Can you hide files on Google Drive?

Google Drive is private storage which implies it’s the type of service that helps you store, hide, and protect your data safely over cloud storage locked together with your Google account password. However, still, there are cases where people want to hide files on Google Drive.

Although Google Drive does not offer any such feature to hide the files, a straightforward workaround can help you create a mask for the file stored in Google Drive.

In this article, we have assembled a couple of ways you can use to hide files on Google Drive.

Table of Contents

How can you hide files on Google Drive?

Just as you can hide local Android and iOS files behind your PIN code or in a special folder, you can’t hide files in Google Drive. If you own the file, you can easily delete it from the shared folder or move it to a private folder

If someone else can access your drive and you want to hide files from that person, consider creating another Google account for confidentiality. It’s free at the end of the day. Alternatively, you can manipulate the version to hide the original file so that it does not appear on the other side.

Here’s how to hide files on Google Drive inconspicuously.

Hide files in Google Drive using the Chrome extension

The name of this extension couldn’t be any more descriptive. Hidden Folder for Drive, Cloud USB is actually a free-to-use app on the Google Workspace Marketplace that provides you with a better way to conceal files, photos, videos, PDFs, or documents in Google Drive. Refer to the steps mentioned below to learn how to use it.

Open your laptop or PC and load your favorite browser.
Go to the Google Drive website at drive.google.com.
Enter your credentials to access the Drive.
After signing in, click the Google Apps icon.

Scroll down at the bottom and you will see More from Google Workspace Marketplace.

Can you hide files on Google Drive using google chrome extension

Click on it.
This will bring up the Google Workspace Marketplace window on your screen.
Type in Hidden Folder for Drive, Cloud USB, open, and install the first option displayed.
Subsequently, you can also visit this site to install and connect it manually to your Drive.
When a new prompt window pops up asking for permission to install the app, click on Continue.
A new browser window will open up where you can choose which account to use with this app.
When you select an account, you’ll be asked for permission again to see what all apps in your account are accessing.

Make sure you check the Connect itself to your Drive option.
Once you’re done with all that, you can now hide files using this app.

The Hidden Folder for Drive, Cloud USB is a user-friendly tool that is free with no hidden costs. As a beginner who would not want to get too involved in the process and rather the solution, this is simply the best you can go with.

Read How to Hide a Folder in Google Drive

Separate work into folders with Google Drive

If you don’t want to use an extension you can use the organization to separate work into folders and then control who accesses those folders. You can use this method if you are juggling multiple collaborators or people who have access to your files and want to make sure they are all separated.

Just allow the folders you want to access to access individual folders. After that, the other folders in Google Drive will not be visible and will remain hidden. You can also allow access to the file for a limited time for a little extra control.

Use version control to hide files on Google Drive

If you don’t want to organize your drives as described above, there is a tweak that allows you to hide files using the managed version.

One of the smart things about Google Drive is version control. This is essential in any business environment. This is called the “managed version” and is enabled by default in Google Drive.

This is a step-by-step guide that you can follow to learn how to do it.

Log in to your laptop or PC and open your favorite browser
Go to the Google Drive website drive.google.com and enter the information to access Google Drive.
If you have already downloaded Google Chrome, just sign in to your Google account.

Then click on the Google Apps icon. This allows you to open another Google app (such as Google Drive) associated with your account.
Select Google Drive.
Browse to the file you want to hide after a successful login.
Right-click on the file to see an option called Version Control.

How can you hide files on Google Drive — version control to hide files on Google Drive

Kindly note: This option only appears if you have uploaded or owned the file. This option does not appear if the file is shared or has no ownership.

Then click Manage Versions, and under Upload New Version, select the file you want to upload.
When a file is uploaded, the hidden file is masked by the newly uploaded file. The uploaded file will be used instead and the file will be hidden.

Read How to Give Google Drive Request Access

Keep your files hidden on Google Drive forever

It is important to note that hidden files do not remain hidden forever. Google Drive will automatically delete after 30 days.

To avoid deletion, open the file version context menu and select the Keep Forever option. This will not remove the file from your Google account.

If you want to redisplay the file and redisplay it in Google Drive. Click the context menu to delete the uploaded file.

This is how to keep hidden files forever in google drive.

Read Printing is Disabled for this File Error on Google Drive

Can you hide a folder inside Google Drive?

Yes, you can even hide a folder inside Google Drive but the process is not as simple as the file. You have to first convert the folder into a zip and then upload a file as a mask using the manage version option.

Download the folder that you want to hide.
Convert the folder to zip and upload it to Google Drive.
Now right-click on the zip file and open on Manage versions.
Upload a new file to mask the folder/zip.

Can you hide a file on Google Drive using your mobile application?

Yes, you can hide a file on Google Drive by controlling the file you share with others.

Conclusion

Well, that’s it, folks. As you can see, there are three ways to hide files on Google Drive. Give these methods a try and see which one suits you the best.

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Shirley

Hello, my name is Shirley. I’m a Google Drive expert and have been working with the platform since it launched. I’ve written extensively about Google Drive tips and tricks, and have created numerous tutorials on how to get the most out of the platform. I also enjoy creating tutorials to help people learn how to use Drive like pros. Read more