How to hide a file or folder on Android. Ways to hide files on Android

If there is a need to hide something on your Android device, then there are many ways to do this. Let's look at each of them.

How to hide files on Android

You can hide files on Android either using Root rights or without them.

If you have Root rights, you can:

put a dot in front of the file name to hide it from viewing;

create a .nomedia file using ES Explorer and place it in the folder whose contents you want to hide;

install AppHider for applications or Hexlock for files, applications and other personal information.

If you don't have Root rights, you can:

put a dot in front of the file name and make it hidden;

create a .nomedia file on your PC or laptop, connect the device to the PC and transfer the created file to the folder that you want to hide;

hide application icons in Settings;

set Hide All Files for files, Hide Something for photos and videos, Apex to hide application icons.

How to find out if your device is Rooted

To find out if your phone has Root rights, do the following:

Enter “download root checker” in the search bar.

Download and install the Root Checker program.

Click on the button with the appropriate name in the “Root Check” tab.

Click on the "CHECK ROOT" button in Root application Checker

After this, you will see information about the presence or absence of Root rights on the phone.

Video: how to use Root Checker

If you have Root rights

If you have Root rights, you can hide files by renaming them to “ES Explorer,” creating a .nomedia file, or installing the Hexlock App Lock program.

Renaming files in ES Explorer

To hide a file in ES Explorer:

Download the app from Play Market and install it.

Launch and scroll the main menu to the right or left. Select the desired folder and open it.

Long press to highlight the file and

Place a dot in front of the name and confirm your choice by clicking “OK”.

If you want to hide a group of files:

Long press to highlight all the files you want to hide.

Click on the "Rename" button.

In the window that opens, select the second item and put a dot in the input field. This way you won't have to give each file a new name: it will consist of a dot and the old name. You don't have to change the extension. Click OK.

Select the second list item, enter a period in the name field, click “OK”

After this, the files will be hidden. To view them, expand side menu applications, and select “Show hidden files" Set the switch to the On position.

Set the switch to On to view hidden files

Creating a .nomedia file in ES Explorer

To create a .nomedia file in ES Explorer, do the following:

Download, install and launch the application.

In the list of folders, select the one whose contents will be hidden. Enter it.

From the menu at the bottom of the screen, select New - Create File. In the name field, write “.nomedia”. Confirm your selection by clicking "OK".

You will see a notification that the .nomedia file has been created.

Video: how to hide files using .nomedia in ES Explorer

Hexlock installation

Hexlock is free application, which allows you to hide all types of data, as well as the user’s personal information (SMS and contact list). Downloaded from the official store.

To hide files using Hexlock, do the following:

Open Play Maket. Find, download and install the application.

When starting, decide on the type of protection: PIN code, graphic password or fingerprint scanner. Choose what suits you best. Repeat twice.

From the side menu, select Media Vault. Click on the button with the plus sign, select a folder and files in it to add them to the storage. Click on the ADD TO VAULT button.

Files that you have hidden will not be viewable.

To recover hidden files:

Open the application. Depending on what you have set as security, enter a PIN code, picture password, or scan your fingerprint.

From the side menu, select Media Vault. All previously hidden files will be displayed there.

Highlight with a long press what you are going to restore, click on the restore button in the form of a crossed out padlock icon at the bottom of the screen and select Restore in the Restore From Vault selection confirmation window.

The files will be restored.

Video: Hexlock app review

If there are no Root rights

If you do not have Root rights, you can hide files by putting a dot in front of the name, creating a .nomedia file, or installing the Hide All Files application.

Dot before file name

To hide a file this way, do the following:

Open File Manager. It can be standard, or it can be downloaded from the Play Market.

Go to the folder you need. Long press to select the files you want to hide.

Click on the "Rename" button.

In the input field, place a period before the file name.

Confirm your choice by clicking OK/Done. Close the application.

Go to your device's Settings, select Apps, and then All. In the list of suggested ones, open those that you use to view audio/video/photos and click on “Erase data”.

When renaming an audio recording, its name should not be separated by a hyphen or dash. Otherwise the file will not be hidden.

Create a .nomedia file on your PC and transfer it to the desired folder

The .nomedia file will hide all files from a folder whose contents you do not want to be revealed. To create it, do the following:

Connect your smartphone to your PC or laptop. On your desktop, create a new text document, leave it blank and resave it as .nomedia. From the list of file types, select All Files.

