The 4 most powerful computer programs to hide folders and files completely
Keeping your private files and folders hidden from prying eyes is of utmost importance, regardless of whether you store company records, personal photos, or highly confidential banking data.
Although Windows already has a built-in feature that allows you to easily hide files and folders , it is not very effective and reliable; anyone with access to your computer can easily enable the option to show hidden files – no password is even required! Another downside to using this feature is that it does not support working with the FAT32 file system and is not available in the Home edition of Windows 10.
So, let's review with you in this article the best computer programs currently available that can be trusted in terms of completely hiding folders and files with a strong password to show them again, whether on the hard disk or USB flash memory. So, let's get started directly.
First program: Wise Folder Hider
Wise Folder Hider | is an excellent option that allows you to easily hide specific folders, videos, photos and other personal data on your computer while securing them with a password.
This program has an easy-to-use interface that makes hiding files not take much of your time, as there are not many complicated options, but it also offers useful features such as the ability to lock the program with a password and set a password for each hidden file - if someone knows the password to run the program, they will still not be able to see the contents of the hidden files.
You can also hide and protect files stored on flash memory , in addition to the ease of modifying hidden files without having to unlock them. In general, the program is rich in useful features, but despite that, it is easy to use. You can use it completely free of charge, but with fewer features compared to the paid version.
Program 2: Lock & Hide Folder
Lock & Hide Folder | As the name suggests, this program is one of the lightest and easiest programs that allow you to hide and protect any folder on your computer, and it is also the most reliable, as the information in the hidden folders will be permanently secured. Perhaps the most important feature of the program is its ability to erase any trace that indicates that you opened the specified hidden folder.
Furthermore, you can add a password to further increase privacy, and you can also run the program in stealth mode. Using this mode means that anyone using your computer will not know that this program is installed. Some other useful features include the use of 256-bit encryption , which can be set up to allow access to some files and not others.
Along with that, no one can access your protected folders even if they try to reinstall Windows or boot into Safe Mode. And even if you remove the program, the folders remain hidden. So, it's a powerful program and worth using.
Read also: How to encrypt the entire hard disk in Windows 10 without programs
Program 3: Hide Folders
Hide Folders | is also a great option to hide your folders and files and protect them from any potential hacks on your computer. Since this program is released under the GNU General Public License, this program is free for both personal and commercial use. It works by hiding any specific folders or files you choose, and it also allows you to set a password to access and open the hidden files.
You can also choose not to include the name of this program in the list of programs installed on your device. Compared to the other programs reviewed in this article, Hide Folders is much simpler in terms of operation and ease of use, and is much better than the "Hide Files" built into Windows.
One of the best features of the program is that the folders remain hidden even in safe mode, and an unlimited number of folders can be hidden, and if the program is uninstalled, it will not reveal your folders.
Program 4: Anvi Folder Locker
Anvi Folder Locker | This program is very useful and somewhat unique compared to the previous programs in terms of the elegant and simple user interface that makes hiding and protecting files familiar even for beginners. You can hide folders with a few clicks but there are not many protection features.
Of course, you will be able to set a password to access the files and folders you choose to hide from your computer, as well as the ability to add custom permissions to any file. This allows you to choose whether a file can be modified, moved, or removed.
In this article, we have discussed some of the best software that will help you hide and protect your folders. Since the built-in “Hide Files” option in Windows is not very effective, using the tools we have provided in this article will definitely increase the security level of your computer and ensure that your confidential data remains safe from prying eyes.