The smartphone has long turned into a tool for work and entertainment. Users store personal photos, work documents and credit card information on it. If the device falls into the hands of an attacker, all this can become public. To prevent this from happening, you need to not only set a password, but also learn how to hide files on Android.
For what?
It is important to understand that the question of how to hide files on Android is important for almost all smartphone users. In addition to communication, the phone has become a repository and a working tool. Each user has files that he would like to hide from prying eyes.
You can hide documents for many reasons. Someone fears that his work information may slip into the hands of competitors. Someone does not want a friend or relative to see the pictures. Someone often gives a smartphone to a child, and he accidentally can delete important files, so they should also be hidden.
For example, you decide to prepare a gift for your spouse. For this you need links or screenshots. But you understand that a loved one can see a surprise at any time. In this case, usually a graphic key or password does not save, so you can hide files on Android. How to do it?
Ways
You can do this manually or using programs. Each option is convenient in its own way, so you should choose it. Can:
- hide media files;
- hide documents in the Android file manager;
- hide files through Windows;
- hide documents using third-party software.
These are the four main ways that will help in this matter.
Work with media files
How to hide files on the “Android” in the gallery? To do this, you can use:
- standard file manager;
- installed file manager;
- connecting via PC.
Now you need to use the ".nomedia" file. The document can be downloaded to a PC or created independently on a smartphone. This file will need to be sent to a folder here, the files of which should not be displayed.
The method works in the following way: the system for issuing files scans the contents of memory. Documents found are immediately displayed in the gallery. If the “.nomedia” file is in the folder, it gives the command to the system that there is nothing in it. As a result, Android does not display hidden data.
Another way to work with the gallery
How to hide files on the “Android” in the gallery? This option does not require creating files and working with a manager. For him, you need to go to the gallery. The user will see all the pictures in or without folders, depending on the selected tab at the top. In the upper right corner, go to the "Album Management" menu.
Here all folders with photos, screenshots, received pictures from instant messengers and other things will be displayed. Each of them can be hidden, thereby preventing its appearance in the main menu. You can also create a new folder, send all important photos there and also hide it.
Android file manager
Go to the conductor. Here you need to find the files that you need to hide. In this case, you need to either hide each document individually or create a folder for them.
So, to hide the file, you need to put an end to its name. The same thing needs to be done with the folder. Hidden files and the Android folder will immediately disappear from the list. But the catch is that they will be visible from the computer. Therefore, if you want absolute privacy, you will have to modify them from a computer.
Work with pc
You must connect the smartphone to the computer. Running Explorer, you can find that the device has hidden files. All of them will have a dot at the beginning of the name. To completely hide them, you need to carry out additional configuration.
You need to select one or more hidden folders or files, and then right-click. In the list of commands, select “Properties” and at the very bottom of the dialog box we change the attributes. It is necessary to put a tick opposite "Hidden".
Using programs
If this option is not to your liking, you can use a third-party program that will help you learn how to hide files on Android. Now there are quite a few of them. Among the popular ones, it is worth highlighting:
- ES Explorer;
- KeepSafe;
- GalleryVault
- Gallery Lock;
- Folder Lock.
All programs are convenient and easy to use. They quickly help to hide files, and also show those that were already hidden.
ES Explorer
One of the most popular file managers. This is the easiest program. It works just like a system file manager. Thanks to her, you can quickly hide documents.
To do this, you must first enable the option to recognize hidden files. After that you need to find those documents that need to be hidden. After it is enough to rename the file, putting a dot in front of the name.
KeepSafe
This program is designed to hide photos. It can be installed quickly and free of charge from Google Play. After starting, you need to mark those pictures that need to be hidden. This is convenient because you do not need to create a special folder for this task.
After checking all the photos, just select the password and set it. Now hidden pictures can only be viewed using the KeepSafe gallery. It is no worse than the standard. It can also set slide shows, rotate or enlarge images.
GalleryVault
This is a secure container for personal data, which helps not only to hide, but also to understand how to view hidden files on Android. The software locally saves documents in the smartphone system and helps to make a backup copy.
Despite the name of the program, it works not only with media files. She can hide documents of different formats. Allows you to set a pin code. It’s especially nice that in the software settings you can hide the GalleryVault icon so that no one thinks that you are basically hiding something.
Content can be conveniently structured by distributing it into folders. You can view or listen to data using the GalleryVault tools. The program has a paid version that protects documents even more thoroughly and works without ads. If an attacker tries to open hidden files, the device takes a picture of him on the front camera.
Gallery lock
This is a free application that helps hide files on your smartphone. The software is also similar to the previous options. Helps highlight specific documents and hide them behind a password. Mostly works with media files.
It is possible to create a fake storage, which stores a fake album with photos. In this way, you can look away from a real data folder that you had to hide. The program icon can be changed to any image.
Folder lock
The peculiarity of this storage is that it has cloud functions. The program has an editor that helps you create notes that will also be hidden. To protect data, you can set a graphic key, pin code or password.
In the program, you can structure the data and view them. There is a paid version that does not show ads, can copy files to the cloud and hide the software icon.
Hidden files
How to see hidden Android files? If you have hidden the folders, but made a mistake or decided to access them, you can do this using a computer. As mentioned earlier, on a PC, all renamed files are displayed until the corresponding attribute is set in the properties.
In addition, you can go to the file manager. On the main page in the upper right corner, the setup menu is available. There you can see hidden software or folders. You can immediately hide the storage icon.
If you go to local files, you can also click on the icon in the upper right corner. There will be an opportunity to show hidden files. All renamed folders and documents appear in the list.