How to Hide Files in Windows Using CMD

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 14, 2024

You can hide files if you share a computer and don't want them to be seen, or you can hide files simply to prevent yourself from deleting them. This wikiHow will teach you how to hide files on your PC using the Windows Command Prompt.

Steps

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Your Start menu will open.
" When you open the Start menu and begin typing, you'll automatically perform a search for your keywords.

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This is listed as an application that you can run.
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Navigate to the files you want to hide. Use cd C:\Users\admin\Desktop\Files as a template and continue the file path until you're in the same folder as the files you want to hide.
- You can find the file's location by finding it in your File Explorer, right-clicking it, then clicking Properties > Location. Refer to How to Find a File's Path on Windows for more information.
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Enter the following code and press ↵ Enter: attrib +h "Secret Files". Replace "Secret Files" with the name of the file you want to hide; you only need quotation marks if you have a space in the file name.
- If you want to hide the folder and everything with the file, use attrib +h /s /d.
- To make the files visible again, type attrib -h "Secret Files". Again, change the words "Secret Files" to your files' name. To unhide the entire folders' contents, type attrib -h /s /d^{[1]
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