How to: Hidden folders?

Joined
Sep 27, 2009
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hello community,

How do I make hidden folders that say for instance, only I will know how to get to. The most Ive been able to do is make a folder within a folder within a folder with false names through out. Is there any other way? Thanks for anyone who chimes in.

Ashtraypro
 
Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Messages
498
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Location
Tecumseh, Ontario
Your Mac's Specs
iMac 20" 2.4 GHz Dual Core 3GB Ram 320GB Hard Drive 10.6.2 :: Ipod Touch 8 GB :: Beastly Gaming PC
There are a couple apps available that will do this, some are free and some are a small amount of money. Just google it, I'm sure you can find one.
 
OP
A
Joined
Sep 27, 2009
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Okay great. I will search around. Any suggestions when trying to decide between various options?
 
Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Messages
498
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Location
Tecumseh, Ontario
Your Mac's Specs
iMac 20" 2.4 GHz Dual Core 3GB Ram 320GB Hard Drive 10.6.2 :: Ipod Touch 8 GB :: Beastly Gaming PC
Not really, it ultimately depends on your wants/needs for the situation. I'm sure different apps will have a varying amount of security, and the better ones will probably cost a little money.
 

vansmith

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
19,924
Reaction score
559
Points
113
Location
Queensland
Your Mac's Specs
Mini (2014, 2018, 2020), MBA (2020), iPad Pro (2018), iPhone 13 Pro Max, Watch (S6)
You can make a hidden folder by putting a dot at the beginning of the name. Unfortunately, Finder won't let you do this. There is one way to do it though.

1. Open up Terminal (/Application/Utilities/)
2. Type the following, replacing <dir> with the directory where you want to put the hidden folder: cd <dir>
3. Type the following, replace <name> with the name of the folder you want to hide: mkdir .<name>. It is essential that there is a dot in front of the name (this is what makes it hidden).
4. That folder won't show up in Finder. If you want to get to it, open Finder and push Command-Shift-G. In the box that drops down, type in the directory of the hidden folder. For instance, if the folder was called .me in Documents, I would type ~/Documents/.me (~ is shorthand for your home directory). Note that if someone else does this after you, they will see that you typed in that directory.
 
OP
A
Joined
Sep 27, 2009
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Points
1
You can make a hidden folder by putting a dot at the beginning of the name. Unfortunately, Finder won't let you do this. There is one way to do it though.

1. Open up Terminal (/Application/Utilities/)
2. Type the following, replacing <dir> with the directory where you want to put the hidden folder: cd <dir>
3. Type the following, replace <name> with the name of the folder you want to hide: mkdir .<name>. It is essential that there is a dot in front of the name (this is what makes it hidden).
4. That folder won't show up in Finder. If you want to get to it, open Finder and push Command-Shift-G. In the box that drops down, type in the directory of the hidden folder. For instance, if the folder was called .me in Documents, I would type ~/Documents/.me (~ is shorthand for your home directory). Note that if someone else does this after you, they will see that you typed in that directory.


K great. Let me work at this. Thank you for the step by step setup.

Edit: I cant get this to work. Ive tried several times and it says "syntax error near unexpected token." My first time it said "command not found"
 

dtravis7


Retired Staff
Joined
Jan 4, 2005
Messages
30,133
Reaction score
703
Points
113
Location
Modesto, Ca.
Your Mac's Specs
MacMini M-1 MacOS Monterey, iMac 2010 27"Quad I7 , MBPLate2011, iPad Pro10.5", iPhoneSE
Thanks Van. That will come in handy.

To the OP, I did a test folder in my Movies folder inside my users folder. Did exactly what Van said and it worked. Be sure you type it EXACTLY like Van showed. In the Terminal everything is case sensitive also.
 

vansmith

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
19,924
Reaction score
559
Points
113
Location
Queensland
Your Mac's Specs
Mini (2014, 2018, 2020), MBA (2020), iPad Pro (2018), iPhone 13 Pro Max, Watch (S6)
In the Terminal everything is case sensitive also.
Very good point. I forgot to mention that the first time around and I think this may be causing some grief.

