Samsung Galaxy S3: How to Hide or Unhide Folders on Gallery App

Currently smartphone function not only to make calls or send messages, but now the device has been turned into a device that can do many things for you. Such as the Samsung Galaxy SIII, with a variety of capabilities and features inside it you can use it for various purposes such as downloading apps, sending emails, etc..

See also: How to Send Scheduled E-mail on Samsung Galaxy S3

In addition the device also comes with a huge storage and advanced cameras that allows you to take a lot of HDR photos and HD video and then save it on your Gallery app.

See also: How to Take HDR Photos with the Samsung Galaxy S3

But for some reason you do not want others to see the collection of your personal photo or video. Relax, with the Galaxy SIII you can easily hide the folder that contains the photograph or video in the gallery app on your phone.

Image Credit: webcazine.com


How to hide picture or video folder on gallery?
As written on webcazine.com, to be able to do this you just need to follow the easy steps below:
  1. For the record, you can rename the folder and add a "." in front of the name of the folder to make it invisible.
  2.  Go to Gallery app through Home screen.
  3. Long tap on the folder you want to hide.
  4. Tap on the Option key and select Rename.
  5. Enter a full-stop in front of the folder name and then tap OK.
  6. Finish. Now the folder that you want has been hidden.

How to unhide a hidden picture or video folder on gallery?
  1. If you have previously managed to hide a folder that you want, then you can also unhide the folders back. Go to My Files app through Home screen.
  2. Tap on the Option key and select Settings.
  3. Tick on the checkbox Show hidden files option.
  4. Now all hidden folders will unhide.
  5. Rename the folder name by removing the "." on the front of its existing name to make it visible.

Well, the two methods mentioned above are very easy to do and no need of third-party app required. So, you can try these methods directly on your phone and then let me know your experience by write them through the comment below :)
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67 comments:

  1. Unknown6 June 2013 at 11:58

    I have used your steps 2 hide a few picture files now as i try and hide them they are empty... can you help retrieve the lost pix?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan6 June 2013 at 13:40

      Hi Robert,
      Thanks for write me a comment.
      Have you tried to unhide your hidden picture files using the unhide steps I've mentioned above?

      Delete
    2. Unknown29 July 2013 at 08:27

      Yea I just hide a folder and you have to remember to go to -Settings - show hidden files to be able to see or even search for the file

      Delete
    3. Rehan29 July 2013 at 17:23

      Hi Kenny Bailey,
      Thanks for coming and willing to share your experience here. I really appreciate it. Also I've mentioned to go to Settings then checked Show hidden files option as you can see on the step #3 on how to unhide hidden file.
      However, thanks again and have a nice day :)

      Delete
    4. Unknown5 July 2014 at 18:45

      I cant find my pics.
      Anywere
      Help!

      Delete
    5. Rehan6 July 2014 at 18:35

      Hi Anneth Martinez,
      Thanks for coming.
      Do you remember the folder where you place those pictures?
      Have you enabled "Show hidden files" option in My Files app?
      CMIIW, adding "." in front of the file name in My Files app won't delete the file, it just hides the file.
      So, if you remember the folder of that pictures and have enabled "Show hidden files" option in My Files app then you should be able to find your hidden pictures and then remove "." from the file names to make them visible again in the appropriate apps (In this case in Gallery app).

      Delete
    6. Unknown11 October 2015 at 19:50

      Can my samsung galaxy prime hide pics ....just as u mentioned?

      Delete
  2. Unknown8 June 2013 at 08:39

    I tried the unhide steps but the folder still doesn't reappear for me to take the "." away and make it visoble

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan8 June 2013 at 15:12

      Hi C Smith,
      I'm so sorry if the unhide steps I've mentioned above can't help you. You may want to try some free apps, such as ES File Manager or Astro File Manager, both of these apps will allow you to see all folders in your phone, including the hidden folder and files.
      Hope it helps :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10 June 2013 at 20:34

      I did the same thing and I tore my phone apart to figure out how to get them back. What you do is go to "my files" in the apps menu. Click on the "doccuments" folder, click on "pictures" and find whatever you renamed your folder and press and hold to rename again. Drop the "." And give it a few seconds it will reappear in the gallery.

      Delete
    3. Rehan11 June 2013 at 01:19

      Hi There,
      Thanks for share your useful tips here. May this steps can help C Smith to solve his problem.
      Thanks again :)

      Delete
    4. Unknown15 June 2013 at 17:01

      I tried going to documents and it says 'no files' oh my god help me hahaa.