Move the .nomedia file to right place. If you need to hide a file from a folder placed in another, you can place it in the root directory. If you are concerned about the safety of your files, then it is better to create new folder, insert .nomedia into it and then transfer what you need to hide.
Place the nomedia file in the folder you want

Clear application data in “Settings” by following the path: “Settings” - “Applications” - “All” - “Gallery” / “Music” / any program that you used to display hidden files - “Erase data”. More details about this point are written above.

Your data that you hid will no longer be displayed, and the folder containing it will be marked as empty and will not be displayed either.

If you don’t want to create a file from scratch every time, copy it to a previously created empty folder and then place it wherever you need it.

Setting Hide All Files

Hide All Files allows you to hide absolutely any type of file, including Microsoft documents Office, PDF, EPUB, as well as images, videos and audio recordings.

To hide files using Hide All Files:

Find the application in the Play Market, install and open it.

Come up with strong password to login and click OK.

Enter your password and click OK

Examine the list of all folders with files in the Public tab. The app only displays what's stored on the memory card, so if you need to hide something, move it there. Select the folder you want, scrolling down the list if necessary.

Select the files that you want to hide and click on the button with the image of a lock.

Select the files you want to hide and click on the padlock button

To view hidden files, go to the Private tab. To restore them, check the boxes next to them and click on the button with the image of a lock.

Select the files to be restored and click on the button with the image of a lock

How to hide a photo or video on Android

You can hide photos or video files using any of the methods described above: rename them, place them in the .nomedia folder, or download an application to hide them.

If you have Root rights, then you can use Hexlock - an application that allows you to hide all types of files, not just photos and videos. It is described in more detail in the section “How to hide files on Android”.

If you do not have Root rights, then install the Hide Something application. It's free, but it does its job perfectly.

To hide photos and videos with Hide Something, do the following:

Login to the Play Market, find the application, download it and open it.

Create a graphic password. At least 4 points.

Select the folder you are interested in from the list and open it. In the list of images, click on the ones you want to hide, and then click on the button with a ghost.

Select the files you are interested in and click on the button with the image of a ghost

In the dialog box, click OK. The images along with the folder will be hidden.

Click "OK" to hide files

To view and restore hidden images, go to the “Invisible” tab. Open the folder, select the images and click on the restore button with the eye image. In the dialog box, click OK.

How to hide apps

If you have superuser rights, you can use Hide It Pro or the same Hexlock to hide certain applications. If there are no such rights, then only their icons can be hidden.

If you have Root rights

If you have Root rights, then you can use the Hide It Pro and Hexlock App Lock programs.

Installing Hide It Pro

To hide apps using Hide It Pro, do the following:

Launch the application. When it loads, click on the logo image and hold it for a while. Thus, the application will be disguised from prying eyes.

Click on the logo image to launch all application functions

Enter your password and PIN. After this, the main application menu will open.

Select Hide Apps.

Select Hide Apps

Agree to install the plugin. At the warning about the need for superuser rights, click OK.

Open the All Applications tab. Select the apps you would like to hide and click OK.

Installing Hexlock App Lock

To hide apps using Hexlock App Lock:

Launch the application. If you have already launched the application, then enter the same password/PIN code; if not, come up with a new one.

Choose one of three modes:

• “Home” is a set of applications that you use while connected to your home network;
• “Work” - similar to the network at work;
• "School".

From the list of all applications, select those that you would like to hide and turn the switch next to them to the “Enabled” state.

Go to your profile. You can automate the connection by selecting the appropriate button in the menu and checking the box next to your home/work network.

After this, the applications will be protected with a password or PIN code, and unauthorized access to them will be excluded.

In the absence of Root rights

If you do not have Root rights, then try hiding application icons in the settings or use the Apex application.

Hide application icons in settings

If you have applications that you don’t use, you can’t delete them, and the icons are in the way, then you can hide them. To do this:

Go to your device's Settings and select Applications.

Scroll to the All tab.

Select the application whose icon you want to hide. Click on it.

Find the "Disable" button. If it is blocked, click on the “Stop” button. Then confirm your choice by clicking “OK”.

Click on the “Stop” button and on “OK”

Installing Apex Launcher

A similar result can be achieved by installing a third-party launcher - an application that will automatically hide everything unnecessary icons. For example, you can use Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher.

Let's look at the algorithm using Apex as an example:

Launch the launcher. Go to Apex Settings by double-clicking on an empty space.

In Settings, select Application Menu Settings.

Find the item " Hidden apps" Open it and check the boxes of those applications whose icons you would like to hide.

Click on "Save".