Let me give you an example of the process and hopefully this will clear things up.

Let's say I want to make a hidden folder in my Documents folder called secret. This is how I would do it:
Code:
cd ~/Documents
Press enter.
Code:
mkdir .secret
Press enter. You're secret folder is now made. To get to it, open Finder and push Shift-Command-G. Enter ~/Documents/.secret/.

Hope that helps.
 
Joined
Dec 16, 2008
Messages
299
Reaction score
2
Points
18
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Your Mac's Specs
Macbook Pro 15"
Hiding your porn stash?
I suggest TrueCrypt.

It has an advantage over Apple's DiskImage in that it is cross platform, and you can create a dynamic file size volume. So as you add more stuff to the image, it gets bigger or smaller automatically.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
7,295
Reaction score
301
Points
83
Location
Wisconsin
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini (Late 2014) 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 Memory: 8GB 1600MHz DDR3
You can make a hidden folder by putting a dot at the beginning of the name. ...
That folder won't show up in Finder. If you want to get to it, open Finder and push Command-Shift-G. In the box that drops down, type in the directory of the hidden folder.

For those who like to use the mouse, that's the Go Menu > Go to folder...
 
C

chas_m

Guest
While the suggestions above are all worthwhile, generally speaking none of them should be necessary. Mac OS X is already set up as a multi-user-friendly system.

If you want to keep "your stuff" away from anyone else's "stuff," give them their own account (level to be determined by you). They can't see your stuff, you can't see theirs.

Should you need any further protection than that (for example you might leave the computer unattended), set a screensaver that's activated by a hot corner, and requires a password to stop. Drag your mouse to the hot corner every time you leave your desk.

Between using your account strictly for your own use and protecting your privacy with the secure screensaver, I can't see where one would need to go through all this other encryption/hidden folder business, which IME usually ends badly anyway.
 
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Messages
2,073
Reaction score
68
Points
48
Location
Ithaca NY
Your Mac's Specs
13 inch alMacBook 2GHz C2D 4G DDR3, 1.25GHz G4 eMac
Also, if you want to add a space to a directory name, while in the terminal you have to tell unix that the next space doesn't mean its the end of a command. To do this, simply put a \ before all spaces.

Example:

cd ~/Pictures/Vacation\ Photos/Europe
 
OP
A
Joined
Sep 27, 2009
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hiding your porn stash?
I suggest TrueCrypt.

It has an advantage over Apple's DiskImage in that it is cross platform, and you can create a dynamic file size volume. So as you add more stuff to the image, it gets bigger or smaller automatically.

That made me smile lol Not exactly. I like to think of myself as a writer of sorts; plus the photos of the misses. :p

While the suggestions above are all worthwhile, generally speaking none of them should be necessary. Mac OS X is already set up as a multi-user-friendly system.

If you want to keep "your stuff" away from anyone else's "stuff," give them their own account (level to be determined by you). They can't see your stuff, you can't see theirs.

Should you need any further protection than that (for example you might leave the computer unattended), set a screensaver that's activated by a hot corner, and requires a password to stop. Drag your mouse to the hot corner every time you leave your desk.

Between using your account strictly for your own use and protecting your privacy with the secure screensaver, I can't see where one would need to go through all this other encryption/hidden folder business, which IME usually ends badly anyway.

Thankfully I share this MBP with NO ONE. Thank you however.

Also, if you want to add a space to a directory name, while in the terminal you have to tell unix that the next space doesn't mean its the end of a command. To do this, simply put a \ before all spaces.

Example:

cd ~/Pictures/Vacation\ Photos/Europe

Very useful, I must visit Europe. Thanks again.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
Hiding your porn stash?
I suggest TrueCrypt.

It has an advantage over Apple's DiskImage in that it is cross platform, and you can create a dynamic file size volume. So as you add more stuff to the image, it gets bigger or smaller automatically.

Thanks for that recommendation. I was about to ask for just such a thing. I've been needing to set up something that is both secure and cross platform.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top