      Delete
    5. Rehan17 June 2013 at 00:32

      Hi Angela,
      Did you have a problem to unhide the hidden folder too?

      Delete
    6. Mariel14 August 2013 at 08:46

      On my phone, it wasn't under Documents. I clicked All Files at the top, and the folder was under Pictures within that.

      Delete
    7. Rehan14 August 2013 at 19:02

      Hi Mariel,
      Thanks for coming and your willing to share your useful experience here :)

      Delete
    8. Unknown13 January 2014 at 21:11

      hey!!
      i went to pictures in " my files". the name of the folder is visible but no pics are there inside dat folder.!
      help!! help!!

      Delete
    9. Rehan18 January 2014 at 14:19

      Hi Akriti Mittal,
      Thanks for coming.
      Try to restart the phone first and then see whether it helps. Well, I actually don't understand why some users who leave their comments here said that they lost their pictures after they hide the folder. I've tried to duplicate the issue several times and have never experienced any issue, the picture are immediately turn up there once I unhide the hidden folder. One thing that I noticed which will cause the picture lost is whenever I try to move the picture and then I'm doing something else and not paste them. Back to the case, whatever the causes of your issue, try to use another third-party app to recover deleted pictures. I believed there are some apps in the Play Store which has the ability to do so.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous20 August 2014 at 10:41

      I had done all the steps above and can't find my hidden pictures anywhere. why do they make this thing so complicated?

      Delete
    11. Rehan20 August 2014 at 22:42

      Hi Pablo,
      Thanks for coming.
      Last month, I discovered that some of hidden pictures in my Galaxy S4(with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat) were moved to the /storage/emulated/0/.hide/island/ (you have to enable "Show hidden files" option in My Files app settings to see this folder). So, try to go to this folder in your phone and then see whether your pictures are listed there.

      Delete
  3. Unknown17 June 2013 at 08:00

    U literally JUST have to read EACH WORD before u post. There's NO WAYY to physically lose it.. It may be under ".thumbnail"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan17 June 2013 at 20:48

      Hi Anthony DiLullo,
      Thank you for reminds me and was pleased to share your useful knowledge here. I like someone like you, a person who can encourage others to learn to be better than before.
      Thanks again and may God always bless you :)

      Delete
  4. Anonymous18 July 2013 at 07:33

    I've tried all the steps, and can't retrieve the folders I hide.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan18 July 2013 at 18:02

      Hi Buddy,
      Thanks for coming.
      Seems you have a similar problem with C Smith who also leave his comment here. Try to do as what someone said under C Smith's comment: go to My files > tap the documents folder > tap pictures > find whatever you renamed your folder then long press to rename it again. Remove the "." on the front of its existing name and give it a few seconds to reappear in the gallery.
      FYI, I just post your comment only one, due to the other has similar question. I'm so sorry for that.
      Hope this helps :)

      Delete
  5. joemama61328 July 2013 at 04:33

    Please allow me to put in my two cents....Whatever I did to hide the folder that I wanted hidden was done on the SD card. I simply took the card out of the phone, and put it in a computer. Everything showed up, and I renamed the folder without the period, re-inserted the card into the phone, and all was back. I know it's not the greatest solution for hiding and unhiding, but at least we got our files back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan28 July 2013 at 17:06

      Hi Joemama613,
      Thanks for coming.
      Also thanks to your willing to share useful experience here. I really appreciate it. Hope this will provide helps to another who are encountered this problem. As we know that most of who leave their comment here were failed to unhide their hidden files so I thinks it will be alternative solution to to solve their problem.
      Thanks again and have a nice day :)

      Delete
  6. Anonymous22 August 2013 at 17:28

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan22 August 2013 at 20:32

      Hi M Lisin,
      Thanks for coming.
      To improve the readers experience, I decided to only publish a links that has relevancy with this blog's topis. So, I'm so sorry to remove your comment because the link inserted is not relevant with this blog's topic. Later, if you submit the comment and inserting a relevant link, surely I'll be happy to publish them in this blog :)

      Delete
  7. Unknown14 September 2013 at 13:00

    This doesn't actually seem to hide "folders", it seems like it only works on "albums". My gallery shows ALL of the covers from my eBook folder, which makes it really annoying when I really only want to see true "pictures". They each appear in their own "album", which through this method I would have to hide like 70 albums.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan29 September 2013 at 23:20

