How to put a password on a folder in different ways. How to protect your data from prying eyes

Many users sometimes have a desire to hide some information from unauthorized persons. But not everyone knows how to password protect a folder or do anything similar. Let's look at how to put a password on a folder on Windows 10.

You can hide your information without programs from the Internet. Everything you need is in the operating system. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on any folder and select

1. In the window that opens, go to the tab

1. Click on

1. You will see a list of users and groups on your computer. Specify the required account. For example,

1. Immediately after this, a list of rights that he has for this directory will be displayed below. Place the checkboxes at your discretion and complete the action with the " OK".

If you uncheck all the boxes in the "Allow", then in the future if he wants to open this directory, he will receive the following message.

Without administrator rights this person will not be able to access the contents of this folder.

Using archivers

This is an alternative method for storing rarely used information. Today, almost everyone has such programs on their computer. Let's look at the most popular of them.

You can buy the application on its official website.

For archiving necessary information right click on the desired folder.

After that, select the items “ » – "Add to archive...".

In the window that opens, you can specify:

• file name;
• its location;
• format;
• and much more.

The most important thing is to click on the button "Uset a password."

Immediately after clicking you will be prompted to enter twice required password. Then click on the button OK".

In the future, when you open this file, the following window will always appear.

Without knowing the security key, even you will not be able to see the data stored there.

7Zip

To call this program, you also first need to right-click the mouse.

Then select " 7- Zip» – "Add to archive...".

This archiver operates on the same principle. You will only enter the password in this window:

Locking documents

If you need to hide from prying eyes content Microsoft file Word or Excel, it is not necessary to set a password for the entire directory. It is enough to block the file itself.

To do this, go to the menu "Office", select items there “Prepare” - “Encrypt document”.

Immediately after this you will be asked to enter your security key.

Then again to confirm.

If someone wants to open this document, they will be shown the following window.

Until the password is entered, the contents of the file will not be displayed.

Using virtual disks

If you decide to make a folder with a password, then first you should try alternative option using encrypted images. This method is much more convenient and does not require installing additional software.

BitLocker on Windows

Let's consider step by step how to create virtual storages data using operating system Windows 10

1. To begin, press the Win + X buttons on your keyboard. In the menu that opens, click on the item "Run."

1. Enter the following command and click on the button OK".

1. The result of this action will be the opening of the utility

1. Select items from the menu "Action" — "Create a virtual hard drive».

1. Specify the location where the image will be located and its size. If you wish, you can choose a dynamic size. Once all this data has been entered, click on the “ OK".

During placement, you need to manually specify the file name.

1. Immediately after this, a new unknown section will appear in your list.

1. Right-click and select "Initialize disk."

1. In the window that opens, click on the button “ OK".

1. Disk 1 now displays the status "Base", not "No data available", as it was in the beginning.

1. Right-click again and this time in the new menu click on the item "Create a simple volume."

1. In the window that opens, click on the button "Next."

1. Specify the size (by default it is set to maximum value) and press "Next."

1. Specify a letter and click "Next."

1. Let's just continue.

1. Finally click on the button "Ready".

This section is now displayed as normal.

1. Right click on the new volume .

1. Select an item "Turn onBitLocker".

1. Next, check the box next to the first item.

1. Enter your password. Preferably complex.

1. You will be prompted to save the recovery key. You will need it if you forget your password.

1. After you specify convenient way, the key will be saved.

1. You will then be asked to specify the encryption mode.

1. Next, click on the button

After you are finished working with the data, virtual disk will need to be disabled. To do this, right-click the mouse and select "Extract."

To reconnect, just double-click on the disk file.

Immediately after this, it will appear on your computer.

Double-click on it. The system will then ask you to enter your security key.

If entered correctly, the virtual disk will be available for work.

Don't forget to remove it! If you do not do this, then anyone who sits down at the computer after you will be able to see all your data.

In cases where the above seems very complicated, it is recommended that you read further information, which tells you how to password protect a folder using additional software.

Third Party Applications

There are additional utilities that allow you to block access to certain directories. As a rule, most of them are paid. There are also free programs, but they usually just make the folder hidden. Any advanced user if desired, he can find it and view the contents.

If you decide to install something like this, it is recommended that you look at the following examples.

TrueCrypt program

You can download it on the Internet great app. It can also encrypt your hard drive and do everything described above.

At the very beginning during installation, you will receive a message that this utility is only relevant for Windows more than earlier versions. And if you have “Ten”, then it is wiser to use Bitlocker, since it does the same thing.

If you have a home edition or for educational institutions installed, then there is no option for disk encryption.

You can download the program on its official website. This utility can:

• hide any folders, files and even sections;
• encrypt information and set a password to decrypt it.

First, you will be asked to enter a security code.

