author avatar
15 October 2019  Jennifer Thatcher  Technology Manager of Test Dept.
Last update by William Davis at 15 October 2019

Summary
Many computer users prefer to hide the important, confidential, recently used files in fear that they are accessed or deleted when the computer is not around us. How to hide the recently used files in Windows 10? How to hide the important files or folders?



Why should We Hide Files or Folders?

Computer is a basic tool at work. Confidential, important files are usually stored in out computers. Sometimes, we have to share a computer with the other people. If you want to prevent them from visiting, editing and deleting your files, you need to hide them.

How to Hide Recently Used Files?

In Window File Explorer, there is one option “Quick access”. Over there, you can see all the files opened recently. By pressing the keys [Win + E], you can go and see in Windows File Explorer.
hide windows frequent files and folders in quick access

1. Hide in Windows File Explorer

① Open Windows File Checker and turn to [View] > [Options].
go to windows file explorer and click options
② In the section [General] > [Privacy], uncheck the options [Show recently used files in Quick access] and [Show frequently used folders in Quick access].
③ Click [Apply] > [OK] to save the change.
uncheck the option to hide recently used files and folders in quaick access
④ Go back [Quick access]. You can see that all the recently used files and folders have been hidden.
cannot see any recently used files
Tips!If you want to show these files again, you can follow the above steps to check the two options [Show recently used files in Quick access] and [Show frequently used folders in Quick access].

2. Hide in Registry Editor

You can permanently hide the recently used files in [Quick access] through Windows Registry Editor.
① Press [Win + R] to open Run. Then, type and run [regedit.exe].
run regedit exe and open registry editor
② In Registry Editor, navigate to [Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HomeFolderDesktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders].
nevigate to delegate folders in registry editor
③ Under the folder [DelegateFolders], delete these two sub-folders:
[3134ef9c-6b18-4996-ad04-ed5912e00eb5]: for recently used files

[3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819]: for frequently used files

Tips!If you want to recover the files and folders in [Quick access], you can repeat the above steps to add two sub-folders named [3134ef9c-6b18-4996-ad04-ed5912e00eb5] and [3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819] under [DelegateFolders].
In addition, if you want to hide the other files and folders, how to operate? Here are two methods for you.

How to Hide Files or Folders?

1. Hide in Properties

① First, open Windows File Explorer and navigate to [View] > [Options].
go to windows file explorer and click options
② Then, in the section [Advanced settings] under the tab [View], find [Hidden files and folders].
③ Select [Don't show the hidden files, folders or drives]. Then, click [Apply] > [OK] to save the setting.
apply to hide files, folders and drives in windows
④ After that, highlight the target file and right-click at it to select [Properties].
⑤ In the tab [General], check the option [Hidden]. Then, click [Apply] > [OK] to save the setting.
check the option to hide the file in general properties
Tips!If you want to show the hidden files and folders again, you can repeat the above steps and select [Show hidden files, folders or drives]. Then, highlight the target files and folders and check the option [Hidden].
Although the above method can hide the files, they can still be accessed, edited and deleted through some operations. How to hide the files more safely?

Renee File Protector is here to help you. This professional software allows users to hide and encrypt files and folders and block the other people to view without the correct password. That can stop the other people accessing your files and folders freely.

2. Hide via Renee File Protector

Renee File Protector is professional encryption software. With the high-level secure encryption technology, it can hide, lock and protect the files at the local disks or on the mobile devices. Besides, it can lock the encrypted zip files, greatly ensuring individual privacy.
Renee File Protector - Overall Protection to Your Data

Easy to use Few clicks for whole folder encryption process.

Overall protection Users can hide, lock or get other protection to files in local disk or USB disk.

High Security Classified encryption method prevents data from leakage.

Compression transfer Support to compress and encrypt any files to secure the file transfer security.

Advanced self protection Provide self

Easy to use Few clicks for whole folder encryption process.

Overall protection Users can hide, lock or get other protection to files in local disk or USB disk.

High Security Classified encryption method prevents data from leakage.

Free TrialFree Trial 800 users have downloaded and protect data!
① Download and install Renee File Protector.
② Open the software and select [Hard Disk] > [Hide File].
hide files in file protector
③ Then, at the right side, select [Hide File] or [Hide Folder] according to your need.
④ Select the target files or folders.
select the target files or folders to hide in renee file protector to prevent mobile spyware
⑤ If you want to view these hidden files, you enter the password to unhide them.
click to show the hidden file or folder in file protector