Today, in this blog post, we will explore an easy method to create a hidden share folder on Windows 11/10. It is typically used when you want to share folders among several devices connected to your network. Creating a hidden Windows share provides an additional level of security on your device.
The guide assumes that you are in either a work-group or domain Windows environment. This service is used for sharing a folder with people whose names you have allocated to the share. Additionally, the invisible folder won’t show up unless you try to connect using the full path.
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How to create a hidden share folder on Windows 11/10
To create a hidden shared folder on Windows 11/10, do the following-
- Press Window+E hotkey to open the File Explorer on your computer.
- Locate the folder you want to share.
- Now right-click on it and select Properties.
- Inside the Desktop Properties window, switch to the Sharing tab.
- Click on the Advanced Sharing button.
- Next, check the Share this folder checkbox.
- Under the Settings section, give a name to your Share name and then append a $ character at the end to make the folder hidden. For example – Desktop$. At this time, no need to use space within the Share name. Set the limit of the number of simultaneous users, according to your requirements.
- Then click Apply and then the OK button.
- Now, the previously opened wizard will appear, click the Share button.
- On the next page, type the name or find someone by using the drop-down menu to share the folder.
- Tap the Add button and choose the Permission Level. Read is the default option that uses as to give consent of only viewing and opening files to users. If you choose Read/Write, users will get the ability to view, open, modify, and delete the content on the folder you’re sharing.
- Now, click the Share > Done > Apply > OK button, as onscreen instructions.
Once you complete the above-mentioned steps, the shared folder will be invisible on the computer. However, it’ll still be accessible using the folder path, for example, \\10.1.2.12\Desktop$.
What is a hidden share in Windows?
A hidden share, also known as an Administrative Share, is a network share on a Microsoft network that is not visible when viewing shares on another computer. However, if the name of the hidden share is known, it can still be accessed.
How can I make hidden files visible on Windows 11/10?
If you wish to see all hidden files on all your storage media, you can use the file browser to adjust the settings. You can do this as follows:
- Press the Windows+E keys to open the File Explorer.
- Click on the View drop-down menu.
- Then navigate to Show > Hidden items.
- You will see a checkmark will appear on the Hidden items option.
- Similarly, you can again hide the hidden files by clicking on the Hidden items button.
What is the purpose of a hidden folder?
The main purpose of a hidden file is to avoid the possibility of the accidental deletion of important data. It is not recommended to use the hidden files to hide confidential information since anyone can access them. Hidden files appear as ghostly icons on Microsoft Windows Explorer.
