How to Hide a File or Make It Read-Only with attrib

People search attrib when File Explorer will not show a file, a document is stuck as read-only, or they need to see the R/H/S/A flags from Command Prompt. attrib shows those flags and turns them on or off. Official syntax lives on Microsoft Learn: attrib. Practice the same commands in the attrib lesson.

Try the command

Change an attribute, then inspect the result

Build the command

attrib

+r / -rSets (+) or removes (-) Read-only attribute.

+h / -hSets (+) or removes (-) Hidden attribute.

+s / -sSets (+) or removes (-) System attribute.

Terminal

C:\Users\Student>attrib

C:\Users\Student\welcome.txt C:\Users\Student\file.txt C:\Users\Student\secret.doc

What attrib shows

Run attrib with no arguments in the current folder. Windows lists files only (not folders) and prints a fully qualified path on each line, such as C:\Users\Student\welcome.txt. The left columns are:

R — read-only (many programs will refuse to overwrite the file until you clear it)
H — hidden (plain dir skips it; dir /a still lists it)
S — system
A — archive (used by backup tools)

Changing an attribute prints nothing when it succeeds. Check the file again with attrib filename.

Hide and unhide a file

attrib +h secret.txt hides the file. attrib -h secret.txt brings it back. A common miss is typing +h again instead of -h to unhide.

Explorer’s “Hidden items” checkbox only controls whether you see hidden files. The H flag stays on the file until you remove it.

Make a file read-only

Protect a notes file you do not want to overwrite:

Terminal

C:\Users\Student>attrib +r notes.txt

Clear it with attrib -r notes.txt. Read-only is not encryption. Anyone who can run attrib -r can edit the file again.

Folders and subfolders

attrib +h SecretFolder hides that folder name. To walk a tree, add /s. /d includes directories; without /d, /s still targets files. Example: attrib -r -h -s *.* /s clears R/H/S on matching files under the current folder.

Bare attrib never lists directories. That is normal cmd behavior, not a broken command.

Before changing a whole tree, preview the path and scope with dir /a. /s walks matching files below the current folder; /d adds directories to that operation and requires /s. Start with one known filename, verify the result with attrib filename, and only then broaden the pattern.

Common mistake

Using + when you meant -. attrib +h file.txt twice still leaves the file hidden. Unhide with -h. Same for -r vs +r.

FAQ

How do I hide a file with attrib? attrib +h filename

How do I unhide a file in Command Prompt? attrib -h filename, then refresh Explorer or run dir /a.

How do I remove read-only? attrib -r filename

What do H, R, S, and A mean? Hidden, read-only, system, and archive.

Can attrib hide every file in subfolders? Yes: attrib +h *.* /s from the folder you want to start in. Add /d if you also want directories.

Need a longer drill? See Practical: Attributes or list hidden files with dir.

Knowledge Check

1 / 3

Which flag makes a file read-only?

-w