How To Secure A Folder In Windows 10

Smartphones and laptops tend to get misplaced often, so it is disquisitional to ensure that all your confidential files and folders are well protected. One of the best means to do that is to password protect your confidential data on your MacBook and Windows 10 PC. We have already discussed how to password protect your files and folders on a Mac, and then today, nosotros will learn how to lock and countersign protect files and folders on your Windows 10 PC.

Use Passwords to Protect Files and Folders in Windows ten

With news of data leaks and hacks becoming increasingly commonplace with each passing day, online data security and privacy are more important than ever. So follow our tutorial below to password protect your confidential files and folders on Windows 10. It will ensure that your privacy isn't compromised fifty-fifty if unauthorized individuals proceeds access to your laptop.

1. BitLocker Encryption: Best Password Protection Pick in Windows x

BitLocker is a volume encryption feature built into some of the more than recent versions of Windows, starting with Windows Vista. You can apply information technology to encrypt and password protect any non-arrangement and not-recovery partition in Windows 10. To encrypt a drive, follow the steps beneath:

Note: BitLocker is available merely on the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10, so this option won't work for you lot if you're running Windows x Home.

To plow on BitLocker, you lot first need to type 'BitLocker' in the Windows search bar and press 'Enter' to open the BitLocker Drive Encryption settings folio. Here, click 'Plow on BitLocker' for the drive you want to password protect on your Windows 10 PC.

bitlocker 1

One time the encryption is in place, y'all volition have to enter your chosen password post-obit every restart to access that drive. You can likewise use a USB flash drive for additional protection.

bitlocker 2

2. Built-in Encryption Pick

Windows 10 offers nevertheless another native pick to encrypt and secure your folders. This method won't add countersign protection to a folder, but it will make certain other user accounts cannot admission the folder. Once y'all encrypt a binder, it volition only exist accessible via your user business relationship and password. Here's how information technology works:

Correct-click on the target folder and select Properties. In the Full general tab, click the 'Advanced' button and enable 'Encrypt content to secure data'. So, click on 'OK' to employ the encryption attributes to the binder. Once done, you volition see a lock symbol over your folder's icon.

Encrypt content of New folder

Note: This feature is hardware-dependent and is not bachelor on all devices. If it isn't available on your computer, the 'Encrypt contents to secure data' pick will exist greyed out.

three. Third-Party Utilities: Like shooting fish in a barrel File Locker, Folder Guard & More than

One of the best utilities to lock folders in Windows ten is a freeware program called Easy File Locker. The software gives you options to hibernate a folder, brand information technology inaccessible, deny whatever changes and make information technology undeletable as well. All you need to exercise is set a countersign in Like shooting fish in a barrel File Locker and select a file or folder. And then, choose between Access, Write, Delete and Visibility options, and click on 'Start Protection'. One time you lock a binder or file, you can just unlock it past entering a called password.

easy file locker to password protect folders in windows 10

There are several other folder-locking software available for Windows ten, like Folder Guard (Free trial) and Folder Lock (Free trial). Practice note that both are paid apps, with a price tag of $39.95 in each case. If you lot're looking for free software other than Easy File Locker, y'all can check out SecretFolder (Free), which as well works equally advertised for the most part. Nevertheless, I would suggest Easy File Locker considering it is gratuitous, easy-to-employ, and has an all-encompassing set of features.

Download Easy File Locker: (Free)

4. File Compression Tools: 7Z, WinZip, WinRAR, etc.

Y'all tin can also use a file archiving tool, like 7-Goose egg (Complimentary), WinZip (Free), or WinRAR (Free), to compress a binder and add countersign protection to it through archive options. To do that, install any of the programs we've mentioned above. Make sure to permit the installer to add the relevant options to the Windows Explorer right-click context menu. If you don't know what that means, install using the default values.

Annotation: We're using WinRAR for the demo, but you lot tin also utilise 7Z or WinZip. All 3 will be able to password-protect your folders on Windows 10.

Once you lot have installed the plan, yous will run into an 'Add to Archive' (or similar) choice in the Windows Explorer context menu. So, go alee and right-click on your target binder and choose that option.

WinRAR

Adjacent, click on 'Gear up Countersign'.

Use WinRAR to password protect folders in Windows 10

On the next pop-up window, enter the password and hit OK. The folder volition now be archived and will crave a countersign for decompression.

Use WinRAR to password protect folders in Windows 10

5. OneDrive Personal Vault

Another option to password-protect your confidential files in Windows 10 is OneDrive Personal Vault. OneDrive is Microsoft's deject storage service that competes against apps similar Google Drive, Dropbox, and Apple iCloud. Nonetheless, the service distinguishes itself by offering you a 'personal vault' on the web, the mobile app, and Windows 10.

Personal Vault not only lets users password-protect their on-device files and folders but also offers an additional layer of security with Ii-factor Authentication (2FA). It is available on OneDrive home and personal plans, but not with OneDrive for business or work and schoolhouse accounts. To use the feature, just sign in to OneDrive, and you volition see your Personal Vault sitting alongside all your other folders.

OneDrive Personal Vault

Note: If you don't have a Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription, yous tin only store upwardly to three files in your OneDrive Personal Vault. If yous get a subscription, you can add together as many files as you want (up to your storage limit).

Secure Your Files and Folders with Password Protection in Windows x

Nosotros have detailed five like shooting fish in a barrel ways to password-protect folders in Windows ten. And so, go alee and lock up all confidential folders on your computer to ameliorate your digital privacy. If you know of whatsoever other tips to lock files and folders in Windows 10, go ahead and share them with united states in the comments department beneath. We will make sure to update our article appropriately.

Meanwhile, if you want to bolster your digital privacy farther, check out some of our other articles on the discipline. You tin learn how to disable location-tracking on your Windows 10 PC, start using Onion routing, and other handy Windows x features.