How to put a password on a folder in different ways. How to set a password for a folder without additional programs How to password protect a Windows 7 folder without programs

When you try to protect personal data, you probably set a password to boot the system or create an account with appropriate access rights. Sometimes you just need to secure some information. Therefore, users begin to look for materials on how to password-protect a folder in Windows 7.

You can, of course, simply hide the folder, but this will not help you in any way from a security perspective. You just have to enable the option to show hidden folders and it will be seen when you go to the directory where it is located. So this method is unsafe.

Unfortunately, Windows 7 does not provide the ability to put a password on a folder, but there are other ways using third-party software. Again, this will not protect your folders from being deleted, for example, so there is no 100% guarantee.

Now let's look at the following password setting methods:

  1. Archive programs;
  2. Special utilities;
  3. Using a hitrov bat script.

How to put a password on a folder using an archiver

The main purpose of archivers is to pack one or more elements into one file with the possibility of compression. We will use these tools to set passwords for folders in Windows 7. These programs include:

  1. WinRAR
  2. WinZip
  3. 7-Zip
  4. Hamster Free ZIP Archiver
  5. A lot others.

Let's consider this feature using the example of WinRAR and Hamster Free ZIP Archiver, since others operate on the same principle.

In order to password protect the folder with the WinRAR utility, perform the following steps:

1. Install WinRAR.

2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive” in the context menu.

3. The “archive name and parameters” window will open in front of you. On the “general” tab, you need to specify the name of the archive, select its format and the “normal” compression method. In general, you don’t have to change anything here; I don’t recommend changing the compression method, since our goal is just to protect the folder with a password, and not to waste precious time.

5. In the “password entry” window, check the box next to “display password as you enter” so that you can see what you are entering and only once. If you do not want the contents of the archive to be seen, check the “encrypt file names” checkbox. Set a password and click OK.

6. After the completed actions, the window will have the name “archiving with password”, in which you must click the OK button. An archive will be created, upon clicking on which you will be required to enter a password.

If the wrong password is entered, you will see an error message and will not have access to the files.

In order to password protect a folder in Windows 7 with the Hamster Free ZIP Archiver program, follow the following procedure:

1. Install Hamster Free ZIP Archiver.

2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive.”

3. You will see the utility interface where our folder will be displayed. Click on “password”, check the box “show password” and enter the desired combination.

4. Click the "archive" button and select "save to computer." Then specify the location to save the password-protected archive.

If you enter an incorrect phrase, the program will warn you about this, so try again.

Special programs for setting a password

Such utilities use encryption of elements, with the help of them we will try to password-protect a folder in Windows 7. Even if these programs are uninstalled, the files remain inaccessible. By setting passwords to enter the applications themselves, you will increase the level of security for your folders. Let's look at an example: Flash Crypt and Anvide Lock Folder.

With Flash Crypt use the steps:

1. Install Flash Crypt.

2. Select the desired folder and right-click, in the menu click on “protectwithflashcrypt”.

3. You will see a window where you need to enter a password of at least 4 characters twice. Leave the rest unchanged and click “protect”.

4. Wait until the folder is encrypted, after which the Flash Crypt icon will appear on it. Left-click and see a password request window pop up. If entered correctly, the folder will be decrypted and will be available in its original form.

Anvide Lock Folder is portable and does not require installation. It is possible to password-protect the entrance to the program. Perform the following manipulations:

1. Run ALF.exe.

3. Click on the plus sign and specify the folder that you want to password protect and press the F5 key. Set a password and select the “close access” button. If necessary, you can also provide a hint.

4. After which the folder will disappear from view and will be accessible only from the program.

5. In the program, click the F9 key, enter the specified password and click “open access”. After which the folder will again become available in Windows 7 Explorer.

How to password protect a folder using a bat script

This method, unlike the previous ones, is the most unsafe, since it uses the usual hiding of folders in Windows 7. A user who knows how to turn on the display of hidden items will see this folder without any problems, so before using the script, make sure that this option is not enabled.

