Select Create an encrypted file container and then click Next.Ĭhoose whether you want to create a Standard VeraCrypt volume or a Hidden VeraCrypt volume and then click Next.Ĭlick Select File and the file selector window will open.Ĭhoose where you want to store the volume (file). Note that in VeraCrypt, an encrypted file or folder is called a Volume.įrom the VeraCrypt homepage, click Create Volume. Set-upĪfter downloading and installing VeraCrypt for Windows, follow these steps to learn how to encrypt a file. As well as individual folders and files, this free software can password lock an entire hard drive with full disk encryption. VeraCrypt is a versatile folder locking tool that can store data securely in a number of formats and across multiple platforms. Enter the password when prompted, click OK, and the deciphered file will open up normally. From the 7-Zip control panel, select the file or folder you’d like to open and click the Extract button. The file or folder is now encrypted and is more secure than if you just protected it with a Windows password alone.Īccessing the decrypted contents of your 7-Zip archive is even more straightforward. In the Add to Archive window, choose a strong password to use for encrypting and decrypting the file, and select AES-256 encryption for maximum security. Launch 7-Zip File Manager via the desktop search bar.įrom the 7-Zip control panel, navigate to the file or folder you want to protect, click it, and then click Add.

This Windows-compatible folder locking app uses powerful AES-256 encryption to secure each individual file or folder with its own unique password.ĭownload and install the latest version of 7-Zip. 7-Zipħ-Zip’s strength and simplicity makes it one of the best free methods for password protecting files and folders.

Windows’s built-in file encryption uses your Windows user account password as the decryption key, which will prevent others from snooping and help protect sensitive files in case anyone else uses your computer. If you add any new items to the folder, those will be automatically encrypted, too. Your file or folder and all its data are now encrypted, as indicated by the little lock overlaying the folder icon. Then click OK.įinally, click Apply and select Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files. Right-click on the item and select Properties.Ĭlick Advanced to open up the Advanced Attributes settings.Ĭheck the box for Encrypt contents to secure data. Here’s how to encrypt files in Windows:įind the folder or file you want to encrypt in Windows File Explorer. The easiest way to encrypt files and folders is to use Windows’ built-in encryption. Then, we’ll look at other ways to protect your sensitive documents and block hackers. First, let’s learn how to lock folders using Windows’s built-in encryption tool. There are several ways to put a password lock and folder lock on documents on your PC. How to lock your Windows files and folders And check out our guide to password locking Word documents if your security needs are specific to the Microsoft Office suite. Then, get a password manager to keep track of them all. So, whichever method you choose, be sure to create unique, hard-to-crack passwords and use two factor authentication. Encryption is like randomly shuffling all the letters of a document and making it so that only someone with a decryption key can unscramble the data and read the document.īut encryption and password protection are only as strong as the passwords used to secure their contents. Unlike password protection, encryption scrambles the contents of individual files so that the data is unreadable. Locking files in a password protected folder is like putting items in a safe - access is limited to those who know the code that opens the safe. Password locking files and encrypting files are both ways to protect sensitive information. Encryption is a more secure form of protection, because data is scrambled using an encryption algorithm and can only be unscrambled and accessed with a decryption key. Password protection means that only those who know the password can access the information. What is the difference between password protection and encryption? And it’ll prevent you from sharing important files with anyone inadvertently.

Password locking files also strengthens your privacy when you share your PC with family members or anyone else. Securing personal information behind password protection and encrypting files doesn’t just help keep your data safe if you’ve been hacked. Advanced password cracking techniques mean that determined hackers can access folders and files on vulnerable computers. Just as you wouldn’t leave piles of cash or private documents lying around your house in plain sight, you shouldn’t rely on just your Windows login password to keep your most sensitive data secure.

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