If you want to hide a drive in Windows 10, it’s pretty straightforward. You can do this by using the Disk Management tool. Once you open Disk Management, find the drive you want to hide, and then remove its drive letter. Boom! Your drive won’t appear in File Explorer anymore, but it’s still accessible if you reassign the drive letter later.
How to Hide Drive in Windows 10
Want to keep prying eyes away from a specific drive on your computer? Hiding a drive in Windows 10 can help. This guide walks you through the steps to make a drive invisible using the Disk Management tool.
Step 1: Open Disk Management
First, right-click the Start button and choose “Disk Management.”
This tool lets you manage your disks and partitions, providing various options, including hiding a drive.
Step 2: Locate the Drive
Next, find the drive you want to hide in the Disk Management window.
You’ll see a list of all available drives and partitions. Ensure you’re selecting the correct drive to avoid messing things up.
Step 3: Right-click the Drive
Right-click on the drive or partition you wish to hide.
A context menu will pop up with different options like “Change Drive Letter and Paths,” “Format,” etc.
Step 4: Select “Change Drive Letter and Paths”
Click “Change Drive Letter and Paths” from the context menu.
This option lets you manage drive letters and paths for the selected drive. It’s the key to hiding your drive.
Step 5: Remove the Drive Letter
Click “Remove” in the dialog box that appears. Confirm by clicking “Yes.”
By removing the drive letter, the drive becomes invisible in File Explorer but is still there.
After completing these steps, your chosen drive will no longer appear in File Explorer. However, the data remains intact and can be accessed again by reassiging a drive letter.
Tips for Hiding Drive in Windows 10
- Backup Your Data: Always ensure you have a backup before making changes to your disks.
- Use for Sensitive Data: Hide drives that contain sensitive or private information to keep them out of sight.
- Reassign Drive Letter: You can easily make the drive visible again by reassigning a drive letter using the same steps.
- Security: Hiding a drive is not a security measure. It just makes the drive invisible in File Explorer.
- Beware of System Drives: Avoid hiding system drives (like C: or the recovery partition), as it can lead to system instability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hiding a drive affect its data?
No, hiding a drive does not affect its data. The data remains intact and accessible once you reassign a drive letter.
Can I hide the C: drive?
It’s not recommended to hide the C: drive as it contains the operating system and crucial files. Doing so can lead to system issues.
How do I make the drive visible again?
Follow the same steps and choose “Add” instead of “Remove” to reassign a drive letter to the hidden drive.
Is hiding a drive a good security measure?
No, hiding a drive is not a security measure. It’s just a way to make it invisible in File Explorer. Use proper encryption for better security.
Can I hide a USB drive using these steps?
Yes, you can hide any drive, including USB drives, using the method outlined.
Summary
- Open Disk Management.
- Locate the drive.
- Right-click the drive.
- Select “Change Drive Letter and Paths.”
- Remove the drive letter.
Conclusion
Now you know how to hide a drive in Windows 10! By following these simple steps, you can keep specific drives out of sight. This method is helpful for keeping sensitive data from casual prying eyes, though it’s not a foolproof security measure. Remember, the drive and its data are still there and can be accessed by anyone who knows how to reassign a drive letter.
For further reading, consider exploring more about disk management and data encryption. These topics can help you better understand how to manage your drives and keep your data secure. So go ahead, give it a try, and see how easy it is to take control of your drives in Windows 10!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.