To begin, create a document with a .txt extension and copy the following code snippet into it:

OFFtitle Folder Papkaif EXIST "Secretno" goto DOSTUPif NOT EXIST Papka goto RASBLOKren Papka "Secretno"attrib +h +s "Secretno"echo Folder lockedgoto End:DOSTUPecho Vvedite parol, chtoby razblokirovat papkuset/p "pass=>"if NOT %pass% == moi-parol goto PAROLattrib -h -s "Secretno"ren "Secretno" Papkaecho Papka uspeshno razblokirovanagoto End:PAROLecho Nevernyj parolgoto end:RASBLOKmd Papkaecho Papka uspeshno sozdanagoto End

Then save it and change the file type windows 7. This is done by renaming the extension from txt to bat. At this point the batch file is ready for use. The essence of this script is this:

  1. The first time you click on it, a folder named “Papka” is created, into which you copy the secret content.
  2. The second click creates a “Secretno” folder, which is assigned the hidden attribute and disappears.
  3. The next time you click, you are asked to enter a password. If the input is incorrect, the script closes, so run it again.
  4. After entering the correct data, the folder will be visible and have the name as in the first step.

If you want to change your password, then instead of MOI-PAROL, type yours in Latin characters.

With this, we have looked at how to password protect a folder in Windows 7. Using archivers and special programs are perhaps the safest options, but no one is immune from deleting a file or forgetting the password. A Bat file is effective when you are targeting inexperienced PC users. Besides, who bothers to open a batch file in notepad and burn through all the data.

nastrojcomp.ru

In cases where more than one person has access to a computer, it may be useful to be able to hide some of the data stored on it from being viewed by third parties, as well as protect it from theft and subsequent use. Encrypting folders or files, as well as setting a password to access confidential information, can help solve this problem.

Methods of protection

Actually, you can protect your files from access by others by setting a password and/or encrypting the contents. Another thing is that the presence of similar objects on the disk that exist, but cannot be accessed, may cause additional interest in what is stored in them and why all this is needed at all.

If, in addition to password-protecting the data, you also make it invisible (hidden) from prying eyes, then you can protect yourself from unnecessary questions about what kind of secrets are stored there.

We will tell you about several methods of protection. We would only like to warn you in advance that all passwords that will be used to restrict access to data should not be primitive. Passwords like “12345”, “qwerty” and others like them (by the way, you can find ratings of the most frequently used combinations on the Internet) have long been no secret to anyone. The password must be a sequence of letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and special characters with a length of at least 8 characters, and preferably more.

The password must be kept in a secure place and known only to you. A piece of paper with a password glued to the monitor or a text file with it on the disk nullifies all the tricks. And, of course, there is no need to lose your password. With it, you can lose your data forever. Even contacting a computer repair shop in Balashikha or another area, wherever you are, will not help.

To protect your information, you can use the standard capabilities of the OS, create a password-protected archive, or use third-party programs, of which there are many. We will describe only a few:

  • AnvideLockFolder
  • DirLock
  • Flash Crypt
  • Folder Lock Lite
  • Folder Protector
  • Hide Folders
  • LocK-A-FoLdeR.

We use Windows 7 tools

The simplest option to limit access to folders and files on a disk is to set individual access rights for each user, but this is not always possible, since joint work with data may be required.

Another option is to use EFS, which is a built-in additional file system that encrypts data and provides access via a specially created key file with the pfs extension. It is convenient to store this file separately on a flash drive, removable disk, etc. Without it, access to the data is impossible.

In order to protect your information from prying eyes, you need to:

Now access to this folder is possible only if you provide a pfx file.

We use archiving programs

Common and frequently used archivers, such as WinRar, 7-zip and the like, allow you to create password-protected archives. Let us describe the process of creating such an archive.

WinRar

Procedure:


After this, the selected folder will be archived and password protected. When finished, remember to delete the original folder.

7-zip

The actions are largely similar to the previous archiver. When opening the program window, you need to select a folder, click the “Add” button, specify the archive parameters and in the “Encryption” section enter the password twice. After clicking the “Ok” button, the folder will be archived. All that remains is to delete the original one.

We use third-party programs

Before starting work, it is advisable to check and remove viruses, clean the system from possible keyboard interceptor programs, spyware, etc. If your actions are recorded, then there is little point in them.

AnvideLockFolder

A small free program that does not require installation on the system, i.e. it can be launched from a disk, flash drive, etc.

