How to hide or create a hidden folder in Windows 10, instructions

The Windows operating system allows you to create folders without a name or icon. The average user will not see such a folder on the desktop without selecting all the elements. The ability to create an invisible folder was available in previous versions of the operating system and works perfectly in the latest Windows 10. It’s definitely also worth paying attention to the ability to protect a folder with a password in Windows 10.

Do you want to hide something? Hide it in plain sight. This is exactly the situation we will talk about today. This article will tell you how to make an invisible folder in Windows 10. It’s worth noting right away that this method differs from the usual way of changing folder attributes in Windows 10.

How to see full file names in Windows 10?

Show full folder path in File Explorer in Windows 10

1. In File Explorer, select View from the toolbar.
2. Click Options.
3. Select Change Folder and Search Options to open the Folder Options dialog box.
4. Click View to open the View tab.
5. In advanced settings, select the Display full path in title bar checkbox.
6. Click Apply. ...
7. Click OK to close the dialog box.

22 Sep. 2022

Applying a transparency effect

First, let's look at the option of creating a transparent folder using standard system tools.

So, let's follow the instructions:

1. We right-click on the place where we would like to create an invisible folder, for example, on the desktop and select “Create - Folder”.

2. Now click on it with the left mouse and press “F2” to rename it. You can also rename it using the context menu, which is called up by right-clicking on the object.

3. We delete the previous name using the “Backspace” key, then press the “Alt” button and, without releasing it, press the numbers “0160” or “255”. You must use the numbers that are on the right side of the keyboard next to the “Num Lock” key, otherwise the method will not work.

4. The work is half completed, our folder has acquired an invisible name (name).
5. Right-click on it again and open the “Properties” section.

6. Go to the “Settings” section and click “Change icon”.

7. In the window that appears, find the transparent (on a white background) icon, select it and click “Ok”.

8. In the properties window, click “Apply” without clicking “OK” and close it.

9. Now if we select the place where the directory was located, we will see it.

There are laptops with a stripped-down keyboard that may not have a number pad on the right side. In this case, an on-screen keyboard present in each system or purchasing a separate panel can help.

Thus, we achieved the effect of absolute transparency.

Third Party Applications

There are a huge number of applications that allow you to hide or set passwords for directories. The most popular of them are WinMend Folder Hidden and Easy File Locker. Their operating principle is similar, so let’s take the first program as an example and create an invisible folder on the computer desktop using it.

I show how the utility works using Windows 10 as an example.

1. Download the application from the Internet, install it on your computer and launch it.
2. After launch, specify the user password.
3. Move to the “Hide File” section and drag the desired object into an empty area of ​​the window.
4. Now if we look at the desktop, we will see that the folder has disappeared. In order to enter it, in the program, in the “Operation” parameter, you need to select the “Show” option and then the directory will open.

The program also has a number of other functions, for example, you can set a password for a directory, encrypt a separate file, or hide USB. So, I recommend it.

Detailed video on the topic

• 5 ways to hide a folder in Windows 10, as well as how to find and see hidden folders

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About the authorVictor Trunov

IT specialist with 10 years of experience. I professionally repair and configure computers and laptops. In my free time from work, I run my blog “Onoutbooks.ru” and help readers solve computer problems.

You may have used the "hidden folder" option before, but have you ever thought that you can make a folder invisible?

Before I tell you how you can create an invisible folder in Windows 10, I'll tell you why you should create one.

Most will encounter numerous situations that require keeping data secure.

Additionally, there are millions of hackers always looking for unauthorized access and theft of sensitive information.

• How to password protect a folder in Windows 10

Luckily, Windows 10 allows you to make a folder invisible and protect your files from being accessible to others.

Although this method is quite simple, it is very useful. Once you make a folder invisible, no one will be able to see it until it is selected.

You don't need to password protect it if you know how to make it invisible. To do this, follow the steps described below.

