Jul 17, 2015 It is possible to Password protect folder or file in your PC or USB. In this tutorial, I am going to discuss about possible methods to Password protect folder.When security of your folders or files is your first priority and don’t mind to spend little money, you can use premium software Lock My Folders which helps to password protect any folder of file in your computer or USB. Jun 06, 2019 How do I password protect a zipped folder in Microsoft 10. For you to be able to put a password on a zipped folder, you'll need to use a third-party program that runs on Windows 10 that will allow you to protect individual files and folders with a password. You can search it over the internet to look for the said program that provides.
Take a second to consider how much sensitive information you have stored on your computer at this moment. Bank information? Family photos? Financial documents?
As secure as your files feel on your PC, they’re also prime targets for malicious intent. Password protecting your sensitive folders is a basic security step. Think of it as a virtual vault, which encrypts whatever files or additional folders you’d need kept safe.
Read on to learn how to create a password-protected folder to keep your precious files protected, and sneaky onlookers at bay.
Method 1: Text-Based Folder Lock
While Windows 10 doesn’t allow users to password protect folders by default, you can use a batch script to lock folders using a password of your choice. If you aren’t familiar with batch scriptsHow to Create a Batch (BAT) File in Five Simple StepsHow to Create a Batch (BAT) File in Five Simple StepsThis article covers how to create a batch file using five simple steps for the Windows operating system.Read More, here’s a primer.
Start by navigating to the folder you’d like to lock. I’ll create a new folder to use as a virtual safe named Safe.
Double-click the folder. You’ll be creating your batch file within the directory that’ll store your locked folder. Create an empty text document within your folder by right-clicking an empty space and selecting New > Text Document.
Within this document, copy and paste the following code:
To set your password, change the your_password bit in the line if NOT “%pass%your_password” goto FAIL to a password of your choice:
Once you’ve added your password, head to File > Save As within your Notepad program. Name it anything you’d like, Locker in my case, but ensure you add a .bat extension to your file. In my case, I will name my file Locker.bat (ensuring I’ve included the extension).
Double-click the BAT file to create your Locker folder. This is the folder that will be locked with your password. You should now have a folder and a file named Locker.
Place all your sensitive documents within this Locker folder. Once you’ve placed your files, double-click your Locker.bat file again. A command prompt will open asking if you want to lock your folder. Input Y and press Enter.
Poof! Your folder should disappear. This is a natural byproduct of your BAT file.
To access your files again, double-click on your Locker.bat file. You will be prompted to enter the password you added when creating the file.
Voila! If you enter your password correctly, your Locker folder will reappear again.
Note: This BAT file can be changed via your PC. That means others who are familiar with this trick may be able to change your password. For the most part, however, this nifty little trick will add a much needed buffer to your most sensitive local documents!
If you’d like to learn more about what BAT files can doHow to Use Windows Batch File Commands to Automate Repetitive TasksHow to Use Windows Batch File Commands to Automate Repetitive TasksDo you frequently execute boring and repetitive tasks? A batch file might be exactly what you’re looking for. Use it to automate actions. We'll show you the commands you need to know.Read More, we’ve got you covered.
Method 2: ZIP Folder Lock
While the above trick uses the default Notepad program, you can also both lock and condense your sensitive documents using a popular desktop program named 7-Zip.
Typically used to unzip folders and extract files, 7-Zip also allows users to password protect their folders. To follow this method, first download 7-Zip.
Once 7-Zip is downloaded and installed, click the start menu and type 7zip. Select the 7-Zip File Manager option. Then, locate the file or folder you want to protect, click on it, and click the Add option at the top of the window.
Next, enter your new password in the Encryption section. When you’re done, click OK. Check your folder location and you’ll find a ZIP file named the same as your original folder.
Now that you have your zipped file, delete your original folder (as keeping it would defeat the purpose of password protecting your new ZIP file).
It’s a good idea to create another containing folder for your zipped file, as unzipping it may scatter your files in a directory. In the example below, the Sensitive Documents folder will hold my zipped Safe file.
Right-click your zip file and select 7-Zip > Extract Here. You’ll be prompted to enter your password.
Enter your password and your files will appear in your directory.
That’s it! While this method isn’t exactly timely, since you have to undergo the whole process every time you need to add or view your files, it works perfectly and only uses this trusted software.
Method 3: Hide Files and Folders
Now that you’ve locked your folder, you can also take the additional step of hiding your folder from viewHow to Hide Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10How to Hide Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10Do you need to hide files and folders on your computer? Here we cover five ways to hide files, folders, even drives on Windows.Read More.
Right-click a file or folder or your choice and select Properties. Check the Hidden option beside Attributes. Click Apply and then OK.
