How to Hide an Entry in the Add/Remove Programs

Last Updated: September 21, 2015

Occasionally, you might install a program on your PC that you don't want others to know about. It can be quite a task to keep the program a secret, as there might be shortcuts, program files, and entries in the Add/Remove Programs. In How to Hide Files in Windows, you can learn how to hide a file in Windows, such as a program files and shortcuts. If you've done that and now you want to hide your Add/Remove Programs entry, there are some easy options for getting it done.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Editing the DisplayName File

1
Open the Regedit. This is utility allows you to modify your computer registry, so please be sure you have a backup ready. Click Start and type regedit in the search box. Then hit ↵ Enter. For older versions of Windows, click Start, and then Run. Type in regedit and hit ↵ Enter.
2
Navigate to this location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\Uninstall. Find the software you wish to hide.

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3
In the right pane, find the value name DisplayName. Right-click it and click Rename. Name it anything you like.
4
Close Regedit. It will save automatically. Open Add/Remove Programs and confirm that your software is hidden. If it is not, you can try one other method below. To show the hidden program again, just retrace the steps, and rename the file back to DisplayName.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Creating a SystemComponent Value

1
Open the Regedit. This is utility allows you to modify your computer registry, so please be sure you have a backup ready. Click Start and type regedit in the search box. Then hit ↵ Enter. For older versions of Windows, click Start, and then Run. Type in regedit and hit ↵ Enter.
2
Navigate to this location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Uninstall. Find the software you wish to hide.
3
Right-click in the open pane and select New→DWORD Value. Then rename the Value to SystemComponent.
4
Double-click the new SystemComponent value. Set the value to 1 and click OK.
5
Close Regedit. It will save automatically. Open 'Add/Remove Programs and confirm that your software is hidden. To show the hidden program again, just go back and delete the SystemComponent value.

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