Hide Applications In Windows With WinVisible

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 9, 2011
Updated • Jun 27, 2019
Software, Windows, Windows software
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9

Sometimes, you may want to hide an open window when someone enters the room or walks by your computer desk. Imagine your roommates walking in with you posting a new post on your Justin Bieber fansite, or your boss while you are updating your Facebook status.

Most users try to close or minimize the application window, or to turn off the monitor to avoid a confrontation or embarrassment.

There is no need to hide processes or program windows on your system if you are the only one working on it and if there is no chance of anyone catching a glimpse of the programs you have open on the computer.

WinVisible offers another option. The program is a more advanced version of a boss-key application. Boss-key apps can be configured to hide specific applications with a hotkey. WinVisble uses the same basic principle.

The program interface displays a list of all open applications on start that run at the time.

hide application windows

It is here that the applications are configured that you want to hide when you press the hotkey. Applications are selected by placing a checkmark in the box next to them. The processes are listed with their name, title, process id and current status in the program window so that it is easy enough to identify the right programs from the listing.

The standard hotkey to hide selected applications is Shift-Alt-H, the key to show them again is Shift-Alt-S. You may change the hotkeys in the options.

The preferences provide the following options:

  1. Start the program when Windows starts.
  2. Check for updates on program start.
  3. Start the application itself hidden.
  4. Check new windowed processes automatically so that they are included in the hide, show and kill commands.
  5. Remember processes you checked so that they are checked automatically when you start WinVisible or the process again.
  6. Hide the program and its tray icon when the hide hotkey is used.
  7. When WinVisible closes, make hidden processes visible, keep them hidden, or close them.

The program hides the windows so that they are no longer displayed in the Windows taskbar or the system tray. They are furthermore hidden on the Applications tab in the Windows Task Manager. Experienced users can still find the process under Processes in the Task Manager but that is the only indication that the program is open.

WinVisible supports a third option, to kill selected applications instead of hiding them. This option needs to be enabled in the program settings before it becomes available. Killing means that the applications are terminated. All work that has not been saved will be lost.

The hiding and showing of applications is fluent, there is virtually no lag when either hotkey is activated. The hotkeys can be mapped to another key combination, the operation could for instance be optimized by mapping it to two keys instead of three.

WinVisible is a great application for users who value their privacy. The developer website is no longer available and downloads are not provided anymore. We have uploaded the latest release version of Winvisible to our own download server. Note that we have done so for archiving purposes only and that we don't support the application in any way. Click on the following link to start the download: (Download Removed)

Summary
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Author Rating
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Software Name
WinVisible
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Administration
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Comments

  1. Martin P. said on June 29, 2019 at 4:34 pm
    Reply

    Just a quick note.

    The WinVisible website is still up and running. I just downloaded the installer from there and it’s bit for bit identical to the one provided at the end of this article.

    HTH

  2. Vangelis said on February 5, 2013 at 10:43 am
    Reply

    Hi there, I know it’s been some time since you posted this, but just stumbled across it,

    and I have a question:

    Is there any way to hide or not show a process as soon as it fires up? (either detect it by path or process name)

    I need this so badly… to fix a major productivity hit at work while using scanning software.
    Basically the Destination Component fires up, after the images are acquired and it keeps popping in the foreground of the desktop and grabbing focus with only a “cancel” button on it pre-selected (thus we more often than not, end up killing our scans… )

    Thanks in a advance!

  3. Ehsan said on March 10, 2011 at 8:02 pm
    Reply

    Oh thx
    That’s useful :)

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