  1. When you first start it, you should set a password for the program itself, to do this, click on the button with the wrench symbol and enter the password.
  2. By clicking on the “+” button, or dragging a folder into the program window, we add the desired folder.
  3. By clicking on the button with the picture of a closed lock, we open a window in which you need to enter the access password, and then click “Close access”.

Now the folder will be hidden, and access can only be done through this program.

DirLock

This small program must be installed on the system, after which the “Lock/Unlock” item will appear in the context menu. To block access to a folder, you need to:


Now, any unauthorized attempt to open this folder will display a message warning that you do not have rights to use it.

To unlock a folder, you must again use the “Lock/Unlock” context menu item, after which a window for entering a password will appear, the folder will be unlocked, and you can work with it. After completing all actions, you must lock the folder again.

FlashCrypt

This program uses the AES algorithm and a 256-bit key for encryption. The program is installed on the system and adds an item to the context menu. Protected folders are not hidden, but access is provided only with a password.

In order to password protect a folder, you need to:


Folder Lock Lite

Paid program, which currently costs $25.95. There is a 30-day trial period. It works a lot like AnvideLockFolder. A master password is used, folders are hidden from visibility by other users, and work with them is possible only from the program itself.

Folder Protector

The program does not require installation and can be launched from any media. The program is paid, but there is a free option in which the encryption function is not available.

To protect a folder, you need to launch the program, select the desired object on the disk, enter a password and click the “Protect” button. All files will become invisible.

HideFolders

Paid program with 30-day trial period. Allows you to set 4 types of protection:

  • Hiding files.
  • Access blocking.
  • Hiding files and blocking access.
  • The files are read-only.

How to use the program:


Protecting network folders

Placing folders and files on a network resource allows for their sharing by different users. All of them can be divided into groups, and each can have its own access rights. To block access to a network folder, you need to set a password on it. To do this you need:

  1. Click “Start”, then “My Computer”, select “Tools” from the menu and click on “Folder Options”.
  2. Select the “View” tab and uncheck the “Use simple file sharing” option, click “OK”.

After this, for each user group you need to set a login password:

  1. Click “Start” -> “Control Panel” -> “User Accounts”.
  2. Select a group and specify a password for it.
  3. On the “Advanced” tab, you can set your own passwords for local user groups and specifically for each user.

After this, access to network resources will be provided using a password, and the level of rights to use them will be determined by the users’ group membership.

As you can see, it’s not difficult to hide from strangers what you want to hide. Which option to choose - to use external programs or tools built into the system - is up to you. The most important thing is not to hide it from yourself by forgetting the password, losing the key file, etc.

itblog21.ru

Put a password on a folder in Windows 7

The question often arises about the password for a folder or file. Unfortunately, this cannot be done using standard Windows tools. But it’s possible to “get out” somehow. Each of us has an archiver, winrar or winzip. Using these programs, you can easily and quickly “password” information.

Let's consider the first option, using the winrar archiver, if you have winzip, 7-zip or you need another method, read the article just below.

Just right-click on the folder or file and select “Add to archive” or “Add to archive”

Go to the “Advanced” tab. On the right there is the inscription “Set password”, click there.

The “Archive with password” window will appear. Enter the invented password in the first line and in the second.

If you don’t need to compress information, and in order to save time, go to the “General” tab and select Compression method: “No compression”. If you need to compress, then we do not do these actions.

Click "OK"

Now in the created archive, when you try to open any file, the program will ask you to enter a password.

Consider the option using the 7-zip archiver

Select the folder or file for which you want to put a password and right-click. Select the line “7-zip”, click “Add to archive” or “Add to archive”

On the right there is the “Encryption” field. Enter the created password in the “Enter password” and “Repeat password” fields.

The compression level on the left can be set to “No compression” if you want to save time

Click "OK"

Now, in the resulting archive, if someone tries to open any file, they will need to enter a password.

In order to put a password on a folder without creating an archive, you can use various programs, such as “Password Protect USB, Lock Folder, Folder Guard” and others.

I liked Password Protect USB the most

Run the program (password-protect.exe) as administrator. Right-click on the program and select the “Run as administrator” field. For winXP, just run it.

