If you ’ve got something you want to hide away , then you ’ve got plenty of choice on Android , iOS , Windows , and macOS — options that we ’ll run through here . Even if the fry or a alien should get access code to your devices somehow , these files will last out shroud from eyeshot and locked away .
Before we get take up , though , we should remark that while the resolution below will provide a measure of privacy from a casual user who nabs your twist , they are n’t all inevitably going to protect your file from a hack or someone else with expertise .
Android
When it comes to files on mobile equipment , those files are commonly photos or videos — your other files are potential to be store in the cloud , not on your equipment . To hide an ikon in Google Photos forAndroid , prospicient - jam on it then tapdance the card button ( three vertical dots ) and pluck Archive . The photo can still be apprehend out of the archive , but it does give your sensitive photos some point of protection from the casual internet browser .
If you ’re on a Samsung phone , the default gallery app does a bit of a better job at keeping any photos or video you desire secret kept safe . pick out the photos and videos you want to shroud , bug the menu clit ( three vertical dit ) , then pick Move to insure Folder — go in the booklet PIN , and the contentedness gets moved over . No one else can get into that Secure Folder without the PIN .
For something a bit more comprehensive , tryKeepsafe : It creates a PIN - protect digital vault on your phone for those photos and videos that you really do n’t want other hoi polloi coming across . go files into the vault is well-heeled , or you may take your photos and videos from inside Keepsafe or else .
Also worthy of a mention isVaulty , which work in a similar elbow room but make the process of baffle photos and videos in and out of your digital locker even light . commemorate that if you ’re using Google Photos as your veranda , you ’ll still need to blue-pencil the originals , otherwise they ’ll just get shown from the cloud ( which the ilk of Keepsafe and Vaulty do n’t touch ) .
single file Hide Expertcovers any type of single file and is very straightforward to use — it just move over you approach to the file and booklet structure on your phone , lets you select the depicted object you want conceal , and then hides it . The user interface is rather rudimentary , but if you want something introductory that works for any eccentric of file , it ’s a practiced pick .
There is in reality another put-on you could utilise on Android using a data file director likeES File Explorer : Put an empty textbook file call .nomedia inside any folder with images you do n’t want to show up in the default option gallery app ( though they ’ll still appear in the single file handler ) . In fact Android will disregard any folder that starts with a period . It ’s a rather fiddly solution , but it might befit some of you .
iOS
The iOS filing cabinet system is even more lock down than Android of track , so you ’re unlikely to have files blow around that you do n’t want people to see that are n’t photos or telecasting . There is the young Files app , that shows your iCloud Drive files ( if you ’ve got any ) , but there are no options for hiding filing cabinet here .
you could however hide photos and TV from the iOS picture app to keep them off from prying eyes that are n’t yours : open up the single file in interrogation , tap the Share push button ( bottom left ) , then choose Hide . That move out the photograph or video from Moments , Years , and Collections , though someone could still browse to the Hidden record album in the Albums section of the app , so it ’s not all that secure .
We ’ve already talk about hiding photos and video in Google Photos , and the cognitive operation is the same for Google Photos for iOS . Tap and take for on one or more files , exploit the menu clitoris ( three horizontal dots ) , and opt Archive . This hides the pictures or clips from the front screen of the app , though they can still be found from the Archive submission in the card ( and still show up in albums and hunting ) .
One other choice is to put photos inside preeminence ( though this does n’t mold for videos ) . First you need to go down up a password in the Notes section of the iOS configurations app , then you’re able to give any line , tap the Share push ( top rightfulness ) and prefer Lock Note . You ’ll also necessitate to remove the photo you ’ve add together from the main Photos app .
If you need to hide out file from specific apps , your best bet is looking inside that app to see what options are available . Dropbox , for example , can be passcode protect from its internal scene filmdom : Tap Account then the sprocket icon , and choose Passcode Lock to prevent anyone from getting into your files .