      Hi Buddy,
      Thanks for coming.
      FYI, you can also do the "hide folder" step through the My File apps by renaming the folder contains your eBook and put "." in front of the folder's name. This will make the picture invisible on the Gallery apps.
      Hope this helps :)

      Delete
  8. bittyballofcurly29 September 2013 at 09:56

    Ok, I can't find my album. I looked under files > documents; I looked under files> pictures; I looked everywhere in the files and I can't find it. I hooked my sd card to my Mac, but apparently my pictures are saved to my phone, so I linked my phone to my Mac; I downloaded android file transfer; I've been searching everywhere and I don't know where to find my album. Why would you still have this page up when it's obviously a faulty method?! Please tell me what to do so I can find them. I don't know where else to look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan29 September 2013 at 23:14

      Hi Bittyballofcurly,
      Thanks for coming.
      Usually the picture taken by the camera will be saved into the Camera folder under DCIM folder (see through the My File apps). Once you've checked the option to show hidden file, then go to the DCIM folder then you'll see the hidden folder turn up there with "." in the front of the folder name. Next, rename the folder and remove "." from there, wait for a few seconds then the folder will be visible again in the Gallery apps. I just tried this steps again with my phone, and it works. So, I really so sorry if you were disappointed with this post and find nothing useful from here.

      Delete
  9. KT4 October 2013 at 07:45

    None of your suggestions have worked for me. I opted to hide one of the albums in my gallery and now can't find it anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan4 October 2013 at 18:49

      Hi KT,
      Thanks for coming.
      Also I'm so sorry if none of these steps is works for you. But, can you please tell me what the album you have hide? Is it albums contains a picture taken by the camera or else? If so, try to check to the Camera apps settings to know what the storage option you're using, is it phone or memory? If you use the phone, then the picture will be saved on your internal memory in the Camera folder under DCIM folder, if you use the memory, then it will be saved on the SD Card in the Camera folder under DCIM folder. Once you've known or remember the location, you can go to the folder through My Files apps then perform the "unhide" steps.
      Hope this helps :)

      Delete
  10. Unknown2 November 2013 at 15:29

    Followed steps to unhide...found the folder, removed the period in front of the name and its not showing back up in my gallery. Furthermore when I click on details of the folder it says 0MB. AND NO FILES! Did this delete all my pictures and videos?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan2 November 2013 at 21:21

      Hi Antonia Johnson,
      No, It didn't. Once you remove the period in front of the folder name, the folder should be show up again on Gallery app. However, try to restart your phone then see whether it helps :)

      Delete
    2. Unknown3 November 2013 at 11:31

      Thanks for replying. Restarting my phone did not being my album in the gallery app. Any other suggestions or am I out of luck?

      Delete
    3. Rehan4 November 2013 at 19:18

      Hi Antonia Johnson,
      I'm still curious about it, if you don't mind try to hide another folder and then unhide, then see if the file inside is still there or not. I've tried to duplicate your issue and the files is not removed.

      Delete
  11. Unknown8 November 2013 at 06:26

    What does it mean by a full-stop

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan10 November 2013 at 05:09

      Hi Anakin Humphrey,
      Thanks for coming.
      Full-stop = . (the punctuation usually used or placed to indicate the end of sentences)
      Hope this helps :)

      Delete
  12. Joy Chun10 November 2013 at 01:40

    Can you help me. I had pictures that i screenshotted, saved from facebook, and the ones i took all in a album i decided to hide to try. i tried everything you said and i cannot find it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan10 November 2013 at 06:34

      Hi Joy Chun,
      Thanks for coming.
      Have you enabled the "Show hidden files" option in My File app? If so, try to look at the DCIM folder under sdcard or extSdCard to find your hidden folder--if you remember the folder's name, you can try to search the folder by utilizing the serch icon--. Once you find the folder, remove the full-stop in front of the folder to unhide the folder.
      Hope this helps :)

      Delete
  13. DrifterNtheDark19 December 2013 at 20:06

    I also encountered the same issues as many others had posted, but found this and was able to access my hidden items, then hide them again. It's very easy. The main thing I think is to press the back button after you unhide the files and also give a minute or two for them to show back up. Hope this helps! :-) http://www.techsum4u.info/2012/09/how-to-reveal-hidden-folders-on-samsung_4393.html?m=1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan20 December 2013 at 14:26

