This tutorial will show you step by step how to hide files and folders in Windows 10 from others. And also how to view and unhide hidden files and folders.
Methods:
Although the watermark string is stored in a system file 'shell32.dll.mui' in Windows 8 but the process of showing this watermark on Desktop is a bit different in Windows 8. Actually whenever you set an image file as Desktop wallpaper, Windows automatically creates a copy of that image file in a hidden folder and then puts the watermark on.
- Hide files and folders using CMD (Command Prompt)
- Hide files and folders in audio files using DeepSound (also a password option)
How to hide files and folders in Windows 10 using File Explorer
1. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer).
2. Go to the file or folder you want to hide.
3. Right-click on the file or folder and then click on Properties.
- The files to be hidden are: somefile.txt. To hide these files and directories from the file manager, create a new file with the command: nano /.hidden. In that file you would add the.
- But while you can do this from Windows - right-click an empty part of the desktop, select View Show Desktop Icons - it's not exactly convenient. HideDesktopIcons offers a simpler solution. Just download and unzip the program, save it to a safe folder somewhere, then drag and drop it onto the Quick Launch toolbar, Start Menu or task bar (in.
- Aug 22, 2019 To hide or unhide all your desktop icons, right-click on your desktop, point to 'View,' and click 'Show Desktop Icons.'. This option works on Windows 10, 8, 7, and even XP. This option toggles desktop icons on and off. This option is easy to find and use—if you know it's there.
A 'Properties' window will appear.
4. Check the box next to the Hidden option.
5. Click on the Apply button in the bottom right corner of the 'Properties' window.
If you're hiding a folder with files and subfolders, then a 'Confirm Attribute Changes' window will appear. If you're not hiding a folder, then you can continue with the last step (8).
6. Make sure that the Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files option is selected.
7. Click on the OK button.
8. Click on the OK button to close the 'Properties' window.
This is an easy and fast way to hide files and folders, but it's not a good and secure way. Someone with basic computer knowledge can find the files and folders easily and quickly.
This method is good for hiding files and folders for common users so that they hopefully don't find and delete or edit the files or folders.
How to view hidden files and folders in Windows 10 using File Explorer
1. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer).
2. Go to the location of the hidden file or folder.
3. Click on View located in the top menu of File Explorer.
4. Check the box next to the Hidden items option.
You can now view the hidden file or folder.
How to unhide hidden files and folders in Windows 10 using File Explorer
1. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer).
2. Go to the location of the hidden file or folder.
3. Click on View located in the top menu of File Explorer.
4. Check the box next to the Hidden items option.
You can now view the hidden file or folder.
5. Right-click on the file or folder and then click on Properties.
A 'Properties' window will appear.
6. Uncheck the box next to the Hidden option.
7. Click on the Apply button in the bottom right corner of the 'Properties' window.
If it's a folder with files and subfolders, then a 'Confirm Attribute Changes' window will appear. If it's not a folder, then you can continue with the last step (10).
8. Make sure that the Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files option is selected.
9. Click on the OK button.
10. Click on the OK button to close the 'Properties' window.
How to hide files and folders in Windows 10 using CMD (Command Prompt)
1. Open Windows Command Prompt.
Two ways to open Command Prompt:
- Type cmd into the search box and then click on Command Prompt when it appears.
- Press the [Windows] + [R] key combination, type cmd, and then press the [Enter] key.
2. Type a command similar to the commands below.
Replace C:UsersmvDocuments'Secret Files', C:UsersmvPicturessecret-picture.jpg, or C:UsersmvVideos'Secret Video.mp4' with the path to the file or folder you want to hide on your computer.
Note: Quotation marks are only necessary when there are spaces in the name of the file or folder (e.g., Secret Files or Secret Video.mp4).
3. Press [Enter].
The file or folder is now hidden.
This method is better than the first method because, with this method, Windows won't show the hidden file or folder even if File Explorer is set to display hidden files and folders.
But:
Someone can still view the hidden files or folders in File Explorer if they click on File (top left) > Change folder and search options > View > uncheck the Hide protected operating system files option.
But this will show a warning message and most people will probably freak out and not click Yes when the message appears.
How to make a hidden file or folder visible again in Windows 10 using CMD
1. Open Windows Command Prompt.
Two ways to open Command Prompt:
- Type cmd into the search box and then click on Command Prompt when it appears.
- Press the [Windows] + [R] key combination, type cmd, and then press the [Enter] key.
2. Type a command similar to the command you used to hide the file or folder but then replace attrib +s +h with attrib -s -h.
How to hide files and folders in audio files in Windows 10 using DeepSound
DeepSound is a free program that can hide files and folders in audio files. DeepSound also allows you to easily extract your secret files or folders from audio files.
1. Open DeepSound.
2. Click on Open carrier files.
A 'Open' window will appear.
3. Go to the location on your computer where the audio file is stored you want to use to hide your secret data in.
4. Select the audio file.
5. Click on the Open button.
6. Click on Add secret files.
A 'Open' window will appear.
7. Go to the location on your computer where the files or folders are that you want to hide.
8. Select the files or folders.
9. Click on the Open button.
At Free space for secret files, you can see how much data (in MB) you can hide in the audio file.
10. When you're ready, you click on Encode secret files.
A 'Encode secret files' window will appear.
