While your Windows laptop ought to be fairly nicely locked down with a password or possibly even some form of biometric safety, it’s inconceivable to ensure that nobody else is ever going to get entry to it, whether or not it’s a thief swiping your unlocked laptop computer from a espresso store or certainly one of your youngsters desirous to play a couple of video games whilst you’re doing one thing else.
Whatever the rationale, realizing easy methods to conceal recordsdata and folders from view will be actually helpful. These recordsdata gained’t pop up throughout regular file looking, and so they’ll be tough to search out even when somebody is particularly in search of them.
And you’ve bought a alternative of the way to go about it, starting from options constructed into File Explorer to third-party choices.
Using Windows File Explorer
By default, Windows File Explorer hides sure recordsdata and folders from view. Typically, these are necessary system recordsdata, which shouldn’t be accessed or edited. You can see these recordsdata and folders if you wish to:
- From any File Explorer window, click on the three dots within the high toolbar.
- Click Options on the menu that pops up.
- On the View tab, allow Show hidden recordsdata, folders and drives.
- Click OK to verify.
To conceal any of your personal recordsdata or folders:
- Right-click on the file or folder.
- Choose Properties from the context menu.
- On the General tab, examine the Hidden field.
- Click OK to verify.
As lengthy as File Explorer is configured to not present hidden recordsdata and folders, the objects you’ve chosen gained’t be seen. This applies wherever File Explorer is used — so in dialogs for opening recordsdata inside purposes, for instance.
It’s a fast and straightforward approach of defending recordsdata and folders you don’t wish to be seen, however it’s hardly probably the most safe — anybody who is aware of their approach round File Explorer will have the ability to get it to point out hidden recordsdata once more. If you want one thing extra complete, you’ll have to show to a third-party device.
There are a number of third-party instruments to choose from right here, which don’t a lot conceal your recordsdata and folders as lock them from view. If somebody accesses your Windows system, they’ll have the ability to see that one thing is hidden, however they’re not going to have the ability to get at no matter you’ve locked away.
The best choice I’ve used personally is Folder Lock. It’s simple and dependable, and whereas there’s a Pro model you will get for $39.95, the free model will likely be sufficient for most individuals. You get 1GB of area inside your locker, and you may preserve it synced between two gadgets.
During the setup course of, you’ll be requested the place you wish to retailer your locker. It’s a good suggestion to have it buried deep in some subfolders moderately than sitting someplace distinguished just like the desktop. You additionally have to specify an electronic mail tackle and password for getting access to your digital locker.
If Folder Lock isn’t operating, your locker gained’t be seen in File Explorer. To add recordsdata to your locker and see what you’ve saved in it, launch the app from the Start menu and log in. By default, your locker mechanically opens in File Explorer (in settings, you possibly can change it so it’s sitting in your homescreen as an alternative if you’d like):
- Drag recordsdata and folders into your locker folder to cover them.
- Double-click on locked recordsdata and folders to open them.
- To conceal every little thing, click on Lock on the Folder Lock panel.
Whenever your locker is open, it really works like every other folder in Windows. You can delete recordsdata, duplicate recordsdata, and duplicate and paste them within the regular approach. As quickly as you lock it or shut Folder Lock, they vanish from view.
The program additionally features a Secrets part, the place you possibly can retailer passwords, notes, and bank card info, and a Safeguard characteristic for securely shredding digital recordsdata (overwriting them with random information, basically).
Everything is encrypted utilizing AES 256-bit encryption and you may again up your locker to a cloud storage service (equivalent to OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox) for further peace of thoughts.
