How to set a password for a folder without additional programs. How to put a password on a folder using special programs or archivers

Windows has no built-in functionality for this task. But you can use free programs from third-party developers. Let's take the 7-Zip archiver and the Anvide Seal Folder utility as an example.

Using 7-Zip

7-Zip archives the folder, encrypts its contents and blocks access to it with a password. Surely you are already using this program. If not, then download 7-Zip from the official website. If you prefer another archiver, then most likely you can use it to put a password on the folder in the same way.

After installing the archiver, right-click on the desired folder and select 7-Zip → “Add to archive”.

In the window that appears, under the “Encryption” item, enter the password and repeat the combination. Check the box “Encrypt file names” and click OK.

After this, the program will create a copy of the folder in the form of an encrypted archive, the contents of which can be viewed only after entering the password. Delete the original folder that remains unprotected.

In exactly the same way, 7-Zip allows you to password protect any selected file.

Using Anvide Seal Folder

If you don't want to mess with the archive, you can set a password directly on the folder itself using the Anvide Seal Folder program. This utility encrypts the contents of selected folders and hides them from prying eyes. Containers protected in this way can only be opened through the Anvide Seal Folder interface after entering the password.

The program is very easy to use. By clicking on the plus, you can select the path to the desired folder or to several containers one by one. After this, a list of added folders will appear in the Anvide Seal Folder main menu. To put a password on one or more of them, just select them, click on the lock and follow the prompts of the utility. You can also set a password to log into Anvide Seal Folder.

On macOS you can do without third-party programs. The system allows you to create a so-called folder image, which is an encrypted copy of it. All files that are saved within this image are password protected.

To create such an image, open Disk Utility (Programs → Utilities → Disk Utility).

Click “File” → “New Image” → “Image from Folder” and specify the path to the folder you want to protect.

Enter a name for the image and indicate the location on your computer where you will store it, as well as the password to access its contents. For encryption, select 128 or 256 bits, and for Image Format, select read/write. Then save the changes.

Open the created image, enter the password and make sure that all files are in place.

Delete the original folder. Now you can use it in a protected way instead.

Every user has files that he would like to hide. In this case, you need to set a password on them so that no one opens them. If you need to take advantage of this feature, learn how to password-protect a folder on your Windows 7, 8, or 10 computer.

Password protection without programs

RMB on the folder you are hiding → Properties → “Attributes” block → check the “Hidden” box → confirm the action.

The second option is to restrict access. But this method is effective if a separate account without Administrator rights is created on the computer for each user.

After completing the action, users, when they log in under their own account, will have limited access rights to this directory.

WinRar and 7-Zip archivers

The fastest way to password protect is with WinRar or 7-Zip archiver.

Now, when unpacking the archive, a dialog box will appear in which you need to enter a password to perform further actions. Watch the video for the detailed process.

Programs with a high level of protection

Password Protect

Password Protect is a shareware program that works in all modern versions of the OS. The utility password-protects and hides folders, making them inaccessible to users who do not know the password.

Good to know! After using the information, you need to re-password it.

Folder Lock

The Folder Lock program is shareware and requires installation on your computer. Its main drawback is the English-language interface.

Conclusion

You can set a password for a folder or file in Windows 7, 8 and 10 using standard means, using archivers or programs with a high level of protection. The latter are provided on a shareware basis, but provide the maximum level of confidentiality.

Often several users (family or office employees) have access to one PC at once, so to save personal data and information you should know how to create a password for a folder. This can be done using standard Windows resources or using additional utilities for creating a secret code.

Is it possible to password-protect a folder on a computer?

If you have never encountered the question of how to password-protect a folder on your desktop, then you should understand that this can generally be done in several ways. The computer may store personal correspondence, confidential important information, or age-restricted films. Because of this, there is a need to install protection and limit the ability to open some directories. You can even block access to the operating system as a whole - create a password (put a password) when logging into Windows.

How to put a password on a folder or file

You can use different ways to make a folder with a password. Some of them should be used to hide files from the prying eyes of children by adding the necessary elements to a hidden section. This will not save you from more experienced users, so you need to use more serious methods, for example, password-protecting the archive or downloading additional applications that add code combinations to any elements on the computer. All these methods will be described in the relevant paragraphs below.

