How to Password Protect a Folder/File in Windows 10

By : Barbara Thompson Barbara Thompson
Hours Updated

Why do you need to Password Protect your files?

You should protect your files because they may contain sensitive and confidential information that you do not want anyone to access. This information could include a list of passwords, your companies’ secret data, banking transactions, and financial details, etc.

Many times, you want to password protect files to make the data transfer process more secure. For example, an accounting firm might use a password-protected folder to share information. In contrast, the HR department might use it to share employment records with others.

In this Password Protection tutorial, you will learn:

Difference between password protection and encryption

Encryption and Password protection are two different terms, mostly used interchangeably.

  • Encryption: Encryption is a process that transforms the original information into an unrecognizable form. This new form of the message is entirely different from the original message. That is why a hacker is not able to read the data as senders use an encryption algorithm. Encryption is usually done using key algorithmsWhen a document is unencrypted, it is stored in what we might call plain text, which anyone can read.

    However, when it is encrypted, it is in the ciphertext. To see the document in its original form, the user must provide the key to sort that unscrambled message.

  • Password protection: This option allows you to implement a password on a computer, network, file, or folder. A user must enter the correct password in order to access the file or folder. The main benefit of using password protection is having double layers of security. It makes your secret document safe, and it is inscrutable.

Use GiliSoft to Lock Folder

Step 1) Download and install GiliSoft on your computer and start the application. Enter your password set by you at the time of registration.

Step 2) On the next screen, click on the Locking file option from the lock disk option. Then select the Lock folder button located in the right corner of your screen.

Step 3) Select the folder that you want to lock.

Here, we select “PD folder watch” and press OK.

Step 4) In the next screen,

you can check the folder is now shown Locked.

Step 5) You can Unlock your folder by clicking on Unlock button.

Step 6) Next,

The folder has become a visible normal folder.

Using IOBit to Lock Folder

You can use IObit to password-protect your files or folders. To protect a file or a folder, you need to follow the below steps:

Step 1) Download and install IObit on your computer and open the software

Step 2) Create a new password and confirm your Password.Enter the hint question. However, you can change the password from the Options menu.

Step 3) Add a folder that you want to password-protect.

Step 4) Click on the Add button, which you can see in the right side window.

Step 5) In the next window, click on Lock & Exit button. This makes your folder hidden and protected.

2 Methods for Password protect a folder in Windows

Sharing your computer is not always a good option if you are worried about your family, friends, or someone else maliciously accessing your files or data. You could use separate user accounts; however, if your files are not password protected, it is still possible for anyone to gain access to your files.

There are a few ways you can password protect folders in Windows 10.

Method 1

Step 1) Select “New” from the contextual menu.

Step 2) Click on “Text Document.”

Step 3) On the screen, you can see the New Text document is created.

Step 4) Double-click the text file to open it.

And paste the following text into the new document:

Step 5) Find where it says “Your-Password-Here” in the document.

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

Step 6) Replace “Your-Password-Here” with the Password you want to lock the folder with.

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%==GURU@4545-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

Step 7) Click File and select Save as.

  1. Enter Name as FolderLocker.bat
  2. In Drop Down Save as Type: Select “All Files”
  3. Click the save button.

Step 8) Double click Folder locker.bat.

Step 9) Fill the folder locker with the items you want to protect.

Step 10) Type Y button and press the enter button. You will see that your Folder Locker window will be disappeared.

Step 11) Enter your Password and press enter button again. You can see that now your Locker folder is again visible, which you can open.

Method 2

There is an easier solution for you. This method does not require you to set passwords to protect your folders and files.

Step 1) Right-click on the folder you want to hide.

And then click on Propertie’s window.

Step 2) In the General tab, you will find an option called Attributes. In this menu, you will get two options.

1) Hidden and

2) Read-only, which is a default option.

Step 3) Change this if you want to hide the folder. You need to select hidden option and Press the OK button.

Step 4) In the new dialogue box, select Apply and click on the OK button. Your folder will be hidden.

Using VeraCrypt

VeraCrypt is a data security tool that can encrypt your files. This password protection utility comes with full disk encryption. However, it can also encrypt at the volume level. Moreover, it also helps you if you want certain folders encrypted or entire systems.

Here are the steps to encrypt files with the help of the Veracrypt tool.

Step 1) To start, Click on Create Volume.

Step 2) Select Create an encrypted file container and click Next.

Step 3) VeraCrypt allows you to create a normal and visible container. Here, you should select standard VeraCrypt volume and click Next.

Step 4) Click and Select File and navigate where you want to compare in your encrypted container. Click Save.

Step 5) The next section asks about the encryption method you want to use. AES-256 is one of the effective encryption, which is also the default option. After that, click the Next button.

Step 6) Assign how much space you wish the encrypted folder to have.

Step 7) Finally, enter the Password you wish to use for your volume and click Next.

Step 8) VeraCrypt is now ready to create your container. Then click Format button.

FAQ:

❓ Why is it important to create strong passwords?

The biggest problem with passwords is to remember them. You are setting yourself up for potential data theft if you create a password to use across all of your accounts. The common mistake while creating a password is to create easy-to-remember and uninventive passwords that are just as bad.

Weak and frequently used passwords are fairly easy to hack using programs that cycle through different combinations at unfathomable speed.

You can be on the safer side by creating a strong password that can’t be cracked easily. For that, you should never use sequential numbers or letters, make your password long with a mix of characters and avoid common substitutions. You should also avoid memorable keyboard paths in your password.

💻 Do you need to secure data for a folder in Windows 10?

Yes, you need to secure your data in a folder in Windows 10. Your files, folders, and Office documents contain important information. Encryption plays a crucial role in keeping them protected from any unauthorized access.

🔒 How do you encrypt a folder in Windows 10?

There are various ways to encrypt a folder in Windows 10: 1. Creating bat file, 2. Using Windows 10 built-in Hide feature and 3. Using Third-party software like IOBit and Veracypt.

You Might Like: