Just use “pea-zip” (it’s free) to ZIP/7Z/ARC/PEA a folder and add a password. It’s designed for file/folder security and will encrypt the files/folders with two factor authentication protection in the form of a password or generated key-file. It also offers the option to compress the protected files (to take up less space). Also offers support for decryption of ACE, ZIPX, and RAR archives.
Folder Lock is the most frustrating software I’ve ever tried to use. It insists I need to buy the Full Version… but I DID! Yet it continues to insist that the Trial Version cannot do what I’m trying to do. Stay away!
Have you considered Controlled folder access from Microsoft? They describe that you can use the Windows Defender Security app and Group Policy to enable Controlled folder access.
I am very curious how this stacks against the solutions suggested here.
Thanks!
the fact you’ve not mentioned VeraCrypt shows me that you’re not at all up to date. Only VeraCrypt offers true protection that is incredibly tough if not impossible to crack. It’s also open sourced.
The programs you’ve listed with BitDefender as an exception provide little if any protection. Any program allowing you to “secure” a folder/file with basic text / number passwords is inherently not safe and should raise a red flag.
Hello, our intention with this article was to make a roundup of tools that password protect folders, not necessarily encrypt their insides. We missed VeraCrypt, but we will include it when we’ll update this article. Thank you for pointing it out.
It can also encrypt your data, so no one can actually access it like in the case of simple “hiding”.
(You simply place the program in the folder or select it in the program and click encrypt / decrypt eventually you can set password and protection level)
Sir, I went through the various methods of third-party software to protect folders. I tried only those which were not commercial. But, all of them did not have a known publisher while running them on the computer.
My concern is, is it safe to run “unknown publishers” on our computers?
Try this program. Its free and has a very simple, easy to use interface. It works well, and just about anybody would be able to lock and hide their personal data https://sourceforge.net/projects/folder-lock/
Cool softwares. I’ve been thinking of locking folders on windows for a while now. If someone has sensitive information stored on the PC (passwords, projects, etc), simply hiding them doesn’t really pull it off.
One question though… what if the software is uninstalled? Would that remove all the passwords or even worse, make your protected folders permanently locked?
I’ve been using folderlock for years to protect sensitive files, it’s a great product but sadly their support has totally disappeared. They promise free upgrades from Version 6 to 7, but don’t & won’t answer numerous emails or even posts on their Facebook page. Switching to something else as v6 doesn’t run on win 7.
7-Zip is a free file and folder protector. It offers full AES 256-bit encryption. It works the same as creating a .zip file. You simply right-click on the file or folder you want to protect and select 7-Zip – Add to archive. A box opens and here you can type in a password and click on OK. The file is now fully encrypted and protected. Later, when you (or anyone) double-clicks on that file to open it, you get a little box requiring you to enter the password. Simple as that and totally free. With so many people using Dropbox, iCloud and OneDrive it makes sense to encrypt/password protect sensitive or private files BEFORE you upload them to any onlijne storage service!
Thanks for the useful info, I’m using the Alfa Folder Locker to protect folders in Windows OS. Your folder will still be protected though is copied to another computer
I liked EncryptOnClick until a computer tech uninstalled it and then I could no longer open many files. I had saved the program on a DVD but this did not protect me. It didn’t work. No one knows what a tech will do, such as using his reinstall rather than saving our programs, which takes more time. I ended up with his programs – not mine.
Thanks for sharing this. I often bring my laptop outside to work or make a copy of files/documents to pendrive. I always use kakasoft folder protector to password protect folders in case I lost the laptop or pendrive.
hi
Why not try Folder Lock 7.6.0? I’ve been using it for 1 years, it works very powerful encryption! And now they improved the GUI and it seems more user-friendly than before. https://goo.gl/a2X1GV
31 Responses to “4 tools to lock and password-protect folders in Windows”
I use File Locker to protect my folder or file with password or without password. It is a good software and free of charge.
Just use “pea-zip” (it’s free) to ZIP/7Z/ARC/PEA a folder and add a password. It’s designed for file/folder security and will encrypt the files/folders with two factor authentication protection in the form of a password or generated key-file. It also offers the option to compress the protected files (to take up less space). Also offers support for decryption of ACE, ZIPX, and RAR archives.
Folder Lock is the most frustrating software I’ve ever tried to use. It insists I need to buy the Full Version… but I DID! Yet it continues to insist that the Trial Version cannot do what I’m trying to do. Stay away!
