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Path Hide

About 771 wordsAbout 3 min

2026-04-25

Path Hide hides specified files and directories from apps at the kernel level. When a targeted app attempts to access a hidden path, the kernel returns ENOENT (file not found), achieving complete invisibility. Default Off.

Path: Settings page top-right function button → Path Hide

How It Works

Path Hide is built on the KernelPatch SuperCall mechanism, intercepting path access at the kernel VFS layer. The JNI driver calls nativePathHide* methods, which communicate with the kernel via SuperCall to maintain an interception list of hidden paths entirely in kernel space.

The kernel hooks the following system calls:

  • openat — file open
  • faccessat — file access check
  • newfstatat — file status query
  • getdents64 — directory listing (filters matching entries from results)

Unlike user-space hiding solutions, Path Hide operates entirely in kernel space — user-space apps cannot detect or bypass it.

Global Mode (Default)

Hide configured paths from all user-space applications. System UIDs (< 10000) are exempt by default.

UID RangeFiltered?Description
FolkPatch itselfNoManager always exempt for normal operation
System UIDs (< 10000)NoRoot, system and other system processes unaffected
User apps (>= 10000)YesAll third-party apps cannot access hidden paths
  1. Enter the paths to hide in the text field (one per line)
  2. Click Save to write the configuration
  3. Toggle Path Hide on
/storage/emulated/0/secret
/sdcard/backup

UID Execution Mode

When enabled, hiding only applies to specified UIDs — unselected apps are completely unaffected.

UID RangeFiltered?Description
FolkPatch itselfNoManager always exempt
Root (UID 0)NoExempt by default as a system UID
User-selected UIDsYesOnly selected app UIDs are hidden
Non-selected UIDsNoOther apps completely unaffected
  1. Configure the paths to hide
  2. Toggle UID Execution Mode on
  3. Click Select Apps to open the visual app picker

Visual App Picker

Provides a graphical interface for selecting apps, supporting:

  • Search by app name or package name
  • Display app icon, name, package name, and UID
  • System app badge and filter toggle
  • Automatic cleanup of UIDs for uninstalled apps
  • Selected apps displayed as cards with quick remove action

Filter System UIDs

By default, system UIDs (< 10000, including Root, system, etc.) are exempt from path hiding. Enabling Filter System UIDs extends path hiding to system-level processes as well.

UID RangeGlobal ModeUID ModeDescription
FolkPatch itselfNoNoManager always exempt
Root (UID 0)YesYesRoot processes also cannot access hidden paths
System UIDs (< 10000)YesOnly if in whitelistAll filtered in Global mode; must be in whitelist for UID mode
User apps (>= 10000)YesOnly if in whitelistBehavior unchanged

Warning

Enabling Filter System UIDs may cause some system features to malfunction, as critical system services may lose access to hidden paths. Use with caution and ensure you do not hide critical system paths.

A confirmation dialog appears when enabling, requiring explicit confirmation before taking effect.

Auto Apply

Path Hide configuration is automatically read and applied by the apd daemon at boot (during the post-fs-data phase) in the following order:

  1. Clear kernel path list, then add each configured hidden path
  2. If UID Execution Mode is enabled, restore UID whitelist and enable UID mode
  3. If Filter System UIDs is enabled, enable system UID filtering
  4. Enable Path Hide last (ensuring all configuration is in place before activation)

This ensures paths are hidden before any app starts — no need to manually open the manager.

/data/adb/fp/pathhide

enabled# Enable flag file

paths# Hidden path list (one per line)

uid_mode# UID execution mode flag

uids# UID whitelist (one per line)

filter_system# Filter system UIDs flag

Note

  • Paths must start with /
  • Hiding critical system paths may cause device malfunctions
  • Rebooting the device after configuration changes is recommended
  • Path Hide requires KernelPatch kernel support
  • Path matching uses prefix matching: hiding /data/foo also hides /data/foo/bar, but NOT /data/foobar
  • Maximum of 256 hidden paths, each up to 512 characters

Copyright Ownership:FolkPatch Team

License under:Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)