11. At Output format, you can select an audio format.
12. At Output directory, you can see the location on your computer where DeepSound will save the audio file.
13. If you want to hide and protect your files or folder with a password, then check the Encrypt secret files (AES 256) option. If not, then you can skip the following two steps and continue with step 16.
14. Type your password twice.
15. Click on Encode secret files button at the bottom of the 'Encode secret files' window.
DeepSound will now hide your files or folders in an audio file.
To extract your files or folders from the audio file; click on Open carrier files. Select your audio file and click on Open. Enter your password if asked for and click on OK. Click on Extract secret files.
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Desktop Files and Icons Disappeared in Windows 10/11
'My brother played games on my computer last night. But when I turned on the computer this morning, it showed me a blank screen. All the desktop icons as well we the files on it are missing. Where are those desktop icons and files? I can't find them anywhere, including the recycle bin. Do you have any ideas that How can I restore missing desktop icons and files in Windows 10?'
Windows 10 computer desktop comes originally with icons like recycle bin, this PC, network, control panel, etc. And users prefer to create shortcuts of regularly used apps there. Meanwhile, we're used to saving files like Word document, Excel sheets, or PowerPoint presentations on the desktop for quick access.
Sometimes, while using the computer, it happens now and then that we lose some or even all the desktop icons and files due to accidental deletion or improper settings. But for more convenient usage, we need those icons and files back. In this article, we will walk you through a very simple method to restore desktop icons on Windows 10. Besides, professional hard drive recovery software is highly recommended to help you restore desktop files in Windows 10.
How to Restore Missing Desktop Icons on Windows 10/11
By following the steps below, you can easily restore all the missing icons that you previously deleted accidentally.
1. Open 'Settings' and click on 'Personalization'.
2. Click 'Themes', then click 'Desktop icons settings'.
3. Select the icons you want to see on the desktop, like Computer (This PC), User's Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel.
4. Click 'Apply', then 'OK'.
If you don't see any icons on your desktop, it's probably because you have hidden the previously configured icons in Windows 10. You can quickly make them visible again by right-clicking an empty space on the desktop, selecting 'View' and clicking the 'Show desktop icons' option.
How to Recover Desktop Files in Windows 10/11
As for lost or deleted desktop files recovery in Windows 10, you'll need the help from data recovery tool. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard enables you to recover more than 200+ file types from HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, pen drive, external hard drive, and so on. If your desktop files disappeared because of careless deletion, hard drive formatting, virus attack, or partition loss, you could restore them easily and quickly.
The steps to restore desktop files are similar to those for recovering deleted files from USB flash drive. See the detailed guides below.
Step 1. Select the location to scan lost folder
To extract your files or folders from the audio file; click on Open carrier files. Select your audio file and click on Open. Enter your password if asked for and click on OK. Click on Extract secret files.
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References:
Desktop Files and Icons Disappeared in Windows 10/11
'My brother played games on my computer last night. But when I turned on the computer this morning, it showed me a blank screen. All the desktop icons as well we the files on it are missing. Where are those desktop icons and files? I can't find them anywhere, including the recycle bin. Do you have any ideas that How can I restore missing desktop icons and files in Windows 10?'
Windows 10 computer desktop comes originally with icons like recycle bin, this PC, network, control panel, etc. And users prefer to create shortcuts of regularly used apps there. Meanwhile, we're used to saving files like Word document, Excel sheets, or PowerPoint presentations on the desktop for quick access.
Sometimes, while using the computer, it happens now and then that we lose some or even all the desktop icons and files due to accidental deletion or improper settings. But for more convenient usage, we need those icons and files back. In this article, we will walk you through a very simple method to restore desktop icons on Windows 10. Besides, professional hard drive recovery software is highly recommended to help you restore desktop files in Windows 10.
How to Restore Missing Desktop Icons on Windows 10/11
By following the steps below, you can easily restore all the missing icons that you previously deleted accidentally.
1. Open 'Settings' and click on 'Personalization'.
2. Click 'Themes', then click 'Desktop icons settings'.
3. Select the icons you want to see on the desktop, like Computer (This PC), User's Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel.
4. Click 'Apply', then 'OK'.
If you don't see any icons on your desktop, it's probably because you have hidden the previously configured icons in Windows 10. You can quickly make them visible again by right-clicking an empty space on the desktop, selecting 'View' and clicking the 'Show desktop icons' option.
How to Recover Desktop Files in Windows 10/11
As for lost or deleted desktop files recovery in Windows 10, you'll need the help from data recovery tool. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard enables you to recover more than 200+ file types from HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, pen drive, external hard drive, and so on. If your desktop files disappeared because of careless deletion, hard drive formatting, virus attack, or partition loss, you could restore them easily and quickly.
The steps to restore desktop files are similar to those for recovering deleted files from USB flash drive. See the detailed guides below.
Step 1. Select the location to scan lost folder
Under the Location section, click 'Browse' on Select Folder to choose the location where you lost the folder and click 'OK' to scan the lost folder.
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Step 2. Find and preview found files in the lost folder
If you remember the folder name, type the folder name in 'Search' to quickly find the lost folder. Then open the found folder and double-click to preview lost files.
Or you can use the left pane to locate the lost folder, then use 'Filter' and 'Type' to specify the desired files.
Step 3. Recover and save the lost folder with files
Last, select the folder and files and click 'Recover', browse to choose a new & secure spot on your PC and click 'OK' to save it.
