How to Password Protect a Folder in Windows 10

An easy way to keep private stuff private

Sharing a computer isn’t always the most advisable thing to do, especially if you’re worried about your family, friends, or someone malicious accessing your files. You coulduse separate user accounts, but if your files aren’t encrypted, it may still be possible for somebody else to gain access.

There are a few ways you can password protect folders in Windows 10. If you haveWindows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you could also use built-in features toencrypt files or a USB device. Alternatively, you couldzip up folders with a password, or use third-party software to create encrypted folders instead.

Using Built-In Folder Encryption using EFS

One of the simplest methods to password protect a folder in Windows 10 is to use the built-in folder encryption system called theEncrypted File System(EFS). This method is only available toWindows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Educationusers.

This type of encryption locks a folder using your Microsoft or local account credentials (so long as the user account has a password). To access the folder, the user will need to know the same login details that you’d use to sign in to your PC. If they don’t have it, they can’t access the folder.

You can also decrypt your files using theEFS encryption key. You’ll be prompted to back this up when you first encrypt a folder using EFS.

At this point, your folder should be secured. You should see no difference—you can access, edit, and move the folder as normal. For other users, however, they’ll require your account details or encryption key to access or make any changes to the folder.

Encrypting Folders Using 7-Zip

If you want to secure a folder without making too many changes to it, you may decide to encrypt it. One way to do this is to use 7-Zip, the open-source archival software, to create an encrypted, password-protected zip file.

Other Third-Party Software To Password Protect Folders

While 7-Zip can create a password-protected archive containing your folder, it can’t password protect the folder itself. If you’re using Windows 10 Home (meaning EFS and built-in folder encryption is unavailable to you), then you’ll need to use third-party software to protect your folders.

A number of antivirus software packages offer an encrypted file storage feature, including Bitdefender Total Security. As an alternative, you could use dedicated file encryption software likeAxCrypt, which offers aSecured Foldersfeature. This is a premium feature, but you can try the software with a 30-day free trial.

AxCrypt constantly monitors these folders, encrypting any files that are added to it. This ensures that only you can access files within the folder. You can decrypt the files using your own encryption password, although you’ll also need an AxCrypt account to use the software. Passwords are stored locally, however.

Protecting Your Important Files in Windows 10

With folder encryption built-in and several third-party methods available, it’s never been easier to password protect a folder and protect your most important files in Windows 10. WithAES encryptionavailable for EFS and 7-Zip files, your files will be (close to) unbreakable, giving you additional peace of mind.

If you want to take things further, there’s nothing stopping you from encrypting all of your data, whether it’s online or offline. This is an especially good idea for online data, especially if you find out that a site or service you’re using has suffered a data breach, but you can also encrypt your entire hard drive usingWindows Bitlocker.

Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.Read Ben’s Full Bio

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