Introduction: How to Hide Files You Don't Want Others Seeing and or Reading.

This Instructable shows you how to change the format of a file to make it useless unless you know what type of file it was originally. For example changing a mpeg (movie file) into a txt/doc (text/document) so you cant play it let alone see the information.

Step 1: Having a File to Change.

First of all, You need a file to configure. If your are just trying to learn how to do it for feature uses then I would suggest making a copy of just a picture or something and using it to test.

Step 2: Relocating

Once you have the Image/video or other type of file, Create a new folder on the desktop and put that image/video in that folder.

Step 3: Changing Folder Options

After moving the file into the new folder on the desktop open the folder so you are viewing its contents. Then go into the "Tools" and select Folder Options.

Step 4: Changing Folder Options Part 2

Once the Folder Options screen pops up, Select the "View" tab. Now scroll all the way to the bottom and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types" After you do that, Hit "OK"

Step 5: Changing the Files Extension

Once you have done that you should see the extension. Right click on the file and select "Rename" go to the extension and replace it with something else. If your replacing a picture or a video then replace it with a "txt" extension. If your changing a text file or document file change it into a jpg.


(For example. The file I am using as an example for this instructable is called "Me and my Officers.jpg" and I am changing the extension to txt so it should look like this "Me and my Officers.txt")


Once you have done this a window will pop up saying "If you change the extension, the file may become unusable. Are you sure you want to change it?" Select Yes

Step 6: Resetting the Settings

Once that is done you can no longer use the file properly. Text it and make sure just encase, and if it still works try a different extension. Now just go back into the fold options and change it back to the way it was hit OK and move the file to wherever you want to store it and boom a useless file that only you know how to use.

Step 7: A Few Tips...

Seeing as you have changed the extension you might wanna change the name itself to make it look less conspicuous. A very important detail is not forgetting the actual extension of the original file otherwise the information is really useless.

In other note;

Its very good for hiding videos you shouldn't have and would be rather embarrassing for others to stumble a pone or go looking. But for the same token you might need a tune up for your computer take it in some where and they delete the files because they don't work... or maybe some one Else is just on your computer and they delete them because they don't work. But in the end its better then some one opening them and seeing them after all. Right?


Not responsible for misuse