awesome trick..This is really a nice trick to hide files and folders..No doubt there is a drawback as mentioned above by other commenters, but that drawback will only come into picture, if the person is geek or a computer freak.. A normal person cant think of this drawback, hence this trick is 100% worth and useful..

Ranblog said on : July 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

That’s a nice tip for hiding files and folders without using any 3rd party software, but it can easily be bypassed as mentioned by georgectr on 11/10/2007 .
If you would like a really cool, easy and secure way to hide files on your computer, you should check out http://cybercloak.com
They even have videos with other stuff hidden inside them!
The panic button is one of my favorite features.

It’s by far the best encryption program I have tried

spiderman said on : August 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

always i am getting “File not found”!! Any solutions?

stalinprasad said on : August 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 am

Awesome trick dude but how can i hide files in drive D
can u give me the command for d drive

Reshin k h said on : December 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 am

I want hide a folder or a file. what can i do…..

harish said on : December 8th, 2008 at 1:56 am

thank u very much simply genius

pravin said on : December 22nd, 2008 at 7:13 am

if i am using portable hard disk, and use one pc to hide the file/folder, can it be opened on other pc (both xp or higher)

NileshP said on : December 27th, 2008 at 9:27 am

Very good thank’s a lot………

tania said on : December 30th, 2008 at 9:42 am

Dear writer,

thank you for useful article.

could you please explain completely what happens to the file/folder when we enter those commands?
why isn’t it shown if we choose “Show Hidden Files and Folders” option???
is it really hidden or something else has happened to it?

thanks in advance for your answers,
tania

Lifeblood said on : January 7th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

You make the statement,

“And that’s it! Your file or folder is now completely hidden! It won’t show up in My Computer, it won’t show up if you browse via the command prompt and it won’t even show up if you select “Show Hidden Files and Folders”.”

But that isn’t true.

If you go to My Computer\Tools\Folder Options\View Tab\

and select “Show Hidden Files and Folders”,

it DOES make the folder visible in My Computer.

It isn’t hidden at all, which makes this whole suggestion completely wrong, and worthless.

ilplvm said on : January 30th, 2009 at 3:24 pm

you are so smart.
I have been a computer programmer for more than 8 years.

Thank you very much for your post.

dwm said on : February 13th, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Ummm. In your same command prompt, typing ‘DIR /AS /AH’ will show you your ‘hidden’ files. Not really that secure.

Richi said on : October 21st, 2009 at 1:11 am

Hey, guys, it’s not a reliable method! Third party software is the best solution for this problem. All modern utilities must have a STEALTH mode, for example like in Universal Shield from Everstrike Software.

You can download it here: everstrike.com/

Danny said on : October 29th, 2009 at 8:30 pm

When I try to do it it comes up with parameter not correct

NosovK said on : October 30th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

There is another way to hide anything on ntfs system. Using file streams. Ussualy we use ‘data’ stream, but you can write to another. I use little util for this:
http://code.google.com/p/ntfs-stream-writer/
but it’s console, and needs some manipulations with bat-files for everyday usage (

Denis said on : November 14th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Not as secure as using of some great tools from Badevlad Software Company (http://www.bdvnotepad.com) or some other security related.