The Gallery app on Android is useful, but sometimes it shows more than you want. Screenshots, app images, downloads — everything ends up in one place.
If you’re looking to hide certain images or folders from the Gallery, you don’t need any third-party apps. Android has a simple built-in way to do this.
What You Need
- An Android phone
- A file manager app
Most phones already come with a file manager (it may be called My Files, File Manager, or Files).
If your phone doesn’t have one, you can install a file manager from the Play Store. Google’s Files by Google is a good option and works on almost all devices.
How to Hide Image Folders from the Gallery
Follow these steps:
- Open your File Manager
- Navigate to the folder that contains the images you want to hide
- Long-press the folder
- Tap Rename
- Add a dot (
.) at the beginning of the folder name
For example:Photos → .Photos
- Save the changes
What Happens Next?
Once you rename the folder:
- The Gallery app will stop showing images from that folder
- Any new images added to that folder will also stay hidden
- The folder itself is not deleted, but the media apps just ignore it
It may take a few seconds for the changes to reflect. If not, try refreshing the Gallery or restarting your phone.
How to Unhide the Folder
If you want the images to show again:
- Open File Manager
- Rename the folder again
- Remove the dot (
.) from the beginning
Your images will become visible again after the media scan updates.
Hide Only Specific Images (Optional)
If you don’t want to hide an entire folder:
- Create a new folder with a dot (e.g.,
.Private) - Move only the images you want to hide into that folder
This way, your main folders remain unchanged.
Important Note
Folders that start with a dot (.) are treated as hidden in Android.
Some file manager apps may not show these folders by default. If you don’t see them later, enable “Show hidden files” in your file manager settings.
Final Thoughts
This is a simple trick, but it works really well. You don’t need extra apps or complicated settings. Just rename the folder, and you’re done.
It’s especially useful for hiding screenshots, app images, or anything you don’t want cluttering your Gallery.