Click on “Lock folders”

We look for the location of our folder for which we need to put a password, select it, click “OK”

A window will appear in which we enter the created password in the “Your password” and “Confirm” fields. If you are afraid that you might forget your password, check the “Hint” checkbox and in the lower field enter information that will help you remember the password for the folder.

Click “Lock folder”

Now, when you try to enter this folder, you will be prompted for a password.

The only problem is that it doesn’t just enter the folder, but creates the same one without a password. However, other programs work no better, for example they simply hide the folder. Using Windows, you can only set a password for a folder using multiple accounts.

And also watch the thematic video:

pc-knowledge.ru

How to put a password on a folder in Windows 7

Unfortunately, in order to put a password on a folder in Windows 7, you have to resort to using external software that specializes in information security.

The system itself only makes it possible to open or close access to files and folders to certain users, as well as other users on the network.

But not everything is so bad, a huge amount of paid and free software has long been developed, with the help of which you can ruin not only any folder in Windows 7, but also an archive.

Built-in Windows 7 features

Although it would be wrong to speak so poorly of Windows 7, it still provides security features for accessing files in addition to those mentioned above.

We are talking about data protection at the physical level thanks to the built-in EFS file system.

In this case, access to data is carried out through a specially created key file with the pfx extension.

For example, you named it dok.pfx.

What does he look like.

It can be stored on your flash drive or in another place known only to you. Without this key, no computer user will be able to access the information, and the password here takes a secondary place.

To use this feature, right-click on the selected folder.

Go to the "properties" - "general" section and click the "other" button.

Check the box next to “Encrypt content to protect data” and click “OK.”







If another user wants to use the encrypted data, he will need this key and a password for it. It is very IMPORTANT here not to lose the key.

The disadvantage of this method is that:

  1. The Windows 7 file system must be NTFS;
  2. For many users, this method may seem very complicated.

Of course, there are other ways to protect your information. Let's talk about them.

WinRaR

Many people know this program, but not many know all its capabilities. By creating an archive with important data, you can easily put a complex password on it and protect yourself from access to other users’ information.

WinRaR is distributed free of charge and can be easily found on the Internet in the public domain.

After installing the program, activate the desired folder by left-clicking on it.

In the future, when you right-click, you will call up an additional menu.

In the menu that appears, find the WinRaR program and hover your mouse over it.

Such actions will call up an additional menu with which you can call up various program actions.

Click the top item “Add to Archive”.

In the window that appears, click "Advanced".

And then go to the “Set Password” section.

Fill out two fields by entering the desired password. If necessary, you can enable visualization of character input and encrypt file names.

If you don't want to change anything else, click OK, then OK again. If you want to change the compression level, go to the “General” section and select the compression method.

Click OK.

After archiving a folder, when you try to open a document located there, WinRaR will ask you to enter a password.

7-zip

Also quite a popular free archiver.

We perform the same actions as in the previous case.

Click “Add to archive” and call up the archiving management section.

Having set the necessary settings, enter the password in two special areas. Click OK. The folder will be archived and password protected.

When you try to open a document, 7-zip will ask for a password.

Hide Folders

The Hide Folders program for Windows 7 is shareware. Developed by FSPro Labs. Free work time is 30 days.

But as you understand, you can also find a fully working version on the Internet.

The main purpose of the program is to completely hide the necessary files and folders from other computer users.

There are 4 protection methods: Hide and block access, hide, read only, block access.

The program weighs just over 3 MB and can be installed in two clicks.

After starting the program, this window appears.

Click “Add” and select the desired protection mode. And then we specify the path to the file or folder.

For example, you clicked “Block”.

If you try to get into a stranger's folder, the following windows will appear.

To prevent another user from removing the protection using the same program, the program launch is blocked using a password.

Now only you can work with Hide Folders.

Anvide Lock Folder

Unlike the previous program, this one is completely free. The installation file weighs only 2.6 MB. Installation takes 5 seconds.

After installation is complete, the program immediately prompts you to start working.

The principle of operation is somewhat similar to the Hide Folders program, only with less functionality.

It only blocks access to files and folders by hiding them with a password.

After launching Anvide Lock Folder, this window appears.

The program provides the following settings.