Using archiving

The easiest and most reliable way to password-protect a folder on a computer is to use any archiver (7-Zip, WinRar). Each of them has a built-in ability to enter a secret code when creating an archive file. The algorithm of actions is very simple:

1. Right-click on the desired directory (right mouse button).
2. In the menu, find the “Add to archive...” item.
3. On the "General" tab, find the "Set password..." button.
4. In the window, enter the same code twice (be sure to remember it).
5. To open this packaged file, you will need to enter your password.

Using special programs

If you do not want to unpack the archive every time, then you should choose another method of how to securely password-protect a folder on your computer - use specialized software. This method guarantees the maximum level of protection. Here are some of the most popular programs if you need to create a directory password:

• Password Protect. It is a shareware program and works with all known modern operating systems. The utility sets a password and hides the necessary directories from users who do not know the code to open it. The program has a Russian interface, which simplifies the process of working with it. The algorithm for using the application is as follows:

1. Download and install the utility.
2. Click “Lock Folder” and select the desired directory.
3. Enter the password you created twice. In case you suddenly forget the code, you can leave a hint for yourself. Click "Lock".
4. You can open the necessary files like this: open the utility, select the necessary elements, click “Unlock”.

• Folder Lock. This option, how to password-protect a folder on a computer, unlike the previous one, has only an English-language interface. It is also distributed on a shareware basis and requires installation on your hard drive. Instructions for use:

1. Download, install, launch the application.
2. There will be a field for a password in the window, enter it and click “OK”. Repeat it again to confirm and click OK again.
3. The program will display a white field into which you need to drag the elements for password protection.
4. To remove the lock, run the utility again, enter the code, select the necessary elements and click “Unlock”.

How to set a password for a folder without archiving and programs

The easiest way to hide a directory is to make it hidden. This feature is available in all Windows starting from version 7. To do this, right-click on the element (mouse, right-click), click on “Properties”. At the bottom of the “General” tab there will be an “Attributes” block. Check the box next to “Hidden” and click “Apply”. From now on, you can see such a file if you set the display of hidden files in the Explorer properties on the “View” tab.

For the other option, you must have multiple users created for the operating system. For example, your child will have his own account, and yours will have a password. To restrict access to certain directories from his account, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the desired element, go to the “Properties” item, go to the “Security” tab, and make changes in the “Groups and Users” block.
2. Add those for whom access will be restricted in the Select window. Check that the account names are written correctly.
3. In the “Group Permissions” section, you can set the rights to the directory; for example, you can only view it, but you cannot delete or save anything.

Video instruction: how to protect a folder with a password

Hello everyone guys. In this extremely useful article, I want to tell you how to put a password on a folder to keep the data you save confidential and limit the list of people who can access protected information. There can be a lot of reasons why people want to protect information from prying eyes - data secrecy, official files, etc. In each of these cases, it is better to play it safe and set a password that only you and people you trust will know.

Many people use computers for work and personal communication. To perform their work and solve financial problems, they install various utilities, text editors, and applications. Most of these programs require authorization. To save work results, financial information, and a large number of logins and passwords, it is necessary to restrict access to folders and files to other possible computer users. To do this, you need to know how to put a password on a folder or encrypt an archive using Windows itself or special programs.

Why do you need a folder password?

The access restriction task can be divided into two subtasks. The first of these blocks access to your personal information on your computer or over a local network to everyone except you. The second task is to limit the access of other possible users of your computer to your account. A separate task is archiving data or using software to reduce the size of files. Speaking generally about protection, a password for folders is required when restricting access to:

• personal, accounting, tax or other confidential personal and business information;
• logins and secret codes from personal accounts in online banking, email utilities, social networks;
• business secrets, technologies, inventions, developments in all spheres of human activity.

How to password protect a folder on your computer

There are several ways to classify all confidential information. The most basic of them are:

• the ability to set a password for a folder using the tools of the Windows operating system - create a password key for the directory, a launchable bat file with a pin code that opens the directory, create document protection using Microsoft Office tools;
• use of specialized archiving utilities indicating a secret code to open the archive;
• Protect a folder with a password using special utilities that make files and directories locked with a secret code and invisible in file managers.

