How to password protect a folder on Windows

Keep your sensitive data safe with a password-protected folder

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You would be forgiven for thinking that password-protecting your Windows account is enough to keep your files from falling into the wrong hands, but it really isn’t. The sad truth is that many people’s passwords can be cracked quite easily, and there is the fact that Windows does not encrypt data by default. This means that someone could simply remove your hard drive, connect it to another computer and access your files.

Thankfully, there is a way to not only password-protect, but also encrypt individual files or folders on your computer, adding a reassuring extra layer of security. And the good news is that this is an option that is built into Windows. There is no need to install additional software to boost your file security – although it is an option if you want. Anyone who is able to access your Windows account will be able to access the data, and this is why we’ve included a second method of protection. If you’ve ever wondered how to password protect a folder on Windows, here is what you need to know.

Quick steps for how to password protect a folder on Windows

Tools and Requirements

Step by step guide for how to password protect a folder on Windows

1. Access folder properties

Windows does not shout about the fact that it is possible to encrypt folders, so you will have to delve deep in order to find this option. Start by collecting together a series of files that you would like to protect and place them all in the same folder. You can thenright-click the folder and selectProperties, orclick the … button in the toolbar and select Propertiesfrom the menu that appears.

2. Move to Advanced options

In thePropertiesdialog that appears, you will be able to see various attributes of the folder you have selected, such as the number of files it contains, its size, where it is located and so on. To start the process of adding password protect,make sure that you are on the General taband thenclick the Advanced buttonin theAttributessection of the dialog.

3. Enable encryption

In theAdvanced Attributesdialog that appears, look to the lower half in theCompress or Encrypt attributessection. Here you will find two options – one about compression and one about encryption – and it is only possible to enable one or the other.Tick the box labeled Encrypt contents to secure dataand thenclick the OK button.

4. Confirm encryption options

Back at thePropertiesdialog for your selected folder,click the Apply buttonand you will see aConfirm Attribute Changedialog. You can choose to apply encryption to just the currently selected folder (Apply changes to this folder only), or to also apply it to all subfolders and files (Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files). Make the appropriate selection, and thenclick the OK button.

5. Your protected files

You should now be able to confirm that your files are protected by the fact thatthe folder now has a padlock on it. It will only be possible to access the data contained within the folder with the username and password for your Windows account – so when you are logged in, there is no need to enter a password. If you are not able to see this encryption option covered above, it means it is not available in your version of Windows which is why we’ll now look at a third-party option.

6. Download and install Free Folder Protector

The next option is to use a third-party tool, and we’re going to take a look atFree Folder Protector from Gilisoft. You can download this softwarehere, and then run through the installation process in the usual way. This is free software that can be used on as many computers as you want without restrictions. There are other options included, but we’re just looking at password protection here.

7. Protecting your data

The first time you run Free Folder Protector, you’ll be asked toconfigure a master password–although this is limited in the free version of the software. To secure data,clickLocking Fileunder theLocal Diskheading in the left-hand navigation pane and then either drag and drop a folder onto the app interface, or click theLock Folderbutton and navigate to the folder you’d like to secure. Without your password, and files stored in this folder will be inaccessible.

Final Thoughts

While it is certainly handy to be able to add a password to folders in Windows using the built-in method described above, there are plenty of third-party tools that can take care of things in a slightly more succinct fashion. If you would like to keep things cost-free, you can stick with Gilisoft’sFree Folder Protectionwhich we’ve also covered. The software is delightfully easy-to-use and includes additional option such as file shredding and disk-wiping to supplement the password protection features.

If you don’t mind parting with a little cash, however, there are many more choices available. Software stalwart IObit, for instance, has the impressiveProtected Folderfor just $20, while EaseUS offers it ownLockMyFilesapp for $50. There are free trial versions of both apps available, so you can try them out to see which would serve you better.

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Sofia is a tech journalist who’s been writing about software, hardware and the web for nearly 25 years – but still looks as youthful as ever! After years writing for magazines, her life moved online and remains fueled by technology, music and nature.

Having written for websites and magazines since 2000, producing a wide range of reviews, guides, tutorials, brochures, newsletters and more, she continues to write for diverse audiences, from computing newbies to advanced users and business clients. Always willing to try something new, she loves sharing new discoveries with others.

Sofia lives and breathes Windows, Android, iOS, macOS and just about anything with a power button, but her particular areas of interest include security, tweaking and privacy. Her other loves include walking, music, her two Malamutes and, of course, her wife and daughter.

You can find her onTwitterandMastodon.

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