By clicking plus we add the file or folder that needs to be added. You can add multiple files and folders at once.

Once you select the folder, press F5 or the padlock as shown below.

Enter the password twice and click “Close access”.

The folder will be hidden and access to it will not be possible.

You can also use a hint for the created password.

In order to deny other users access to the program, you must set a password.

Everything is simple and effective, and most importantly free.

Password Protect USB

This is a shareware program that can work with all drives, despite the fact that the word “USB” is written in the software name.

The program developer is Password Protect Software.

After 30 days you will be asked to buy it for $39.95. During this period, you can protect data of no more than 50 MB.

But don’t be upset if you like the program, there are a lot of free working versions on the Internet.

The program “weighs” only 1 MB, can be installed in 2 clicks, and after installation and launch it will immediately offer to buy it or use the trial version for 30 days.

After starting the program, the following window will appear.

Click “Lock folders” and select a folder. But you can do it differently.

Immediately select the desired folder and right-click. In the window that appears, select the program, and then select the folder again.

Click “Lock folders”.

The folder will be archived to the extension “.___ppp”.

And the folder will look like this.

To remove protection, you need to double-click on the folder, the program will automatically launch, and this window will open.

You need to enter a password in the field and click “Unlock folders”.

Bottom line

If there are many users working on your computer who have different password-protected access, then in order to put a password on folders in Windows 7, it would be advisable not to buy or download separate software, but to use the built-in capabilities of the system.

This is completely blocking access to files and folders to other users, or limiting their access.

Or try using data encryption via EFS.

In other cases, the software described above is quite suitable for quickly protecting your information; this will be the easiest option to put a password on folders in Windows 7.

If there are other suggestions on this topic, we will be glad to read them in the comments. Good luck.

itkompik.ru

How to put a password on a folder - TOP 5 ways

Often users find themselves in a situation where they need to hide the contents of a folder or file from prying eyes, so the question arises of how to put a password on a folder.

Unfortunately, the developers of the Windows operating system did not provide for such a function as setting a password for individual user files and directories.

The OS can only be configured to prohibit certain users from using or viewing a specific type of directory, file or program.

Setting a password for a folder is necessary if:

Set a password for the archive

Using this method, you can password-protect a folder with any type of file, while it is possible to hide the very fact that the archive contains files of a certain format.

The window for entering the code will pop up even before the archive opens, so it is impossible to find out about its contents if the user does not know the combination. A password for an archive without programs is the easiest way to protect folders.

To add the desired folder to the archive and password protect it, follow the instructions below:

  • Right-click on the folder you are interested in and add it to the archive, as shown in the figure;

The process of adding a folder to the archive

  • Immediately after you select the “add to archive” action, a window will appear with various settings for the parameters of the created archive. Go to the tab with additional parameters and find the button to set a password, it is shown in the figure;

Window of additional parameters and settings for the created archive

  • Click on the button that allows you to set a password.

After this action, a small input window will immediately appear. The new code must be entered twice (to ensure correct entry). You can also check the box next to the option to encrypt file names.

Thus, third-party users will not be able to find out anything about the type of files being hidden.

The process of setting a password for an archive

After trying to open the archive, we see that you first need to enter the code and only then can you view and edit its contents.

Attempting to gain access to a password-protected archive

This method of installing the code is the simplest and most effective. However, to implement it you will need to have one of the archivers on your computer.

Also, if the code is forgotten or lost, restoring the contents of the archive will become quite a difficult task for the user. That is why you should store a backup copy of the protected files, for example, on cloud storage.

Using the above method, you can also password-protect an archive on a flash drive.

When you try to protect personal data, you probably set a password to boot the system or create an account with appropriate access rights. Sometimes you just need to secure some information. Therefore, users begin to look for materials about.

You can, of course, simply hide the folder, but this will not help you in any way from a security perspective. All you have to do is see it when you go to the directory where it is located. So this method is unsafe.

Unfortunately, Windows 7 does not provide the ability to put a password on a folder, but there are other ways using third-party software. Again, this will not protect your folders from being deleted, for example, so there is no 100% guarantee.