This program is easy to use. Click on the button Add Items to Lock» . After this you will be given a choice:

• add files;
• add folder;
• add hard section disk.

Folder Lock is a paid app.

If you forget the code, it will be impossible to restore the information. Moreover, you will need it when uninstalling this program.

This software is also paid. We are told this at the very beginning. You can download it on the home page. To view, please select " Run Trial Version».

Protect Folders is a very simple utility, without a lot of complex functions. Almost everyone can figure it out.

To get started, click on the “ Lock folders» . After this, a window will open in which you need to specify any directory and click on “ OK".

You will then be asked to enter your password. After that, to block, click on “ Lock Folder» .

This program only works with administrator rights. She does an excellent job. Moreover, it is completely free.

Using it you can block and remove protection immediately from large quantity objects. For security, you can specify a login password.

To add a folder, click on «+» and select the desired object.

After this, the selected directory will appear in the list. Right-click and select "".

Then you need to enter the password twice and click on the “” button.

Conclusion

Most best way- this is to create a virtual encrypted disk. Because:

• no one except you can open it;
• you don't need to buy additional software;
• the data is actually encrypted, not just hidden;
• all data is stored in one file that you can carry with you on a flash drive;
• the ability to create an image of an expandable volume.

If you do not plan to use the hidden information long time, then it’s better to archive it. This way you can save space on your computer and install a security key.

Don't use too much simple passwords(12345, your birthday, etc.), which are easy to pick up. But at the same time, you shouldn’t be too “wise”, since you can forget a very difficult one. Can you imagine what will happen to you if you lose all the information that is very important to you due to a forgotten password...

Video instructions

If you haven’t figured out how to put a password on a folder in Windows 10, we recommend watching the video additionally.

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 around with the archive, you can set a password directly on the folder itself using Anvide programs Seal Folder. 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.

In 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.

Greetings to all blog readers. If you do most of your work on a computer where you are not the only one working, then in some cases it is better to protect personal information from unwanted viewing.

How to put a password on a folder or file is the topic of our article today. Unfortunately Windows developers They didn’t take care of such a simple function as the ability to set a password to access data. The maximum that they can offer you is to limit access to data to certain users. But since we are used to working at a computer through one user, then this method won't give us anything. How to put a password on a folder?

2 Put a password on the folder 2nd method

Download the program Password Protect.

How to put a password on a folder using - Password Protect. Unpack the archive and run the program. This is a Portable version, so no installation is required.

Unpack one of archives 600kb. Go to the unpacked folder and run the program Password Protect The following window will open in front of us:

Click lock the folders. And select from the list the one for which you want to set a password.

Enter the same password twice and optionally leave a hint in case you forget the password.

All passwords are set. Now, when accessing a folder, you will need to enter a password. This way you can set passwords for any folders. Well, to hide files from extra eyes, place them in a folder with a password.

3 Folder password - 3rd method

Set the password using popular programs archiver - WinRar. Since many data have an archiver installed, I will not provide a link to the program. If suddenly you don’t have this program, then just enter download in any search engine WinRar and download the program from the first link.

In this way, we put a password on the archive in which you can store files and other data together. Adding data to the archive

Hello, dear readers of the blog site. For some reason, there are no built-in tools in Windows that would allow you to block access to a folder for those who do not know the password to access it.

At the same time, this is exactly what comes to mind for any user of this operating system. the simplest way keep some of your data confidential- just put a password on the folder where the “hidden” documents (files or other directories) will be stored.

Well, really, what could be more logical than to password-protect access to a certain directory and put there everything that you would like to protect from prying eyes (spouse, children, hackers, competent authorities, etc.). There may be many goals, but the solution seems obvious - make a kind of safe out of any folder, the code for which only you will know (and how to come up with it, read the article).

How to set a password for a folder after archiving it

However simple options solutions to this problem (built into Windows means) still no. More precisely, there are a number of methods that do not guarantee any confidentiality, but only provide “fool protection”. It doesn't make much sense to rely on them. In this same publication I want to focus on a way to make a safe of the highest security category from any catalog, but for this you will have to install an additional program in the OS.

It was originally built on open source and a priori () did not contain bookmarks that would allow developers to access your password-protected data. Unfortunately, the developers have now sold themselves to BitLocker, whose products are already closed source, which means your password folders can, if desired, be opened using backdoors. However, TrueCrypt can still be found and used for your purposes.

But first, I’ll give you something easier to use, but less reliable way(competent authorities and specialists will be able to hack the directory, but your relatives and friends will not). It lies in the fact that the necessary the folder can be archived with a password, so that a person who does not know it would no longer be able to carry out the unzipping process.

You are all probably very familiar with archivers. Among them there are both paid and free versions. But in addition to its main functionality - creating archives to save disk space and speed up data transfer over the Internet, modern archivers allow you to encrypt archived data and protect it with passwords. It is this opportunity that we will take advantage of.

Let's try to archive a folder and set a password for it first using an example free archiver(7-Zip), and then using the example of a paid one (WinRAR), which, however, is installed on almost all computers. I think that you have at least one of them, and if not, you can always install them by going to the official websites of the developers of these programs ().

How to archive and password protect a directory in 7-Zip

So, if you have it installed in Windows archiver 7-Zip, then in order to archive any folder (or a set of files and directories) in it, it will be enough to right-click on it and select from the drop-down context menu items “7-Zip” - “Add to archive”:

As a result, you will see the archiving settings window, where, among other settings, you can set a password to access this archive, or rather, encrypt the entire contents of the folder (while archiving it), and this code will be the key to decryption.

A feature of “archiving with a password” of directories via 7-Zip is that you can enter the created archive (folder) without entering a password, and when you try to open any file you will be required to enter it:

If you want to password-protect access not only to the files in this directory, but also prohibit viewing the contents of this folder without entering a password, then simply check the “Encrypt file names” box in the archiving settings window (second screenshot from here). After this, when you try to view the contents of the archive, a prompt to enter a password will pop up.

How to set a password when archiving a folder in WinRAR

You can also use the capabilities of the second of the archivers mentioned above to simultaneously archive and password protect a folder - WinRAR. As I already mentioned, it’s paid, but for some reason in RuNet they don’t really take this into account.

If WinRAR is already installed in Windows, then simply right-click on the directory where you want to set a password and select “Add to archive” from the context menu:

In the window that opens, go to the “Advanced” tab and click on the “Set password” button:

Here you will be asked to create and enter a password, which will become the key to your archived folder, and you can also check the “Encrypt file names” box so that no one can view the contents of the archive without entering the password (we already talked about this a little higher):

After that, click OK twice and try to enter the created archive using the password you created. If everything worked out, then you can delete the original folder, the contents of which you want to hide from prying eyes. And as needed, you will simply log into this archived and password-protected folder. It's a little stressful to have to enter your password all the time, but security requires sacrifice. IMHO ()

How to put a strong password on a folder using TrueCrypt

As I mentioned just above, there is various programs, which make it possible to implement such an obvious Windows users The idea is to block access to the folder using a password. There are quite a lot of such programs (for example, Folder Lock, DirLock, Anvid Lock Folder, File lock, Lim LockFolder, etc.), but a user who understands computers will most likely be able to bypass them. Therefore, if you want to hide something from your household or work colleagues on your computer, then they will suit you just fine.

But often something more radical is required, when hacking a password-protected folder will require monstrous efforts And computing power, which will naturally deter most potential burglars. These types of instruments include TrueCrypt program, which allows you to set a password not only for a directory, but even for the entire computer (fully encrypt system partition, if you need it).

I have already written in some detail about working with her:

Unfortunately, today the developers no longer release new versions of the program, because they switched to working in BitLocker (Microsoft), but you can download TrueCrypt one of the latest versions via this link. In any case, it works great for me.

Let me explain a little what “put a password on a folder” means in TrueCrypt, because this is somewhat different from the options discussed above. In this program, you create a container from any file that is on your computer and has just been created.

It will be very difficult to discover that it is a container for something, and besides, inside this container (actually a folder with files and other directories) you can create a hidden container, which certainly no one will guess about. Hackers very actively use this program to hide, for example, their correspondence, because it is difficult to even find corrupted (encrypted) information, not to mention hacking it.

So, this very container is encrypted and decrypted on the fly (you won’t even notice it) and you can work with it like a regular directory (even more like a portable hard drive or a flash drive, because this password-protected folder is connected in Windows exactly as a new virtual disk).

That. you can copy something there, delete it, move it standard means operating system (via Explorer or, for example, Total Commander).

At the end of the work, you simply unmount the virtual disk, and no one (who does not know the password) will be able to access your data. Wonderful thing.

For all the details of working with TrueCrypt for setting passwords on a flash drive, folder, or even the entire computer, see the links given just above. And remember that absolute protection does not exist (you can provide the password yourself under pressure), but among all other methods of data protection, this program is one of the most optimal options. IMHO.

Good luck to you! See you soon on the pages of the blog site

You can watch more videos by going to

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A folder protected with a complex password on a computer or laptop that several people have access to 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 any alternative methods 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 an easy way to restrict access to account user by placing a code word at the input (thereby blocking access to any file). There is also a more complicated one - use the built-in encryption function BitLocker drives(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, you will have to accept emergency measures to recover files.

An alternative way to protect folders

Setting a password using third-party resources

Download Wise program Folder Hider is available for free online. Its installation is standard and fast ( free version on the network with the 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 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 something more functional software product, which 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. Built-in operating room capabilities Windows systems 10 is quite sufficient to protect files and documents. Main secret security - 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.