If you share a computer with family members or roommates, simply “hiding” a folder in the Windows properties menu isn’t very secure, as anyone can easily click “Show hidden files” in File Explorer. However, there is a clever trick you can use to create a completely invisible folder right in plain sight on your Windows 11 desktop.
This trick relies on removing the folder’s name using a blank character and replacing its icon with a transparent image.
Step 1: Remove the Folder Name
You cannot name a folder using just the spacebar; Windows will simply revert to “New Folder”. We need to use a special blank character code.
- Right-click on an empty space on your desktop, select New, and click Folder.
- While the folder name is highlighted (ready to be renamed), press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard.
- While holding Alt, type 255 on your keyboard’s number pad (this will not work with the numbers across the top of your keyboard).
- Release the Alt key and press Enter. Your folder now has a completely invisible name.
Step 2: Make the Icon Transparent
Now we need to get rid of the yellow folder graphic.
- Right-click on your newly nameless folder and select Properties.
- Click on the Customise tab at the top of the window.
- Click the Change Icon… button at the bottom.
- Scroll to the right in the list of icons. Eventually, you will see a large blank space where there appear to be no icons at all. These are actually transparent icons.
- Click on one of the blank spaces to select a transparent icon, then click OK.
- Click Apply and then OK again.
The folder will completely vanish from your desktop. It is still there, and you can still double-click the empty space to open it and store files inside, but no one casually looking at your screen will ever know it exists.