Whereas your Home windows pc ought to be fairly properly locked down with a password or perhaps even some type of biometric safety, it’s not possible 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 one in all your children eager to play a couple of video games whilst you’re doing one thing else.
Regardless of the purpose, understanding cover recordsdata and folders from view might be actually helpful. These recordsdata gained’t pop up throughout regular file searching, they usually’ll be tough to search out even when somebody is particularly on the lookout for them.
And also you’ve received a selection of how to go about it, starting from options constructed into File Explorer to third-party choices.
Utilizing Home windows File Explorer
By default, Home windows File Explorer hides sure recordsdata and folders from view. Usually, these are vital system recordsdata, which shouldn’t be accessed or edited. You possibly 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 on Choices on the menu that pops up.
- On the View tab, allow Present hidden recordsdata, folders and drives.
- Click on OK to substantiate.
To cover any of your personal recordsdata or folders:
- Proper-click on the file or folder.
- Select Properties from the context menu.
- On the Normal tab, verify the Hidden field.
- Click on OK to substantiate.
So long as File Explorer is configured to not present hidden recordsdata and folders, the objects you’ve chosen gained’t be seen. This is applicable wherever File Explorer is used — so in dialogs for opening recordsdata inside purposes, for instance.
It’s a fast and simple means of defending recordsdata and folders you don’t wish to be seen, however it’s hardly essentially the most safe — anybody who is aware of their means round File Explorer will be capable to get it to indicate hidden recordsdata once more. When 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 cover your recordsdata and folders as lock them from view. If somebody accesses your Home windows system, they’ll be capable 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 easy and dependable, and whereas there’s a Professional model you may get for $39.95, the free model shall be sufficient for most individuals. You get 1GB of house inside your locker, and you may preserve it synced between two units.
In the course of 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 must specify an e mail deal with and password for having access to your digital locker.
If Folder Lock isn’t operating, your locker gained’t be seen in File Explorer. So as to add recordsdata to your locker and see what you’ve saved in it, launch the app from the Begin menu and log in. By default, your locker robotically opens in File Explorer (in settings, you may 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 cover every thing, click on Lock on the Folder Lock panel.
Every time your locker is open, it really works like some other folder in Home windows. You possibly can delete recordsdata, duplicate recordsdata, and replica and paste them within the regular means. As quickly as you lock it or shut Folder Lock, they vanish from view.
This system additionally features a Secrets and techniques part, the place you may retailer passwords, notes, and bank card info, and a Safeguard characteristic for securely shredding digital recordsdata (overwriting them with random information, primarily).
The whole lot is encrypted utilizing AES 256-bit encryption and you may again up your locker to a cloud storage service (resembling OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox) for further peace of thoughts.