If you don't want other users to find your personal files or folders, you can put them in hidden folders on your computer. You have the possibility to create a hidden folder on a Windows computer or a Mac, but also on an Android phone or tablet. While it's technically impossible to create a hidden folder on an iPhone, a flaw in iOS 11 allows you to temporarily remove an apps folder from the Home screen without deleting apps from the phone.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Create a hidden folder on Windows
Step 1. Open File Explorer
Click the File Explorer folder icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen or press ⊞ Win + E.
- You can also open File Explorer by typing file explorer in the start menu and then clicking File Explorer in search results.
Step 2. Choose a location
On the far left of the File Explorer window, click on the folder where you want to create your invisible folder.
- For example, if you want to create a new folder in the Documents folder, click Documents.
Step 3. Right click on an empty space in the folder
A drop-down menu will open.
Step 4. Select New
This option is at the top of the drop-down menu and displays a context menu.
Step 5. Click Folder
The option Case is at the top of the context menu. Click on it to create a new folder in the location you selected.
Step 6. Rename your folder
Type the name you want to give to your invisible folder, then press Enter.
Step 7. Right click on the folder
A drop-down menu with options for your case will open.
Step 8. Select Properties
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu and opens the folder properties window.
Step 9. Check the Hidden box
The box Hidden is located at the bottom of the properties window.
Step 10. Click OK at the bottom of the window
If your folder options allow you to see hidden folders, your folder will become transparent. Otherwise, it will disappear completely.
- If the folder you are hiding contains files or folders, you will be asked to select either Apply changes only to this folder that is Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files. Click on OK to continue.
Step 11. Turn off the display of hidden items if necessary
If your hidden folder becomes transparent, but remains visible, it means that your computer allows the display of hidden items. To correct this problem:
- go to the tab Display at the top of the file explorer window;
- uncheck the box Hidden elements in the section Show / Hide tab Display.
Method 2 of 4: Create a hidden folder on Mac
Step 1. Open the
Finder.
Click the blue face icon in the Dock to open the Finder app.
Step 2. Select the location for your new folder
Your Mac's folders are on the left of the Finder window. Click on a location to open it.
- For example, to open the Documents folder, click Documents.
Step 3. Click on the File menu item
This item is located at the top left of the screen. Click on it to open a drop-down menu.
Step 4. Select New Folder
This option is at the top of the drop-down menu and allows you to create a new folder in the selected location.
Step 5. Rename your folder
Type the name you want to give to your folder then press ⏎ Return.
Step 6. Open Spotlight
Spotlight is located at the top right of the screen and opens a text field in the middle of the screen.
Step 7. Open Terminal
In the Spotlight search bar, type terminal then double click on Terminal
in search results.
Step 8. Type
chflags hidden
in the Terminal.
Be sure to insert a space after "
chflags
" and "
hidden
But do not press ⏎ Return after typing this command.
Step 9. Move the folder to Terminal
Click and drag the folder you want to hide directly onto the Terminal window. The folder information will be inserted into the command you started typing. The address of the file should appear after "
chflags hidden
».
- For example, if you hide a folder called Rutabaga on your Mac's desktop, you will see something like this:
chflags hidden / Users / name / Desktop / Rutabaga
Step 10. Press ⏎ Return
The folder will be completely hidden, however if your Mac is configured to show hidden folders, it will simply be greyed out.
To make hidden folders invisible open Finder and press ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift +
Method 3 of 4: Create a hidden folder on Android
Step 1. Install ES File Explorer
ES File Explorer is a very popular file manager that you can use to create folders on your Android. To install it, follow these steps:
- open it Google play store
;
- press the search bar;
- type es file;
- select ES File Explorer File Manager in search results;
- Press on TO INSTALL then on TO ALLOW when prompted.
Step 2. Open ES File Explorer
Press on TO OPEN in the Google Play Store or tap the ES File Explorer app icon in your Android's app drawer.
Step 3. Go through the introductory screens
Scroll through the introductory screens then press START NOW at the bottom of the screen. Press on X at the bottom right of the pop-up window What's new.
Step 4. Open a vault
Tap the storage location at the top of the page (for example Internal storage).
Step 5. Select a folder
Tap the folder where you want to create your invisible folder.
- If you don't know which folder to choose, choose Documents.
Step 6. Create a new folder
To add a new folder in the selected location, follow these steps:
- Press on New;
- select Case in the context menu;
- rename your folder;
- Press on OK.
Step 7. Hide the folder
To hide a folder on Android, just place a dot before the name of the folder. To rename the folder and add a point to its name:
- long press the folder to select it;
- select Rename at the bottom of the screen;
- place your cursor before the first letter of the folder name (for example, if the folder is called "Hidden", place your cursor before the "C");
- add a period before the name of the folder (for example the “Hidden” folder will become “.Hidden”);
- Press on OK.
Step 8. View the folder if necessary
If you ever want to show your hidden folder, go to the settings of ES File Explorer and do the following:
- Press on ☰ at the top left of the screen to open a context menu;
- select Show hidden files at the bottom of the menu;
- return to the location of the hidden folder.
Method 4 of 4: Create Hidden Folder on iPhone
Step 1. Know how to use this loophole
Place the applications you want to hide in a folder then move this folder while opening Siri at the same time. A bug will occur and the applications folder will be removed from your home screen.
- You may have to do this a few times as dragging and dropping apps while opening Siri takes practice.
- If Siri is not yet activated on your iPhone, activate it before continuing.
- This method cannot be used to hide photos on your iPhone.
Step 2. Create a folder with the apps you want to hide
If the apps you want to hide are not yet in a folder, follow these steps:
- lightly tap an app until it starts to animate;
- drag it onto another app you want to hide and then lift your finger after a second;
- drag the other apps you want to hide into the folder you just created.
Step 3. Lightly press the backrest
Keep your finger on the file throughout the process.
Step 4. Long press the home button
With your other hand, long press the home button to launch Siri after 1 second.
If you're using an iPhone X, press the side button to launch Siri
Step 5. Slide the backrest down
As soon as you see Siri appear, drag down the folder you want to hide. If you do it at the right time, the folder will become transparent and should disappear.
- When it's done, you can close Siri by pressing the home button (or swiping the screen up if you're using an iPhone X).
- Repeat this operation if the folder is still visible on the home screen.
Step 6. Access your hidden apps
Even if the applications are no longer visible, they are still usable.
- Place your finger in the middle of the screen and then drag it up to open Spotlight search.
- Type the name of the hidden app you want to open.
- Select the application in the APPLICATIONS section of the search results.
Step 7. Display the applications
Restart your iPhone to display the apps and make them visible again on your home screen. The apps will no longer be in their folder and they will appear in a different order than they were before you moved them.
- To turn off your iPhone, long press the power button and then drag the slider to the right Switch off. Long press the power button to turn it back on. Your iPhone may overheat if you force restart.
- Also note that the apps will show up if you update your iPhone.