How to hide and unhide drive in Windows 10 and Windows 11?

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In today’s digital age, privacy and security are paramount. Whether you want to protect sensitive files from prying eyes or simply declutter your File Explorer, hiding a drive in Windows can be an effective solution. Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer multiple ways to conceal drives without deleting data, ensuring that only authorized users can access them.

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Many users store confidential documents, personal media, or work-related files on separate partitions. While password protection and encryption are common security measures, hiding a drive adds an extra layer of obscurity. This guide will explore different methods—both built-in and third-party—to hide and unhide drives in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Some techniques involve using Disk Management, Registry Editor, or Group Policy, while others rely on command-line tools like DiskPart. Each method has its advantages, depending on whether you need a temporary or permanent solution. We’ll cover step-by-step instructions for both operating systems to ensure clarity.

Before proceeding, it’s important to note that hiding a drive doesn’t encrypt or password-protect it—it merely makes it invisible in File Explorer. For enhanced security, consider combining drive hiding with BitLocker or third-party encryption tools. Now, let’s dive into the step-by-step methods.

Method 1: Using Disk Management (Windows 10 & 11)

For Windows 10:

1. Open Disk Management:

   • Press Win + X and select Disk Management.

   • Alternatively, type diskmgmt.msc in the Run dialog (Win + R).

2. Locate the Drive to Hide:

   • Right-click the target drive (e.g., D:, E:) and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.

3. Remove the Drive Letter:

   • Click Remove and confirm. The drive will no longer appear in File Explorer.

4. To Restore the Drive:

   • Repeat the steps, but instead of removing, click Add and assign a drive letter.

For Windows 11:

The steps are identical to Windows 10, as Disk Management functions the same in both versions.

Method 2: Using Registry Editor (Windows 10 & 11)

For Windows 10:

1. Open Registry Editor:

   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to the Key:

   • Go to:

     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer  

3. Create a New DWORD Value:

   • Right-click → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.

   • Name it NoDrives.

4. Set the Value Data:

   • Calculate the drive letter’s value (e.g., D: = 8, E: = 16).

   • Enter the decimal value and click OK.

5. Restart Your PC for changes to take effect.

For Windows 11:

The process is the same, but ensure you back up the registry before making changes.

Method 3: Using Group Policy (Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise & Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise)

For Windows 10:

1. Open Group Policy Editor:

   • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to:

   • User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer.

3. Enable "Hide These Specified Drives":

   • Double-click the policy, select Enabled, and choose the drive(s) to hide.

4. Apply and Restart.

For Windows 11:

The steps remain the same, but Group Policy is only available in Pro/Enterprise editions.

Method 4: Using DiskPart (Command Line – Windows 10 & 11)

For Both Windows 10 & 11:

1. Open Command Prompt as Admin:

   • Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Run DiskPart:

   • Type diskpart and press Enter.

3. List and Select the Volume:

   • Type list volume and note the volume number.

   • Type select volume X (replace X with the volume number).

4. Remove the Drive Letter:

   • Type remove letter D (replace D with the target drive letter).

5. Exit DiskPart:

   • Type exit to close.

To restore, repeat steps but use assign letter D instead.

How to Unhide a Drive in Windows 10 and 11

Using Disk Management

1. Open Disk Management.

2. Right-click the hidden drive and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.

3. Click Add, assign a drive letter, and click OK.

Using Command Prompt (DiskPart)

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Type diskpart > list volume > select volume X > assign letter D.

Removing Registry Entry (If Applied)

1. Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

2. Delete the NoDrives value or set it to 0.

3. Restart your PC.

Alternative: Using Group Policy (For Pro/Enterprise Editions)

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to:

   User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

3. Double-click Hide these specified drives in My Computer.

4. Enable it and select the drive to hide.

Conclusion

Hiding a drive in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is a straightforward process, whether you prefer graphical tools like Disk Management or advanced methods like Registry Editor and DiskPart. Each approach has its use cases—Disk Management is user-friendly, while Group Policy offers centralized control in professional environments.

Remember, hiding a drive is not a security measure but an obscurity tactic. For true data protection, combine these methods with encryption tools like BitLocker. By following this guide, you can efficiently manage drive visibility while keeping your files secure.