Video: How to use Apex Launcher

How to hide a specific folder

You can hide a folder in exactly the same way as a file:

rename it by placing a dot in front of the name;

place the .nomedia file in it. It will be considered empty and will not be displayed;

use apps. They will hide all the files contained in the folder; it will also be considered empty and will not be displayed.

How to set a password for a hidden element

You can lock the entire device. For these purposes it is used:

standard pin code. Go to “Settings” - “Location and Security”. Select PIN;

graphic key;

password. A compromise option between a PIN code and a graphic key.

You can only block some specific folder or file. To do this:

Download from the Play Market and install any application that allows you to hide files.

Set a password or pattern.

Select files from the folder you want to hide. Confirm your choice.

You can use for this purpose both applications that require Root access and applications that do not require any additional rights. All of them equally allow you to set a password and protect your data from unauthorized access.

Video: how to put a password on files and folders in Applocker

How to Find and Open Hidden Items in Android System

Hidden items can be found using the built-in File Manager. To do this, just open it and see which file/folder names begin with a dot.

For the same purpose, you can use ES Explorer:

Launch the application. Open the side menu and find the “Show hidden files” item.

Find the item “Show hidden files” and set the switch to the “Enabled” position

Set the switch to the On position.

Scroll through the menu to a list of all folders and files. The icons of hidden files and folders will be translucent.

Apart from this, you can connect your device to your laptop or PC and check for hidden files there. To do this:

Connect your smartphone to your laptop/PC.

Open the folder in Explorer where you would like to find hidden files.

If you have not previously made them hidden in Windows, they will be displayed.

If you did, then go to “Start” - “Control Panel” - “Appearance and Personalization”. Select Folder Options and then the View tab. In the section " Additional options» Click “Show hidden files, folders...” and confirm your choice by clicking “OK”. Hidden files will appear.

Video: how to open hidden files using ES Explorer

How to open hidden items without a password if they are password protected

This is only feasible in 2 cases:

if the files were protected only graphic password for the entire device, and this password was bypassed;

if the files are in a password-protected archive, but cannot be opened, you can only view them.

To bypass a picture password:

enter Google account(keep your address email and password secret);

delete the gesture.key file manually (do not download or install file manager Aroma);

delete the gesture.key file via additional user(don't create additional account with SuperSu and multiplayer mode if this is not necessary);

reset settings to factory defaults.

You will only be able to view the names and types of files in a password-protected archive, but you will not be able to extract or open them.

Enter the password to unpack the archive in the Easy Unrar, Unzip & Zip application

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Tablet manufacturers deliberately hide many system files, and this approach is the norm, since their accidental deletion or the change may lead to the most unusual consequences. Also, files may not be displayed due to viruses, which negatively affects the operation of the device. But if the files are simply hidden, they can be easily found and seen. Let's look at some of the most popular ways to view hidden files on your tablet.

Opening hidden files using third-party programs

All hidden files on Android devices have two main attributes. The first is a property in the file settings, with the appropriate name. The second is a period placed before the name of the file or folder. This approach limits document display on both Linux and Windows systems. You can remove these restrictions using any popular third-party file manager.

Total Commander

Total Commander is one of the most popular programs for working with files various types. With its help, you can not only directly open hidden files by writing full path to a document, but also display similar documents without changing attributes. To do this, just go to settings, find the item “Show hidden files” and restart the program.

ES Explorer

Another popular file manager whose functions can be expanded with add-ons. It has an extremely simple interface, similar to the standard one, and also quick access to settings. To show hidden files in ES Explorer, just swipe to the right and in the menu that appears, select the appropriate item for showing hidden files.

Opening hidden files using explorers, after they are displayed, is quite simple - just one click on the icon. If you simply don’t want to display some documents, you can simply write the direct path to it on the command line.

How to open hidden files on a tablet using a PC?

You can also access hidden files in the tablet's memory using a computer. Just connect the gadget to your PC using a cable and select storage mode on it. Next, using any file manager, open one of the tablet’s drives, and in the settings, first set the display of hidden files. All documents can be either opened directly from the device or copied for further work with them.

Situations often arise in life when your Android smartphone or the tablet is taken by acquaintances or friends and you would not want them to see confidential information. How to hide files from the gallery or media player, as well as the file manager in Android, read this article!

There are photos or videos that are embarrassing to show or there are “ classified information"? If you need to hide these files, here's what you need to do:

Instructions on how to hide files on Android: galleries and media player in Android

How does this work?

Android constantly scans for changes that occur on the memory card or internal memory. If during crawling the scanner finds a file .nomedia, then it does not scan and display the contents of the folder.