Now let's look at the following password setting methods:

  1. Archive programs;
  2. Special utilities;
  3. Using a hitrov bat script.

How to put a password on a folder using an archiver

The main purpose of archivers is to pack one or more elements into one file with the possibility of compression. We will use these tools to set passwords for folders in Windows 7. These programs include:

  1. WinRAR
  2. WinZip
  3. 7-Zip
  4. Hamster Free ZIP Archiver
  5. A lot others.

Let's consider this feature using the example of WinRAR and Hamster Free ZIP Archiver, since others operate on the same principle.

In order to password protect the folder with the WinRAR utility, perform the following steps:

1. Install WinRAR.

2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive” in the context menu.

3. The “archive name and parameters” window will open in front of you. On the “general” tab, you need to specify the name of the archive, select its format and the “normal” compression method. In general, you don’t have to change anything here; I don’t recommend changing the compression method, since our goal is just to protect the folder with a password, and not to waste precious time.

5. In the “password entry” window, check the box next to “display password as you enter” so that you can see what you are entering and only once. If you do not want the contents of the archive to be seen, check the “encrypt file names” checkbox. Set a password and click OK.

6. After the completed actions, the window will have the name “archiving with password”, in which you must click the OK button. An archive will be created, upon clicking on which you will be required to enter a password.

If the wrong password is entered, you will see an error message and will not have access to the files.

In order to password protect a folder in Windows 7 with the Hamster Free ZIP Archiver program, follow the following procedure:

1. Install Hamster Free ZIP Archiver.

2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive.”

3. You will see the utility interface where our folder will be displayed. Click on “password”, check the box “show password” and enter the desired combination.

4. Click the "archive" button and select "save to computer." Then specify the location to save the password-protected archive.

If you enter an incorrect phrase, the program will warn you about this, so try again.

Special programs for setting a password

Such utilities use encryption of elements, with the help of them we will try to password-protect a folder in Windows 7. Even if these programs are uninstalled, the files remain inaccessible. By setting passwords to enter the applications themselves, you will increase the level of security for your folders. Let's look at an example: Flash Crypt and Anvide Lock Folder.

With Flash Crypt use the steps:

1. Install Flash Crypt.

2. Select the desired folder and right-click, in the menu click on “protectwithflashcrypt”.

3. You will see a window where you need to enter a password of at least 4 characters twice. Leave the rest unchanged and click “protect”.

4. Wait until the folder is encrypted, after which the Flash Crypt icon will appear on it. Left-click and see a password request window pop up. If entered correctly, the folder will be decrypted and will be available in its original form.

Anvide Lock Folder is portable and does not require installation. There is a possibility password-protect the program login. Perform the following manipulations:

1. Run ALF.exe.

3. Click on the plus sign and specify the folder that you want to password protect and press the F5 key. Set a password and select the “close access” button. If necessary, you can also provide a hint.

4. After which the folder will disappear from view and will be accessible only from the program.

5. In the program, click the F9 key, enter the specified password and click “open access”. After which the folder will again become available in Windows 7 Explorer.

How to password protect a folder using a bat script

This method, unlike the previous ones, is the most unsafe, since it uses the usual hiding of folders in Windows 7. A user who knows how to turn on the display of hidden items will see this folder without any problems, so before using the script, make sure that this option is not enabled.

To begin, create a document with a .txt extension and copy the following code snippet into it:

cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Folder
if EXIST "Secretno" goto DOSTUP
if NOT EXIST Folder goto RASBLOK
ren Papka "Secretno"
attrib +h +s "Secret"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:DOSTUP
echo Vvedite parol, chtoby razblokirovat papku
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== moi-parol goto PAROL
attrib -h -s "Secretno"
ren "Secretno" Papka
echo Papka uspeshno razblokirovana
goto End
:PAROL
echo Nevernyj password
goto end
:RASBLOK
md folder
echo Papka uspeshno sozdana
goto End
:End

Then save it and . This is done from txt to bat. At this point the batch file is ready for use. The essence of this script is this:

  1. The first time you click on it, a folder named “Papka” is created, into which you copy the secret content.
  2. The second click creates a “Secretno” folder, which is assigned the hidden attribute and disappears.
  3. The next time you click, you are asked to enter a password. If the input is incorrect, the script closes, so run it again.
  4. After entering the correct data, the folder will be visible and have the name as in the first step.

