Why Would I Want To Password Protect A Folder?
When you password protect a folder, ultimately what you’re doing is protecting the files or data found within the folder. And there are a million reasons why you might want to protect data.
Most people protect their files because they contain sensitive information. That sensitive information could include embarrassing photos, a list of passwords, or personal financial records. Companies also have sensitive documents that also need to be protected, although they rarely have embarrassing photos.
Oftentimes, companies password protect files in order to make data transfers more secure. Two coworkers can access locked folders on their computer, and as long as they know the passwords, they can access all of their files.
Accounting firms might use password-protected folders to share financial information while human resource departments might use them to share employment records with others.
Basically, password-protected folders help companies stay secure and compliant.
First off, you need to start by choosing a password-protected software program.
Software You Can Use To Password Protect Your Folders
Before you can even think of password protecting your folders and files, you’ll want to decide whether or not you’ll want some help password protecting your folders. There are a wide variety of programs you can choose from that will help you password protect your files and folders. All of which are accessible online.
Here are some of the more popular programs people use to password protect their files.
- VeraCrypt
- BitLocker
- Ax Crypt
- LastPass
- DiskCryptor
- Disk Utility (Mac)
- Lock & Hide
- Anvi Folder Locker
- Folder Guard
- Folder Lock
- NEO – Easy Folder Locker
- Folder Locker Pro
- IObit Protected Folder
- EMCO UnLock IT
- Quick File Locker
- SecretFolder
- Hide Folders for MacOS
- Wise Folder Hider
- Free HideFolder
- Easy File Locker
- File Protect System
- Encrypt Care
Some of these programs cost money. Others are free to use. Obviously, they all come with different bells and whistles, but ultimately, they can they can all do what you need them to do, password protect your folders.
So go ahead and pick 3-5 programs and look into what else they can do. If you’re looking for a program that can go beyond simple password protection, find one that suits your needs and get that one.
For the sake of this article, we’re going to show you one method for Windows and one method for Mac. Neither method needs to use the above It would be nearly impossible to write the instructions for each of the aforementioned programs.
That being said, if we don’t use the program you end up using, just know that they probably have instructions on the software company’s website. You can also search “How to password protect a folder with X” on YouTube. Someone has probably already put together a video tutorial there.
How to Password Protect a Folder On Windows
First, let’s list out the steps for password protecting a folder on Windows. After that. we can talk about them each in more detail.
The steps are as follows:
- Make text folder
- Select password
- Create .bat folder
- Drag and drop your files into the folder
- Lock folder
- Do with the folder what you will
Now let’s talk about each of these in more detail.
- Make text folder
First, you’ll want to open up a fresh, clean notepad folder. In that folder, you’ll want to copy and paste the text below.
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
This text is a type of code which can be used by your computer to create something known as a “.Bat file.
- Select password
As you’ll notice, a small line of text in the code is bolded. This bolded text is where you’ll put your password. You can choose whatever password you want as long as you can remember it. Just replace that bold text with your new password.
- Create .bat folder
This third step is technically a couple of steps mixed together. First, you’ll want to save your text file with the “.bat” extension instead of the traditional “.txt” one. That will create a second file which acts like a computer program. From there, you can delete the original text folder. You’ll want to do this because anyone who knows what they’re doing can open up your text file and find the password to your .bat program.
Once you’ve made the .bat program you can click on it to create a new, lockable folder.
- Drag and drop your files into the folder
This step is more straightforward. Just put all of the files you’re wanting to password protect into the file your .bat program created.
- Lock folder
Once you have all of your files in your folder, double-click on your .bat program again. This will open a black command prompt window with a single line of text. The text will ask you if you want to lock the folder. Type “Y” into the screen and press “Enter” to lock the folder.
- Do with the folder what you will
At this point, you won’t see a locked folder on your screen. All you’ll have is the .bat program. To open the folder again, all you have to do is click on the .bat folder. This will open another command prompt. From there, you type in your password, hit enter, and you have instant access to the files in the locked folder again.
How to Password Protect a Folder On Mac
Here are the steps for password protecting a folder on Mac.
- Open up “Disk Utility”
- Create a new image from folder
- Choose your encryption
- Enjoy secured your files
Now for a bit more detail.
- Open up “Disk Utility”
This program comes installed on your Mac. You can find it using the search bar.
- Create a new image from folder
Once Disk Utility is open, go to File > New Image > Image from Folder. Select the folder you want to password protect and click “Open.” You’ll want to decide what image format you’d like to have. We suggest “read/write” because it will allow you to add and take away things later.
- Choose your encryption
From here you encrypt your folder and choose a password. Remember that the better the encryption, the slower the access. Also, be sure to pick a password that you’ll remember.
- Enjoy secured your files
Once you click the “Done” button you’ll have a locked disk image. You can delete the original file now because that information is password protected. Just don’t delete the .DMG file you created on accident.
Secure Your Documents With Ease Thanks To eFileCabinet
For a lot of people, these processes are too complicated. Luckily for you, there’s eFileCabinet.
eFileCabinet lets you send and receive secure files with bank-grade encryption. Not only that but you can set up permissions automatically so only the right people will be able to access your files.
eFileCabinet is more secure than your regular password-protected file.