Your file or folder should now disappear. To view your folder again, click on the View tab of your Windows 10 file manager. Then, select Options > Change folder and search options.
In the following File Options window, click on the View tab. Finally, click on the option labeled Show hidden files, folders, and drives under Hidden files and folders. Click Apply and then OK.
You should now be able to view your file or folder. To revert your file or folder back to hidden, head to your File Options window again and select Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives. That’s it!
Lock Your Windows Folders to Keep Your Data Safe
With the simple methods above, you can choose to implement either one or all three. No matter which you pick, you can rest assured that your previous sensitive documents are safe under an additional layer of protection not enabled by default on your PC.
Sometimes, all it takes is a password lock to prevent theft. That applies to the virtual world as much it does to the real world. And it’s up to you to bulletproof your PC with the best security tools for your computerThe Best Computer Security and Antivirus ToolsThe Best Computer Security and Antivirus ToolsConcerned about malware, ransomware, and viruses? Here are the best security and antivirus apps you need to stay protected.Read More.
Explore more about: Computer Privacy, Data Security, Encryption, File Management, Password, Windows Tricks.
- The first way is not secure because if do all of our instruction and i done every thing . then i delete this file and i want to make
another file like that with different password . so it show my all old data . (old data means that data which i want to store in the first file of FolderlLocker) for that reason it is not secure - nice work man , but anyone can change password by simply right clicking and opening .bat file by notepad..., moreover you can directly access to that files you hide by simply pasting this in address bar of file explorer when you are in that folder where folder locker.bat file exists...like this'D:Camera BackupControl Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}'only paste this' Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} ' in that folder's address bar where bat file is.. and you are done
- The 'Folder Locker' is NOT secure!, because someone only needs to right-click on the batch file and choose 'Edit' and your password is visible.
- It's no good if you right-click on the '.bat' file, and select 'edit' the code will look. So invalid this way to lock files and folders !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I have been using the first method from a year. Today all of the sudden the locker folder turned out to be empty. I tried locking and unlocking the folder and the outcome was same. All the contents inside the locker folder is gone! Is there a way to get those back! I had some personal stuffs. Please help. Thanks in advance :)
- I believe you just copy this code below into the text file again and ensure it is saved as a .bat file. Change the PASSWORD in the code to whatever your password was, and I think it will open it. Good Luck!cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Locker
if EXIST 'Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}' goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p 'cho=>'
if %cho%Y goto LOCK
if %cho%y goto LOCK
if %cho%n goto END
if %cho%N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Locker 'Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}'
attrib +h +s 'Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}'
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to Unlock folder
set/p 'pass=>'
if NOT %pass%Your-Password-Here goto FAIL
attrib -h -s 'Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}'
ren 'Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}' Locker
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Locker
echo Locker created successfully
goto End
:End
- I use AxCrypt
- Thank you so much! Easy peasy, and I feel like a spy.
- By spy you mean sitting in a dark room alone and masterbating?
- This method could not be any worse for protecting a folder
- Is the 'Using a Folder Locker' method, which I've also seen elsewhere, a well-traveled joke or something? One can just open the Locker.bat file in an editor and read out the password and use it to unlock the folder. Unless I'm missing something, of course.
- I have used 'Protect My Folders' for two years. It also supports Windows 10.
- I suggest Gilisoft File Lock Pro to password protect folders, it can lock folders on an internal hard drive, flash drive, external USB drive, thumb drive, memory card, pen drive, and network drive.
- I use secure folders. easy and straight forward
- i like the first one, im always curious to figure out what more can I do on my computer. thank you #makeuesof for great articles all the time.
- The 'Folder Locker' is not secure, because someone only needs to right-click on the batch file and choose 'Edit' and your password is visible.
- I used SecretFolder. It's simple and free.
Got some files you don’t want other people to see? Or maybe they’re just cluttering up your Documents folder, and you want to hide them? Here are a few different ways to obscure your files, and when you might want to use each.
Editor’s Note: This article, originally published in 2014, used to contain instructions that claimed to password protect folders without extra software. But that trick, while mildly clever, did not actually protect anything behind a password. It involved hiding a folder on your system and using a “password” to unhide it—even though any user could still unhide it without the password. You can still find this trick all over the internet, but we do not recommend using it. It causes loads of problems for many users who don’t know what they’re doing, and the password does nothing to protect you from snoopers—you might as well just hide the file. So, we’ve rewritten the article with instructions on how to hide and/or password protect files, with information on how secure each method really is.
Option One: Hide Any Folder with a Single Checkbox
Difficulty: Very Easy
Level of Obscurity: Low
Level of Security: Low
Level of Obscurity: Low
Level of Security: Low
If you’re just looking to hide a couple of folders from view, Windows has a built-in option to do so. This isn’t very good protection against snoopers, because anyone can show hidden folders with a simple settings tweak. It might fool a small child, but it won’t fool anyone with even passing knowledge of computers.