If you want to change your password, then instead of MOI-PAROL, type yours in Latin characters.

With this we have sorted out, how to password protect a folder in Windows 7. Using archivers and special programs are perhaps the safest options, but no one is immune from deleting a file or forgetting a password. effective when you are targeting inexperienced PC users. Besides, who bothers to open a batch file in notepad and burn through all the data.

Often users find themselves in a situation where they need to hide the contents of a folder or file from prying eyes, so the question arises of how to put a password on a folder.

Unfortunately, the developers of the Windows operating system did not provide for such a function as setting a password for individual user files and directories.

The OS can only be configured to prohibit certain users from using or viewing a specific type of directory, file or program.

Setting a password for a folder is necessary if:

Set a password for the archive

Using this method, you can password-protect a folder with any type of file, while it is possible to hide the very fact that the archive contains files of a certain format.

The window for entering the code will pop up even before the archive opens, so it is impossible to find out about its contents if the user does not know the combination.

A password for an archive without programs is the easiest way to protect folders.

Advice! The function of setting a password for an archive does not require preliminary installation of additional software; you only need to have pre-installed free programs WinRAR or 7-ZIP.

To add the desired folder to the archive and password protect it, follow the instructions below:


  • Right-click on the folder you are interested in and add it to the archive, as shown in the figure;

Set password

  • Immediately after you select an action "add to archive", a window will appear with various settings for the parameters of the created archive. Find the button to set a password, it is shown in the figure;
  • Click on the button that allows you to set a password.

After this action, a small input window will immediately appear. The new code must be entered twice (to ensure correct entry).

You can also check the box next to the option to encrypt file names.


Thus, third-party users will not be able to find out anything about the type of files being hidden.


After trying to open the archive, we see that you first need to enter the code and only then can you view and edit its contents.

This method of installing the code is the simplest and most effective. However, to implement it you will need to have one of the archivers on your computer.

Also, if the code is forgotten or lost, restoring the contents of the archive will become quite a difficult task for the user. That is why you should store a backup copy of the protected files, for example, on cloud storage.

Using the above method, you can also password-protect an archive on a flash drive.

Helpful information:

To create a password on your smartphone, you can use the utility. It is designed to block applications on Android using a password. With its help, only you will be able to access messenger, social networks, camera and gallery or any other applications.

Using PasswordProtect USB

On the Internet you can find a huge amount of third-party software that can cope with the task of installing code on the system object you need.

A large proportion of such programs, unfortunately, can harm your files rather than protect them from unauthorized access by other users.

This article presents the most popular and common types of software that have been tested by a large number of users.

Therefore, these programs will not harm your computer and files that need to be password protected or hidden.

PasswordProtect USB allows you to password protect folders and remove the previously installed encryption.

The application has an intuitive user interface, so working with this utility will not be a difficult task for the user.

You can start the code installation process not only using the main program window, but also using the computer desktop.

Once you have installed this software on your operating system, the installation option will be displayed in the menu of each folder.


You just need to right-click on it, as shown in the figure:


  • The next step is to enter the code in the window that opens. Enter it twice to eliminate the possibility of error.

  • After installing the code, a sign will be displayed on the folder icon, indicating that the folder is protected. When you try to open a password-protected folder, the following dialog box will appear. This is the most common way to put a code on photo folders.

Helpful information:

Pay attention to the program. It is designed to quickly recover a lost password to a data archive saved in ZIP/WinZIP, ARJ/WinARJ, RAR/WinRAR and ACE/WinACE formats.

Folder Lock Software

This program can protect a folder on a laptop or PC. Supported operating systems: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.

The utility encrypts the folder itself, without the archive.

You can put the code on a folder with absolutely any content: files, photos and documents.

To install it on a folder using this program, follow the instructions:

  • After the folder has been added, it instantly becomes locked and can only be opened by a person who knows the password.

Set a password for a network folder

You can also password-protect a network folder.

The main property of a network folder is that it is viewable by all network users, so sometimes there are cases when the contents can be hidden.

However, is it possible to hide these types of content folders for all users?

It is possible, but there is a risk that users on the same network can easily hack the password.

