How to Hide Files and Folders in macOS.

When setting up a new Mac, it is recommended to keep it secure with a password, Touch ID, or authorization from an Apple Watch. However, this does not ensure that your macOS system is exclusively private. In situations where others may want to use your MacBook, such as your children wanting to play or a friend wanting to show photos, the need arises to protect certain folders and files that you wish to keep private.

One option for maintaining privacy is to make files and folders hidden. They will not appear in Finder during normal system navigation, and by using third-party software, you can also password-protect them. Below are some methods to hide files and folders in macOS:

Hiding Methods in macOS

To change the visibility of hidden files, first make sure you can see which ones are already hidden. You can do this by pressing Shift+Cmd+. in Finder. Hidden files and folders will appear with a faded but visible look.

To hide an additional file or folder, simply add a point at the beginning of its name:

1. In Finder, select the file or folder you want to hide.
2. Click on the name of the file or folder to edit it.
3. Add a point at the beginning of the name.
4. Press Enter and then select "Use dot" to confirm.

Like other hidden files, the renamed file or folder will appear faded. To hide them again, press Shift+Cmd. once more. To make them visible again, simply rename the files and folders by removing the point, but you will need to restart Finder using the command "killall Finder" in Terminal.

Additionally, you can use the Terminal interface to hide and show files and folders without renaming them. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type chflags hidden followed by a space.
3. Drag the file or folder from Finder to the Terminal window and press Enter.
4. Type killall Finder to restart the application.

To unhide a file, repeat the process using the command chflags nohidden.

It is important to remember that this method has its limitations, as anyone who knows the Shift+Cmd. shortcut can view the hidden files. For a more secure option, it is advisable to turn to third-party software.

Using Third-Party Software

Funter is a free tool that, while performing similar functions to the keyboard shortcuts in Terminal and Finder, does so with a more user-friendly interface. It can be found in the menu bar at the top of the macOS interface, allowing you to show or hide hidden files with a simple toggle switch. Additionally, it can be useful for searching for hidden files you may have lost.

If you want to protect files and folders with a password, Encrypto is a very convenient option. It is free and straightforward to use:

1. Launch the Encrypto application.
2. Drag the file or folder you want to hide.
3. Set a password to protect the selected data.
4. Click on "Encrypt."

This will generate a second encrypted file that contains the hidden files, which you can save anywhere on your system. To recover the locked data, simply double-click on the encrypted file, enter the password, and the protection will be disabled.

For added privacy, you can create an encrypted file with Encrypto and then hide it using Finder or Terminal options. Even if someone finds the hidden package, they won't be able to access it without the password.