How to Password Protect a Folder in Windows
Since most versions of Windows can’t password-protect files, you need a third-party application such as 7-Zip. 7-Zip is a free and open-source file archive utility that protects folders with a password. Follow these steps to password-protect your folders with 7-Zip: Going forward, anyone attempting to view or extract the files within the archive is required to enter a password.
How to Password Protect Using Windows’ Built-In Encryption
If you don’t want to use a third-party application, there may be an alternative available depending on which version of Windows you use. If you have Windows 10 Professional Edition, for example, there’s an integrated encryption feature called Encrypted File System (EFS) that can add some level of security to your sensitive folders. Take the following steps to determine whether or not you have access to this feature: Your folder and its contents are encrypted and only accessible by your account. Someone logged in to your Windows account can access this folder without a password, so it’s not a perfect solution.
Password Protect a Folder in macOS
Mac users can password protect individual folders without third-party software by using the operating system’s Disk Utility app. Here’s how to do it:
Encryption vs. Password-Protected Files and Folders
Now that you know how to protect your folders and files, it’s important to know the difference between encryption and password protection. When a folder or set of files is protected by a password, the data isn’t altered or rearranged. This level of protection requires a password to gain access to the files. When the same files are encrypted, the associated data is scrambled in a way that prying eyes would have an extremely tough time deciphering. To arrange the data back to its unencrypted form, you enter a passcode or password. The difference is that if someone gains access to these files in the encrypted form and they don’t know the encryption key or passcode, the contents are unreadable and useless.
