How to hide a file inside an image (with pictures)

2023 Author: Martin Macey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 06:41

In this article, we will show you how to hide a file inside an image on a Windows and macOS computer.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: On Windows

Step 1. Copy files and image to your desktop

Select the files you want to hide, press Ctrl + C, go to your desktop and press Ctrl + V. Now repeat this with the image.

Step 2. Select the files you want to hide

To do this, hold down the left mouse button and move the pointer over the list of required files.

If you need to hide one file, just click on it to select it

Step 3. Right click on the selected files

A menu will open.

• If the mouse does not have a right button, click on the right side of the mouse or click with two fingers.
• If your computer has a trackpad (not a mouse), tap it with two fingers, or press the lower-right side of the trackpad.

Step 4. Select Send To

It's in the middle of the menu. A pop-up menu will appear.

Step 5. Click Compressed Zip Folder

It's near the top of the pop-up menu. An archive (zip file) with the selected files will be created.

Step 6. Enter a name for the zip file

Now press ↵ Enter.

We recommend entering one word as a name

Step 7. Right click on the image

A menu will open.

Step 8. Click Properties

It's near the bottom of the menu.

Step 9. Find out the file extension of the picture

It is listed on the "File Type" line (for example, ".jpg" or ".png").

Step 10. Copy the path to the image

To do this, select the text in the "Location" line, and then press Ctrl + C. This will ensure that you enter the file path correctly.

Now close the Properties window

Step 11. Open a command prompt

Open the start menu

, enter Command Prompt and click Command Prompt

at the top of the Start menu.

Step 12. Change directory to desktop on the command line

Type cd, press space, press Ctrl + V to paste the copied address, and then press ↵ Enter. At the command line, you will be taken to your desktop.

Step 13. Enter the "Copy" command

The command that will add a ZIP file to the image: copy / b image.extension + folder.zip image.extension, where instead of “image.extension” substitute the name and extension of the picture (for example, “hello.jpg”), and instead of “folder.zip "- the name and extension of the ZIP file (for example," hi.zip ").

For example, if your ZIP file is named “Secret” and your-j.webp" />

Step 14. Press ↵ Enter

The command will run and the zip file will be placed inside the image.

Step 15. View the hidden files

Double click on the hidden files image to open it. If you want to view hidden files, do the following:

• Install WinRAR if this archiver is not available on your computer.
• Open File Explorer

• 

• Go to the "View" tab.
• Check the box next to File Extensions under Show / Hide.
• Right-click on the image and select Rename from the menu.
• Change the file extension of the picture to "rar" (for example, from "Hide.jpg" to "Hide.rar").
• Press ↵ Enter and then click Yes at the prompt.
• Double click on the picture file to open it in WinRAR.

Method 2 of 2: On a Mac computer

Step 1. Copy files and image to your desktop

Select the files you want to hide, press ⌘ Command + C, go to your desktop and press ⌘ Command + V. Now repeat this with the image.

Step 2. Select the files you want to hide

To do this, hold down the left mouse button and move the pointer over the list of required files.

If you need to hide one file, just click on it to select it

Step 3. Hold down the Control key and click on one of the selected files

A menu will open.

You can also click on the mouse button with two fingers

Step 4. Click Compress Items

This option is on the menu; it will display the number of selected files (for example, "Compress 4 items"). An archive (ZIP file) named "Archive" will be created.

If you are compressing only one file, click Compress [filename]

Step 5. Find out the file extension of the picture

You will need it to hide the zip file inside the image.

• Click on the image to select it.
• Click File.
• Click Properties.
• Find the extension (after the period) in the file name at the top of the Properties window.

Step 6. Open a terminal

Click "Spotlight"

, enter terminal and double click on the icon

Step 7. Change directory to desktop in terminal

Type cd Desktop and press ⏎ Return.

Step 8. Enter the "Hide" command

The command that will add a ZIP file to the image: cat image.extension Archive.zip> image2.extension, where replace "image.extension" with the name and extension of the picture (for example, "Hide.jpg"), instead of "Archive.zip" substitute the name and extension of the zip file (in most cases this is the “Archive.zip file), and replace“image2.extension”with the name and extension of the final image.

For example, if the ZIP file is named “Archive,” the original-j.webp" />

Step 9. Press ⏎ Return

The command will run and the zip file will be placed inside the image.

Step 10. View the hidden files

Double click on the hidden files image to open it. If you want to view hidden files, do the following:

• Drag the image to your desktop.
• Open terminal and enter cd Desktop.
• Enter unzip image.extension where replace "image.extension" with the name and extension of the final image.
• Press ⏎ Return.
• Follow the instructions in the terminal.
• Open the folder that appears on your desktop to view the files.