Thanks for sharing your experience with this app. Others will find it useful.
Folder Lock now wants $40 after the trial.
Have you considered Controlled folder access from Microsoft? They describe that you can use the Windows Defender Security app and Group Policy to enable Controlled folder access.
I am very curious how this stacks against the solutions suggested here.
Thanks!
That is a different tool, with a different purpose: protect folders from ransomware.
the fact you’ve not mentioned VeraCrypt shows me that you’re not at all up to date. Only VeraCrypt offers true protection that is incredibly tough if not impossible to crack. It’s also open sourced.
The programs you’ve listed with BitDefender as an exception provide little if any protection. Any program allowing you to “secure” a folder/file with basic text / number passwords is inherently not safe and should raise a red flag.
Hello, our intention with this article was to make a roundup of tools that password protect folders, not necessarily encrypt their insides. We missed VeraCrypt, but we will include it when we’ll update this article. Thank you for pointing it out.
I am using Wise Folder Hider for quite some time now.
My favorite one is Folder Lock because it’s user friendly interface.
User interface is not what’s important when you’re looking for security. Folder Lock is a poor solution from a cryptography standpoint.
You can use this opensource tool, it is free, easy and a lot faster then all other solutions (multi-threading): https://sourceforge.net/projects/asmodat-folder-locker/
It can also encrypt your data, so no one can actually access it like in the case of simple “hiding”.
(You simply place the program in the folder or select it in the program and click encrypt / decrypt eventually you can set password and protection level)
Sir, I went through the various methods of third-party software to protect folders. I tried only those which were not commercial. But, all of them did not have a known publisher while running them on the computer.
My concern is, is it safe to run “unknown publishers” on our computers?
if someone unistalls the program from my laptop, will the files I’ve protected dissapear or become unlocked?
Try this program. Its free and has a very simple, easy to use interface. It works well, and just about anybody would be able to lock and hide their personal data
https://sourceforge.net/projects/folder-lock/
Cool softwares. I’ve been thinking of locking folders on windows for a while now. If someone has sensitive information stored on the PC (passwords, projects, etc), simply hiding them doesn’t really pull it off.
One question though… what if the software is uninstalled? Would that remove all the passwords or even worse, make your protected folders permanently locked?
Thanks in advance
Hey guys, I have been using Keep Out for a while now. To be honest the simplicity is what won me over. Check it out
keep-out.co.uk
I’ve been using folderlock for years to protect sensitive files, it’s a great product but sadly their support has totally disappeared. They promise free upgrades from Version 6 to 7, but don’t & won’t answer numerous emails or even posts on their Facebook page. Switching to something else as v6 doesn’t run on win 7.
folder lock is best
7-Zip is a free file and folder protector. It offers full AES 256-bit encryption. It works the same as creating a .zip file. You simply right-click on the file or folder you want to protect and select 7-Zip – Add to archive. A box opens and here you can type in a password and click on OK. The file is now fully encrypted and protected. Later, when you (or anyone) double-clicks on that file to open it, you get a little box requiring you to enter the password. Simple as that and totally free. With so many people using Dropbox, iCloud and OneDrive it makes sense to encrypt/password protect sensitive or private files BEFORE you upload them to any onlijne storage service!
Thanks for the useful info, I’m using the Alfa Folder Locker to protect folders in Windows OS. Your folder will still be protected though is copied to another computer
Might be less complicated to just use a secret thumbdrive to house those special folders and files, not put them on your computer.
Great folder protection solutions! Personally I like to use the program – Lock My Folders.
link to “LocK-A-FoLdeR – Free” has broken..
We updated the link. Thank you!
I’ve been using Folder Protector, it’s worked well in protecting folders in local computer.
I liked EncryptOnClick until a computer tech uninstalled it and then I could no longer open many files. I had saved the program on a DVD but this did not protect me. It didn’t work. No one knows what a tech will do, such as using his reinstall rather than saving our programs, which takes more time. I ended up with his programs – not mine.
Thanks for sharing this. I often bring my laptop outside to work or make a copy of files/documents to pendrive. I always use kakasoft folder protector to password protect folders in case I lost the laptop or pendrive.
website blocked by malware bytes, so…
hi
Why not try Folder Lock 7.6.0? I’ve been using it for 1 years, it works very powerful encryption! And now they improved the GUI and it seems more user-friendly than before. https://goo.gl/a2X1GV