I have, however, found this setting useful for folders I don’t want to see—like the folders my PC games add to my Documents folder. I only want to see my documents, I don’t need to see my Witcher 3 save files.
RELATED:How to Hide Files and Folders on Every Operating System
If that sounds like what you want, the process is really easy. Open Windows’ File Explorer and navigate to the folder or file you want to hide. Right-click on it, select “Properties”, and check the “Hidden” box in the menu that appears. Click “OK” and the folder will disappear from view.
Check out our guide to hidden files for more detailed information on hidden files in Windows.
RELATED:How to Show Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 7, 8, or 10
If you ever need to access it later, you can show hidden files by clicking the View menu in File Explorer and checking the “Hidden Items” box. (in Windows 7, you’ll have to go to Organize > Folder and Search Options and select “Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives” on the View tab instead.) You can read more about showing hidden files and folders here.
Remember: this won’t secure your files at all, it will just hide them from view. Anyone with the tiniest bit of know-how can easily find them.
Option Two: Turn a Folder Into a Hidden System Folder with a Command Prompt Command
Difficulty: Medium
Level of Obscurity: Medium
Level of Security: Low
Level of Obscurity: Medium
Level of Security: Low
Let’s say your snooping sister already knows how to show hidden folders and files in Windows. Who doesn’t, right? Well, there’s another trick that will let you hide a file with a bit of extra obscurity. Anyone will still be able to unhide it if they know what setting to tweak, so this method is not secure—but it doesn’t require extra software and may give you a little extra obscurity from tech-unsavvy individuals.
RELATED:Make a Super Hidden Folder in Windows Without any Extra Software
You can read more about this process in our guide to making a “super hidden” folder. Keep in mind that it requires a bit of command line work, so if you aren’t comfortable working with the Command Prompt and dealing with some of Windows’ deeper settings, this probably isn’t for you.
Again, we can’t stress this enough: this method is still incredibly insecure. Anyone who knows what they’re doing (or even stumbles upon this very article) will be able to find your files with ease. We wouldn’t use it for anything truly sensitive. For that, we recommend our next two options.
Option Three: Encrypt a File or Folder Without Extra Software
Difficulty: Easy
Level of Obscurity: Low
Level of Security: Medium
Level of Obscurity: Low
Level of Security: Medium
The only secure way to hide your files is through encryption. Encryption turns your data into an unintelligible mess unless you have the password. Windows contains a built-in way to encrypt files, and ties the password to your user account—so you can only see the files if you’re logged in as the right user.
RELATED:Geek School: Learning Windows 7 – Resource Access
You can see instructions for this in the “Encrypting Files Using the Encrypting File System” section of this guide (you’ll have to scroll down to the last section to see it). All you need to do is right-click on a file or folder, select Properties, go to Advanced, and check the Encrypt Contents to Secure Data checkbox.
The only downside to this method is that it links the encryption to your user account. That means if your snooping sister tried to open the files from her Windows account, they wouldn’t open—but if you share an account, or if you step away from your computer while you’re logged in, she’d be able to see them just as easily as any other file on the PC. So make sure you lock the computer or log off every time you step away, or that encryption won’t stop anybody.
Option Four: Create a Password-Protected Folder with VeraCrypt
Difficulty: Medium
Level of Obscurity: Low
Level of Security: High
Level of Obscurity: Low
Level of Security: High
If you need something a little more bulletproof than the above, we recommend creating a password-protected file container with VeraCrypt. It takes a few more steps, but it’s still quite easy, and doesn’t require you to be super tech-savvy. And, unlike the above option, it’ll ask you for your password any time someone tries to access the files—no matter who’s logged in.
RELATED:How to Secure Sensitive Files on Your PC with VeraCrypt
Check out our guide to VeraCrypt for step-by-step instructions on how to set up a password-protected file container. You’ll need to download a program and run through some quick setup, but as long as you follow the steps closely, you should have no problem—and your files will be protected from just about anyone that tries to access them. Just make sure you don’t forget the password, or you might get locked out of your files too!
We know it isn’t always convenient to download extra software, but trust us: if you have something you want to hide, it’s absolutely worth it. Unlike Option Three, this will always ask for a password when you try to access the files—so even if you’re logged in or someone uses a live CD to access the computer, they won’t be able to get to your files. Just be sure to unmount the VeraCrypt container when you’re done using it, or they’ll be accessible to anyone if you step away from the computer.
These aren’t the only way to hide or password protect a file in Windows, but they are some of the more popular. You could also use something like 7-Zip to encrypt files, though that’s more ideal if you want to send the files to another person. The above four methods should work for most people, so good luck—and stay secure.
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