is there a way to make a folder only searchable by exact name?

I tend to let others use my computer resources but I don't always want all my files to be quite so in your face when I am making a recording or letting other people control my mouse and keyboard. I don't need fort knox level security... I don't need the folders completely unsearchable or have a pass code on them, but when I search the parent folder I don't want it to show up unless I search for it exactly by name, the same way RegEdit wouldn't show up. The folders mostly contain things like personal records, portfolio work, etc. Not bad or "safe" worthy but certainly not something I want to be showing people how to find if its not important, either.

If there is a way to do this I would love to know! Thanks :)

Tampering with search results is for sure not a good way to ensure privacy. For one, since the built-in search has been totally crippled and is unreliable, so playing with it will not yield any good result. Third party search programs may still find everything, and most important, just simply browsing into the document's folders they'll reach all files.

The proper way to ensure privacy is using multiple user accounts, that Windows has ample support for. Create a second user account (or just enable the built-in guest), and point other people to use that instead. Don't bother setting a strong password for it, you'll be revealing it anyway. Make sure you leave it as a standard account.

Then you use your normal account for your own work, save all the private files into your own document folders, and when letting others use the computer, just logoff or switch users. Under the limited account, they'll only have access to their documents, not yours (due to restricted permissions). In addition, you get the added benefit that they can change the settings as they please, without affecting your own environment.

Alejandro85 said:

Tampering with search results is for sure not a good way to ensure privacy. For one, since the built-in search has been totally crippled and is unreliable, so playing with it will not yield any good result. Third party search programs may still find everything, and most important, just simply browsing into the document's folders they'll reach all files.

The proper way to ensure privacy is using multiple user accounts, that Windows has ample support for. Create a second user account (or just enable the built-in guest), and point other people to use that instead. Don't bother setting a strong password for it, you'll be revealing it anyway. Make sure you leave it as a standard account.

Then you use your normal account for your own work, save all the private files into your own document folders, and when letting others use the computer, just logoff or switch users. Under the limited account, they'll only have access to their documents, not yours (due to restricted permissions). In addition, you get the added benefit that they can change the settings as they please, without affecting your own environment.

I think you misunderstand. I use this for allowing others to take control of my PC Via Team Viewer. I need the administrative permissions for what I do and I am not worried about a 3d party searcher... I am worried about going to the start menu and typing in "3Ds Max" which is located in my google drive, and other things like "school," "personal," "backup," and other materials being shown as well. I am not trying to ensure privacy because the material isn't particularly sensitive, I just dont want people seeing it if its not necessary either, if you understand what I am trying to get at. I don't need the folder to be hidden from windows explorer, the same way regedit or system recovery arent... I just want to make it so that they are only searchable through the start menu by exact name.

I appreciate the suggestion but please go with me when I say that if I want anti-hacker level security I would encrypt the files and then use dynamic dual authentication to get back into it.

I don't believe there is a way to do what you want. People often search for things when they don't know the exact spelling and the search function is designed for that, among other things.

LMiller7 said:

I don't believe there is a way to do what you want. People often search for things when they don't know the exact spelling and the search function is designed for that, among other things.

OK, is there perhaps a way to make a folder unsearchable then? I want to be clear that I don't need it hidden. I looked this up and can only ever seem to find "how to make a folder hidden and unsearchable." This is not ideally what I am looking for but considering I can still search within it by opening the file gDrive, I wouldn't mind too much either.