Windows tools

Windows operating systems of different editions have different ways to password-protect a folder on your desktop or disk. For Windows 7 computers that use the NTFS file system, there is a way to protect data at the physical level. To do this, you need to create a key file with the pfx extension:

• open the “Properties” tab necessary to close the directory;
• in the top menu go to the General->Attributes->Others tab;
• in additional attributes, check the content encryption checkbox;
• select “Encrypt content to protect data”;
• click “Archive now”, the encryption process will begin;
• Click “Next” and automatic export of certificates will start;
• then you need to check the box for the key file extension type - PFX;
• set the code for the key file;
• click “Browse”, select the storage location on your computer or flash drive, the name of the key file, move the data to the key file by clicking “Next”;
• after clicking “Finish” the folder will be encrypted;
• To open it, you need to click on the key file and enter the code.

Using standard Microsoft Office 2010 tools, it is possible to encrypt created documents. Using this tool, you will be prompted to enter the specified password when you try to open any document created in Office. To do this:

• select the “File” tab;
• further – “Protect document”;
• in the menu we indicate – “Encrypt with password”;
• Having entered the secret code twice, click Ok->Save.

Archiving programs

At the dawn of the computer era, archive programs were used primarily to compress folders in order to save space on the hard drive. Now these utilities are used to package information when sending it by mail, uploading it to hosting, storing it, and selling it. Archivers have another important feature thanks to the function of setting a PIN code during archiving. Moreover, any archived file can only be opened by entering a secret code. The most popular archivers, supported by many platforms and hosting sites, are WinRAR, WinZIP, 7-ZIP.

Using special programs

You can restrict access to directories by using special utilities created for this purpose. The graphical shells or sequence of operations in these programs are different, but they are all made in order to lock a folder on the computer, conveniently and quickly set a code word for opening folders, and hide their presence on the disk from any prying eyes. There are paid and free such utilities. They make it possible to block access to directories with any content - texts, music, photos, videos. The most popular on the market are:

• PasswordProtect USB;
• Folder Lock;
• LocK-A-FoLdeR;
• Folder Protector.

How to make a folder with a password using an archiver

By creating an archive using the popular WinRAR or 7-Zip archivers, it is possible not only to reduce the size occupied by folders with any content by 30-50%, but also to add a code to open this archive. This practice is used when selling information, lessons, etc. via the Internet. Downloading archives from websites or torrents is free, but to open them you must purchase a secret code. Once you create an archive, you can allow new files and folders to be added to it. Modern versions of these products have a number of additional features.

WinRAR archiver

One of the very first and most widespread is the WinRAR archiver. It has several settings before packaging - for speed, compression ratio, work in the background, specifying the name of the archive, where it is saved, and many others. To create an archive you need:

• Having selected the objects to be archived, right-click and select “Add to archive” from the context menu;
• create an archive name;
• the drop-down list on the right provides the opportunity to select the method of updating the source files and those in the archive;
• if necessary, check the box “Delete files after archiving”;
• if you need to block the archive, check the “Lock archive” box in the Archiving Options;
• press the “Set password” button and enter it twice;
• It is recommended that after entering the code words, select “Display password at login” and “Encrypt file names”, then “Ok”;
• To start the process, click “Ok” at the bottom of the main menu.

File archiving program 7-ZIP

The latest versions of the WinZIP and 7-ZIP utilities are paid; for them to work fully, you need to register on the developer’s websites, pay and receive an activation key. If it is available, for everyone who uses archivers, the work of creating an archive is as simple as with WinRAR. To create an archive you need:

• Having selected the necessary objects, by right-clicking in the menu, select “7-ZIP-Add to ZIP file”;
• set the archive format, check the “Show password” and “Encrypt file names” options;
• in the “Enter password” line, specify the code word;
• start archiving by clicking the “Ok” button.

Protect and hide a folder using a BAT file with a password

One option for closing a directory with code is to create an executable file or bat file, which is created in any simple text editor, for example Notepad. This file is created in the folder that needs to be password protected. The text of this utility is available on many resources on the Internet. It looks like this:

title Folder Private

if EXIST "Compconfig Locker" goto UNLOCK

if NOT EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER

echo Are you sure you want to lock the folder(Y/N)

if %cho%==Y goto LOCK

if %cho%==y goto LOCK

if %cho%==n goto END

if %cho%==N goto END

echo Invalid choice.

ren Private "Compconfig Locker"

attrib +h +s "Compconfig Locker"

echo Folder locked

echo Enter password to unlock folder

if NOT %pass%== YOUR_PASSWORD goto FAIL

attrib -h -s "Compconfig Locker"

ren "Compconfig Locker" Private

echo Folder Unlocked successfully

echo Invalid password

echo Private created successfully

Your steps to create a directory locked with a secret code will be as follows:

• one of the items in the template of this small utility is the line Your_password, instead of which you must enter your PIN code;
• save this file, rename it to locker.bat;
• click on it, the Private folder is created;
• you need to transfer all the information you need into it;
• then run the locker.bat bat file again, answer "Y » to the question “Are you sure you want to lock the folder”, and the directory with your information will become invisible;
• To access it you need to run the bat file locker.bat and enter your code.