      Hi DriferNtheDark,
      Thanks for coming and share your thought here.
      Also thanks to leave us a useful link. ohh, yep seems you're right about the Back button.
      May God always bless you :)

      Delete
  14. Unknown20 December 2013 at 15:54

    i was able to hide my folder but i am not able to un hide it.. plz help

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan20 December 2013 at 20:28

      Hi Angel Carrasquillo,
      Thanks for coming.
      Please make sure you have checked "Show hidden files" option in My Files app settings and then remove the "." in the front of the folder's name.
      Hope this helps :)

      Delete
    2. Unknown4 June 2014 at 07:37

      when I renamed my folder I never put " " but I followed the steps to unhide and even renamed the album and I still cant see my unhiden album. it tells me "unfortunately gallery has stoped" I have GallaxyS3 I can see my album on my computer but no pictures inside

      Delete
    3. Rehan4 June 2014 at 14:15

      Hi Karla Navarrete,
      Thanks for coming.
      CMIIW, can I conclude that you that you have managed to unhide that folder in the My Files app but couldn't open your Gallery app?
      If so, seems your Gallery app contains a corrupted image or so. Try installing QuickPic app from the Play Store and then find the corrupted images and delete them. Once done, try opening your Gallery app and then see whether it helps :)

      Delete
  15. Anonymous9 January 2014 at 20:21

    Anybody know how to hide a folder on the new 4.3 system? Thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan9 January 2014 at 22:20

      Hi Buddy,
      Thanks for coming.
      I just tried to hide a folder on my S4 with the Android 4.3 inside using the step mentioned above, and it works. CMIIW, I believe that this step is a basic way used by the Android system to read the folders therefore this step is applicable in any Android version.

      Delete
  16. Justha4ofus13 February 2014 at 07:08

    Mine showed up under .hide folder; "island" (no quotation marks). This was after I chose to unhide docs. Try there... I was also unsuccessful until I looked there

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan15 February 2014 at 03:08

      Hi Justha4ofus,
      Thanks for coming and share your experience here.
      I'm so wondering why some users experienced lost data/can't find hidden folder. I several times try this method and have never experienced any issue. The hidden folder or file will be show up shortly once I remove a "." in front of the folder/file's name. Even I've never seen .hide folder in My Files app. It's so weird.
      Anyway, thanks again :)

      Delete
  17. Unknown5 April 2014 at 02:03

    I to have lost pics and vid. When I pressed gallary and went to my pics, I pressed the main menu tab on bottom of phone, options were;

    select album
    slideshow
    hide photo
    content to display
    scan for nearby devices
    settings

    After I chose to hide photos if I went back to the main menu button while in the gallary it would then give me the option to show hidden photos

    Now the hide photo show hidden photo option is not there!!! it just disappeared

    Help!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan5 April 2014 at 19:36

      Hi James Patterson,
      Thanks for coming.
      Can you please tell me, what's your Android version? Is it a Samsung Galaxy S3 or S4? FYI, I don't have hide photo and show hidden photo options in Galaxy S3 with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but I have these options in my Galaxy SIV after I updated it to Android 4.4 Kitkat. These options only available in an album that is saved in the internal storage.

      And also, since when do you realize that both options are disappeared from Gallery app? Did you made any change before losing both options(install any app, change settings, update OS)?

      Anyway, I've just tried to duplicate your issue with my Galaxy S4, clear data of the Gallery app(you won't lose any picture, but if you're worry you can backup your photos and video first before doing it) brings back the hidden photos. So, you can also try to do so to get back your hidden photos and videos.

      Delete
  18. Unknown16 April 2014 at 02:09

    can hide from the gallery but by using the video player to browse, the hidden video can still be seen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan16 April 2014 at 14:12

      Hi Bajorjor1,
      Thanks for coming,
      Yes, you're right. This step works to hide photos/videos from the Gallery app. But, it doesn't work to hide videos from video player.
      However, if you want to hide video from video player, you can use the following steps:
      1. Open ES File explorer(If you don't have this app, you can get it from the Play Store) and then navigate to the folder where you save the video you wish to hide.
      2. Long tap the video file to select it.
      3. Tap Rename icon located at the bottom of the screen.
      4. Add ".nomedia" behind the video name, for example rename video_name.mp4 become video_name.mp4.nomedia
      5. The video won't be displayed in the Gallery app and the Video player app.
      Hope it helps :)

      Delete
    2. SinginRia19 July 2014 at 09:46

      Go to My Files/Device Storage/.hide. Your files should be there.

