How to hide files and folders in Nautilus?

Tested under Nautilus 3.4.2 on Ubuntu 12.04/12.10 (but works in almost all scenarios)

Open gnome-terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).

Type ls /.

Copy the name(s) of the folder(s) you want hidden.

Press Alt+F2, then type in gedit.

Paste all the names you want hidden like so:

hidden

Image excerpted from Another Way to Hide Files Folders in Ubuntu by Meilin

Save the file (Ctrl+S) in the directory / with the name .hidden (no asterisk, as seen in the image above).

Refresh the page, and they are gone.

hidden-folders

Image from How to hide files and folders - EuroBytes

If you want them unhidden later...

To unhide the folders, you can either:

  • remove there names from the .hidden file, or
  • just press Ctrl+H to view all hidden files and folders.

Reference:

  • Meilin, "Another Way to Hide Files Folders in Ubuntu," Ubuntu Sharing (ubuntuguide.net).
  • How to hide files and folders - EuroBytes