What to do if the transparency effect is not fully applied

Some users, having completed the above steps, remain perplexed as to why this effect applied to everyone, but not to them. Typically, this happens for several reasons.

Couldn't solve the problem? Contact a specialist for help!

Solve my problem

1. Windows visual effects are not configured correctly. To check this, click on the “Computer” icon, go to its “Properties”, then open the “Advanced Settings” section, move to the “Advanced” subsection and in the “Performance” item click on the “Settings” button. Activate only the items indicated in the screenshot, then click “Ok” and close this window.
2. Non-working keys. Make sure the required keys work. If you use the numbers on the right side of the keyboard, where the Num Lock key is located, then this number pad should be turned on. The panel turns on the “Num Lock” key, after which, as a rule, the power indicator on top should light up.
3. It happens that after changing the icon, it does not become transparent. Then it should be changed to another transparent one, as we did in paragraph 7 from the previous section.
4. System errors. If none of the above helps, check the integrity of important files.

After fixing the problems, try making the folder invisible again. If this does not help, then most likely the issue is with the build of Windows 10, 8 or Windows 7 that you are using. Install another or update the current OS version.

How to remove the name of a folder on the desktop?

Right-click on the new folder and select “Rename.” Delete the text that reads “New Folder” by holding down the Alt key and entering 0160 on the numeric keypad (the numbers above the letters portion of the keyboard). Release the Alt key and click “Login.” Now you have a folder with no name.

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Returning the display

There are times when an object is lost or the hiding function is no longer needed, then a new task arises - to restore the display. This is quite easy to do.

1. At the intended location of the folder, press the combination “CTRL + A”. All objects will be selected, including the seemingly invisible directory.
2. Open its “Properties” and in the “Settings” section click “Change icon”.
3. Select any of the pictures and click “Ok”.
4. In the main window, click “Apply”.
5. All that remains is to select the object with the mouse, use the “F2” key and give it a new name.

As you can see, everything is extremely simple.

Remove from search

Hidden objects can be found through Search in the Start menu or through File Explorer. Let's rid the system and advanced users of this opportunity.

1. In the line “Run (launched by the combination Win + R)” write rundll32.exe shell32.dll, Control_RunDLL srchadmin.dll. The period at the end is optional.

2. Click “Edit” and uncheck the sections that we do not want to index.

3. Go to “Advanced - File Types”. Uncheck RAR, ZIP archives and other items.

4. Without closing the window, go to “Indexing Options”. Click “Rebuild”. We confirm the action.

Indexing will be disabled.

How to hide a folder using the command line?

Via the command line At the command line, enter the attrib command with the +h switch, then specify the path to the file or folder

that you are going
to hide
. To make hidden files visible again, use the attrib command with the -h switch. That's all.

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Alternative option

You can also use an alternative option - first create a regular folder, and then apply an invisibility effect to it, and it will simultaneously be applied to the text (name). This is very convenient compared to the previous method. This is done in several ways; let’s look at each of them.

First method:

1. Open the “Properties” of the desired object.
2. In the “General” tab, activate the “Hidden” item and click “Ok”.
3. If the directory contains any files, a notification will additionally be displayed in which you must select the option to apply changes to the current directory and all files attached to it, after which we save the settings “OK”.
4. Done, all that remains is to check the result.

I will tell you below how to eventually find such an object.

Second method:

Couldn't solve the problem? Contact a specialist for help!

Solve my problem

1. We launch the command line, write “cd desktop” (without quotes) into the console, provided that the required directory is on the desktop and press “Enter”.
2. Execute the command “attrib +h /s /d sample”, where “sample” is the directory name.
3. Enter the sample directory using the “cd sample” command. If the directory name consists of several words, you need to write its name in quotation marks, for example, “sample one”.
4. Now enter “attrib +h /s /d” into the console and press “Enter”. This way we will make invisible all files and folders that are located inside the sample directory.

Now let's talk about how to return the settings to their original state.