      Delete
    3. Rehan19 July 2014 at 15:41

      Hi SinginRia,
      Thanks for coming.
      I also noticed about it in my S4 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. When I hid pictures using "hide items" option in Gallery app, some pictures didn't found when I tried displaying them using "Show hidden items" option in Gallery app. Apparently, all of hidden pictures were moved into device storage/.hide/island/
      So, I agree with you. If we can't find hidden pictures that we have hidden before from the Gallery app, we should be able to find them through My Files app in the device storage/.hide/island/ folder.

      Delete
  19. Unknown22 August 2014 at 08:01

    My phone keep giving me an error and booting me off my gallary, i was told to download an app to see my currupt image but there's no way to tell since is a list not an actually picture. HELP I still cant see my hidden images

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan24 August 2014 at 15:23

      Hi Karla Navarrete,
      Thanks for coming.
      Finding corrupted images:
      Try installing QuickPic app to find corrupted images (it's usually displayed with gray box or incomplete image) on your phone. If any, delete that corrupted images so that your Gallery app won't encounter any error anymore.

      Can't find hidden pictures:
      If you hide those pictures using the hide option in the Gallery, try to go to .hide folder in the internal storage (make sure you have enabled "Show hidden files" in the My Files app to see this folder). Some hidden pictures are sometimes moved there automatically.

      Delete
  20. Unknown28 September 2014 at 14:01

    Can photos just appear in the hidden photos without someone putting it there?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan29 September 2014 at 14:52

      Hi Leona Smith,
      Thanks for coming.
      No, it can't. You have to hide the photos manually.

      Delete
  21. nymph28 January 2015 at 00:49

    Hi... recently i hide some of my photos.. but i need to reset my cp anf i forgot to save those photos to my sd.. now my question is.. how to unhide thosr photos again and if i still have those photos after i reset my cp.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan28 January 2015 at 16:00

      Hi Nymph,
      Thanks for coming.
      Did you want to say that you have done factory reset to your phone and wanted to retrieve some hidden photos?
      If that so, since those photos are saved in the internal storage then there are two possibilities:
      1. If you enable auto backup photos to your Google account then you can retrieve your photos from your Google account.
      2. If you don't enable the auto backup then there's no way to get them back since the factory reset will delete all of the data or files in the internal storage.

      Delete
  22. Unknown9 February 2015 at 16:15

    I cant see my hide file in gallary which I hide in gallary by the option of hide ? Can you help me in that ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan10 February 2015 at 17:52

      Hi Sohail Azam,
      Thanks for coming.
      Well, since you didn't mention your model number then I assume your phone is Samsung Galaxy S3/S4 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat.
      Theoretically, you should be able to find hidden photos that you have hidden by the "hide items" option in the Gallery app by utilizing "show hidden items". But, if you can't find them there, then you can find them by using the following steps:
      1. Open My Files app.
      2. First, you have to set the app to show hidden files or folders by tapping the Menu key and then select "Settings" and then check the box next to "Show hidden files" to enable this option.
      3. Press the Back key.
      4. Tap "Device storage".
      5. Tap ".hide" folder.
      6. Tap "island" folder. Here you should be able to find your hidden photos. You can copy the photos to other folder.

      Delete
  23. rashmi2 January 2016 at 05:27

    Hii earlier I was able hide pics in gallery by long pressing the pic and in option I get hide photo but I am no longer able to do so I have Samsung galaxy grand 2

    ReplyDelete
  24. Unknown17 January 2016 at 02:14

    Hi, I am using s3, I hide some pics, by mistake I deleted those hidden pics. Is it possible that can I get those pics. Please reply

    ReplyDelete

Hi the insiders,
Thanks for coming and I hope you can get something useful here.
Before submitting your comment to ask about an issue, please make sure to provide information as much as possible (at least write your model number and Android version) and describe the problem clearly.
Also, since all comments will be moderated, all comments with irrelevant links(if any) or contain with offensive/harsh word will be deleted.
The last, if you have a question and can't find the relevant article, please feel free to reach me through the Contact us page. I'll be more than happy to reply the email and answer the question :)

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