Password protect a text file

You can password protect a text file separately from the folder. In this way, you can increase its crypto-resistance (resistance to hacking).

In order to increase the level of protection, you should also change the encoding of the text file and then, in the event of hacking, the attacker will not be able to read the contents without using a number of additional programs that select the correct encoding.

To set a password for a notepad file, follow these steps:


  • Save the document in bat format;

Now, when you try to open a notepad document on a computer, you will be prompted to enter a password; only after entering the correct password will the user be able to view and edit the contents of the file.

A folder protected with a complex password on a computer or laptop that can be accessed by several people is a reliable way to save important information. The secret word code will protect digital data from viewing and editing, and will also protect it from deletion. Let's find out how you can put a password on a folder in Windows 10? Are there alternative methods of protection?

Setting a password using standard Windows tools

The Windows 10 operating system does not have built-in functionality that can be used to protect a specific folder. There is a simple way to restrict access to a user account by placing a code word at the entrance (thereby blocking access to any file). There is also a more complicated one - use the built-in BitLocker disk encryption function (it will be impossible to open it without entering the cipher word). The problem with using the BitLocker service is that if the system crashes or the user forgets the password, emergency measures will have to be taken to recover the files.


And the operating systems of the Windows family have one unique functionality that allows you to make an object invisible to users. Using it, there is no need to come up with a complex cipher for opening, which can be forgotten over time.
To hide a folder proceed as follows:
Important! Both protection methods are valid for all versions of the Windows 7, 8, 10, XP, Home, Vista OS family.

An alternative way to protect folders

A large percentage of users, instead of the built-in Windows 10 explorer, use the Total Commander program or file managers with similar functionality: Free, Double, Troll, Midnight Commander or other products. With their help it is very easy to set a password on an object. This can be done after the standard installation of any file manager. The procedure is as follows:

Important! After the procedure, opening files will be available only after entering the secret code. If the user needs to hide an object and encrypt it, this can be done in Commander. You need to go through the procedure of hiding a folder through the “Properties” menu (described above), and then:

The object is now protected and invisible. You can use separate archiver programs WinRar and 7-Zip, but if you have a file manager on your PC or laptop, installing them is impractical.

Setting a password using third-party resources

There are many software products that can improve the security of storing personal data - Flash Crypt, dirLock, Secure Folder, WinMend Folder Hidden, Wise Folder Hider, My Lockbox, Easy File Locker, Anvide Seal Folder and many others. Most of the utilities are free, equipped with a multilingual interface and functional. The Wise Folder Hider software product from the reliable and proven developer WiseCleaner is suitable for all Windows OS families and for those new to folder encryption

You can download Wise Folder Hider for free online. Its installation is standard and fast (free version online with Portable prefix). The only condition is a password to open the utility. You can put any one. Then proceed like this:

After completing the procedure, the object will disappear from the list of folders on the disk (hidden) and will be accessible only through the application. Another small and easy to use utility is Secure Folders. It has a little more functionality and an English-language interface. But it does not complicate the work, since the software offers a minimum number of operations. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the code word is set to open the program itself - that is, you need to enter and come up with one code, which is easier to remember. After adding a folder to the Secure Folders application, it is impossible to open it without opening the program itself.

Use the software like this:

Important! To access an object, you need to temporarily remove it from the application by clicking the red cross on the right side of the line. Once the document work is completed, the object is added back to the application.

If you need a more functional software product that will allow you to encrypt any PC objects, it is better to download the Hide Folder utility. Its interface is Russian, the installation is standard. After installation, proceed as follows:

Access to the facility is limited. The built-in capabilities of the Windows 10 operating system are quite sufficient to protect files and documents. The main security secret is a competent and complex password. If one is installed, then it will be virtually impossible to break it, regardless of what program was used for encryption.

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.

  1. RMB on the desired folder → Properties → security tab → “Groups and users” block → Edit → Add.
  2. In the “Select” window, enter the names of users for whom access will be limited → Check to check for spelling errors - confirm the actions.
  3. In the “Group Permissions” window, check the boxes for the actions you prohibit.

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

The maximum level of protection when password-protecting folders in Windows is obtained by using special programs (read what other programs can be installed on your computer in the article 11 Windows 10 applications for upgrading your computer).

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.