Create an account with access rights

During installation, Windows OS creates an administrator account that has all configuration and settings rights. For other computer or laptop users, you must create accounts with limited rights. At the same time, you create your own profile with the desktop view, launched programs, documents, pictures, etc. If several people work on the computer, it is possible to create such a user profile for each of them. Each account can be assigned its own access rights to functions, applications, and local network.

Create a shared account

The account created during installation with administrator rights will be the main account on the computer. This will create system files and folders for saving documents, photos, videos, and music. By default, all files saved by the system will be placed in them. All system users who log in under this main account will have general access to all information. If you close the main account with a secret key and create your own accounts for other users, no one will be able to access this information.

Setting the code

A reliable method of protection is to close your account with a password. To do this you need:

• click Start->Control Panel->User Accounts;
• select the one you need in the list of Accounts;
• indicate “Create a password”, enter it twice, create a text hint and save;
• then in the main menu, select the item “Change the order of user login”;
• uncheck “Use the welcome page”, and when enabled, the classic login will be offered using login and pin code.

Locking a folder with a password

You can restrict access to a directory to other users of a computer or local network using simple procedures with its properties. To do this you need to take the following steps:

• hover the mouse over the selected object, right-click and select Properties->Security->Edit;
• then you need to add to the list of local and network users for whom we are closing access;
• By clicking “Add”, enter the user name in the window and click “OK”;
• select this user from the list, put a checkmark in the “Deny” column;
• Click Apply->Ok.

How to encrypt a folder with a password using special programs

Programmers from different countries have created many third-party software products that provide the ability to hide or simply limit access to files, utilities and applications to different users or uninvited guests of your computer. These utilities differ in their graphical shell, design and cost. There are free utilities and paid applications. The choice depends on your preferences. Paid utilities have regular updates that increase the level of secrecy of the information stored with their help.

PasswordProtect USB

Using the PasswordProtect USB utility will provide the ability to quickly and easily hide your confidential files and folders by selecting an item in their properties menu. To do this, after downloading and installing this program, which is compatible with Windows 10, on your computer, you must do the following:

• hover the mouse over the selected object and right-click to open the menu;
• press the Lock with Password Protect USB button;
• in the window that opens, enter the code word twice and confirm your actions;
• after that, a sign indicating its protection will be visible on the icon;
• When you try to open it, the utility will prompt you to enter a code.

Folder Lock

The Folder Lock utility is capable of protecting a directory with any information on a PC with Windows 7, 8, 10. To use its capabilities you must:

• download, install and run the program;
• enter the PIN code in the text field, click OK;
• by clicking “Add”, select the desired folder, or drag it into the utility window;
• After that, it becomes locked and can only be opened using a code.

LocK-A-FoLdeR

This is a free utility, easy to use, suitable for users who are not experienced in programming (newbies). This utility hides the presence of a folder on your computer. After downloading, installing and running the utility:

• Use the “Lock a Folder” option to select the desired object;
• Using the “Unlock selected folder” option, open the directory with passwords;
• change the main pin code – “Change Master Password”.
• to open a hidden one, run LocK-A-FoLdeR;
• Click “Unlock selected folder”, enter the code.

Folder Lock Lite

A paid version of the utility that can protect files and disks is Folder Lock Lite. It has a free trial period of 30 days. Its cost is 39.95 USD. This utility works on the principle of setting a master password, which is entered twice the first time you launch it. After adding files or folders, the utility hides their location on the disk. You can detect their presence by re-running the utility and entering the master password.

Folder Protector

Unlike many other utilities, Folder Protector uses encryption to protect folders. It has paid and free functionality for users with different requirements. After downloading, installing and launching, the steps required for protection are:

• specify the target directory for blocking access;
• Enter the secret code twice, click “Protect”;
• it will be encrypted, an executable file will be created;
• To decrypt it, you need to run this file from the utility.

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