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!

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» Filed Under Computer Tips

13 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