Alternatively called an Administrative share, a hidden share is a network share on a Microsoft network that is not visible when viewing another computer’s shares. However, it is still accessible if the name of the hidden share is known.

Default Microsoft Windows hidden shares

Below are examples of Microsoft Windows default administrative hidden shares.

  • Default Microsoft Windows hidden shares.
  • Creating a Microsoft Windows hidden share.
  • Accessing a Windows hidden share.
  • Viewing Microsoft Windows hidden shares.
  • Related information.
  • Network help and support.

ADMIN$ - The default systemroot or Windows directory. C$ and x$ - The default drive share, by default C$ is always enabled. The x$ represents other disks or volumes that are also shared, e.g., D$, E$, etc. FAX$ - Share used by fax clients to access cover pages and other files on a file server. IPC$ - See the IPC definition for additional information about IPC. PRINT$ - Share used by printers, enabling remote administration on printers.

Creating a Microsoft Windows hidden share

A Microsoft Windows hidden share is created by adding a $ at the end. For example, if the share was hope, adding a $ to the end and making it hope$ would turn it into a hidden share.

Even if these shares were to be deleted, Windows will re-create the above shares to allow an administrator to access the drive.

Accessing a Windows hidden share

Assuming we were attempting to access the “hope$” share that we created above from another computer, we would type the network path below to access the hidden share.

\<computer_name>\hope$

Viewing Microsoft Windows hidden shares

Hidden shares give users a false impression that the share cannot be found unless it is known. Although true for most users, a user can use many utilities available on the Internet to view all shares, regardless if they are hidden or not. If you are creating a hidden share to protect sensitive data, password protect the share instead of making it hidden.

An easy method for users to display any hidden shares on their computer is to use the net use command.

Hidden files, Network terms

  • How to map a network drive.
  • How to view all network shares in Windows.
  • How to share a folder or directory in Windows.
  • Network and network card help and support.