We ’ve descend across a number of ready to hand third - party options too , includingPrivate Photos CalculatorandPrivate Photo Vault , which protect your sensitive snaps and clip with a PIN code . you may becharm photos and videos inside the apps , or spell them from the Camera Roll , but if you take the latter option you also involve to them edit the pictures from the iOS Photos app .
Windows
Windows has a file concealing tool built right into it , as you might already know : Right - tap any file or pamphlet , choose Properties , then click the boxwood marked Hidden and click OK . That ’s it — your chosen file or folder is no longer seeable in File Explorer .
Unless the individual who ’s gained access to your computing machine is cunning enough to exhibit hidden files , that is . The setting can be toggled right from the View tab of the typewriter ribbon menu — the Hidden items entry on the right . you could set files and folders to be obliterate from this card too , via the Hide select items clit .
If you opine that ’s enough protection to cross any would - be lurkers — that they wo n’t know Windows well enough to expose hidden data file — then you ’re already all set . On the other bridge player , if you require to take your hiding data file techniques to the next level , you ’ll take some help from a third - party app , and there are quite a few to pick from .
Of the I we ’ve tested , Wise Folder Hider Freeimpressed us the most with its informality - of - manipulation and feature Seth . you could just drag and shake off booklet on top of the program port , and they vanish from File Explorer as if by magic . A password is then required to get into the program program . If you desire encryption as well , you canupgrade to the Pro versionfor $ 19.95 .
We were also impressed byMy Lockbox , which is also available in free and Pro version ( the latter lets you protect an unlimited figure of booklet ) . Again , one password protect memory access to the program , and it ’s perfect for just hiding a individual booklet aside rather than a bunch of file or folders .
Another choice is to enfold up all the files you desire to hide away in a flat archive , and then put a password on that archive that blocks unauthorized access.7 - Zipis one costless peter that can do this for you , though someone else could still see and delete the archive unless you added one of the concealment options we mentioned above .
macOS
When it comes to Mac computer , the cleanest and simple aboriginal option is to practice the Terminal app , which you’re able to launch from Spotlight ( Cmd+Space ) . eccentric “ chflags hidden file - or - folder - path ” then Enter to obliterate something , and “ chflags nohidden filing cabinet - or - booklet - path ” and Enter to bring it back . If you like you could type out the command then drag and drop a single file or folder into the Terminal window before hit Enter ( just retrieve the path so you could land it back ) .
Various third - party options will take care of the labor for you as well . Hide Foldersdoes exactly what it says on the tin , and you simply drag and drop in files and folder from Finder and then come home the Hide release . Anyone who launches Hide Folders can see what you ’ve hidden though , so you might want to add watchword protection , which is a $ 20 acclivity for the Pro version .
Secret Folderdoes almost exactly the same job , though the interface is a little cleaner and well-to-do on the center . Again , you’re able to simply drag and deteriorate folders into the program window to hide them , then toggle the Invisible / Visible electrical switch accordingly . The app cost $ 20 , but a free trial is usable .
Hideris a more comprehensive solvent that ’s again is price at $ 20 and again lets you give the software program a trial run for free . In addition to hiding selected file and brochure , your data is also encrypted , and you ’ve got some useful spear carrier befuddle in as well ( like documentation for external hard drives ) . data file can be evidence or hide using simple on/off switch switches , with everything protect by a master password .
If it ’s particular apps that you want to barricade , thenCisdem AppCryptmight outfit the handbill for you . you’re able to specify apps ( or website ) to password protect , so anyone who gains approach to your Mac wo n’t be able to run programs containing information you do n’t want seen . It costs $ 20 a yr , with a barren trial uncommitted .
cash in one’s chips back to photos , if all you require to do is cover picture and telecasting clips , you could utilise the same options ( with the same caution ) as we talked about for iOS . From the Photos app , flop - tick on an effigy and prefer Hide Photo . This removes it from the main photo stream , but consider the obscure record album is only a suction stop aside on the left - hand navigation pane , it ’s not the most effective solution .
AndroidDataMacOSWindows
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