Instructions to hide files and folders
in the Android and Windows file manager

Android is built on the basis Linux kernels and accordingly has common features with similar operating systems on this core. Unfortunately, Windows is not related to Linux in any way and in order to carefully hide a file or folder, you need to try a little.

Hiding a folder or file on Android

In order to hide a file or folder from the file manager (explorer), you need to rename the desired file or folder by adding a dot before the name. That is, to hide the file xxxx.jpg you need to rename the file to . xxxx.jpg. In order to hide the AlenaNu folder, you need to add a dot before the name.AlenaNu

file visible ———————> xxxx.jpg the file is not visible ———————> . xxxx.jpg

folder visible ———————> AlenaNu the folder is not visible ———————> .AlenaNu

This is how you can hide a photo on Android and not only a folder and other files!

After this simple procedure, you will hide what you need in Android, but there is one problem: when you connect to a computer, you will see that everything that you hid in Windows is clearly visible! For this reason, the invisibility needs to be “refined”.

Hiding a folder or file on a Windows computer

Below is a screenshot showing folders at the beginning that are no longer visible in Android, but are visible in Windows:

To hide folders or a file you need to select all or select one by one -> click right button mouse -> select properties - change the file or folder attributes to Hidden.

Do you still have some additional questions? Ask them in the comments, tell us what worked for you or vice versa!

That's it! Stay with the Android +1 site, it will be even more interesting! More articles and instructions, read the section Articles and Android Hacks.

If your Android smartphone or tablet stores data that you don’t want anyone who picks up your device to see, then you’ve come to the right place. Perhaps, the best solution This issue is hiding files from the gallery, file manager and media player.

This method is very simple and can be done on any device. not required.

How to hide files from the gallery or media player

2. Create an empty one text file with the name .nomedia inside the folder whose files you want to hide.

3. Reboot your device.

4. Go to the gallery or player and make sure the changes have taken effect.

How to hide files or folder in file manager

1. Open your file manager.

2. Select the file or folder you want to hide.

3. Go to options and click Rename.

4. Place a period before the name of the file or folder. For example, if you want to hide Downloads, rename this folder to .Downloads, film.avi to .film.avi, etc.

5. Now go to the settings of your file manager and uncheck the box next to “Show hidden files”.

After this, all files and folders whose names begin with a dot will no longer be displayed.

Unlike Windows, Android system It is not equipped with a function for hiding files and folders. However, do not forget that this operating system is distinguished by its openness and the ability to introduce various changes into her work. Therefore, when performing certain manipulations, you can still safely hide important documents from third parties. Let's look at how to hide files and folders on Android.

Ways to hide data on Android

Hide personal information(photos, videos, text documents etc.) located on external or internal memory mobile device, in several ways:

• Through the file manager installed on the device;
• Via the “.nomedia” file;
• Using a computer;
• Through special software.

Using a File Manager

You can reliably hide any file or an entire folder from prying eyes using any explorer available on the gadget. This is the simplest hiding method, so this is where we should start our review. The procedure will be as follows:

Restart Android and check the results of your actions. Now, when displaying the contents of the repository, the specified object will be missing. If you need to return everything to its place, just activate the “Show hidden files and folders” item in the settings of the same Explorer, and then remove the previously placed dot from the name.

Hiding folders with a ".nomedia" file

Android OS periodically scans the device's integrated and built-in memory to look for changes in the storage structure. If during the next examination the system detects a “.nomedia” file, it will skip the folder in which it is located. this element, and will no longer display its contents.

This phenomenon can be used to hide photos, videos or other types of information:

Folder with yours the data will be lost. It will only be available on PC. To remove hidden mode you will need to delete the ".nomedia" document.

How to hide a folder on Android via computer?

The above methods of hiding lose their effectiveness when connected mobile device to a PC, since objects hidden using “.nomedia” or a file manager will still be displayed on the computer.

If you want to be absolutely sure that no one will get to your confidential data, you need to use combined hiding, which consists of the following:

Once you have successfully hidden the folder, it will be absent not only on the smartphone screen, but also on the computer. To access it you will need to do the following:

Now through your computer you will have access to previously hidden information. Depending on which masking method was used, all you have to do is delete the “.nomedia” file or enable the display of hidden data in Explorer.

Application of additional software

You can hide not only files and folders on Android, but also installed programs. This is done using the Hide It Pro utility. It works like this:

The selected shortcuts will be located in the ProgramData/Android/Language/.fr folder. To make them visible, you will need to log into the file manager and check the box next to “Show hidden files and folders.”