How to password protect a file using Windows tools? Set the password using Lim LockFolder

Quite often, everyone in the household uses a computer and there is a need to hide certain information in a folder from prying eyes. There is a stereotype that it is difficult to do this. But with a little effort, in just a couple of minutes you can put a password on a folder or file.

To this day, the Windows operating system does not have the ability to hide information in folders and files. Microsoft provides the ability to restrict access to certain users. But several people can use the computer and this option is not entirely convenient.

You can find and install the program on the Internet. You just have to spend a lot of time studying the nuances of its work. In this case, the WinRar archiver will come in handy. As a rule, it is installed on almost every computer. It’s hard to work without an archiver, and sooner or later you’ll have to download it.

To set a password using the WinRar archiver you need to:

1. Click right click mouse on the folder or file to which you want to close access. Then select “Add to archive” in the context menu that appears.

2. A small window will open where you can set the parameters. Click on the “Set password” button. To do this, you need to set them in the “Advanced” tab by clicking on “Set password”.

3. After this, a window will open where you will need to enter the desired password and confirm it. Here you can also select additional options: display the password as you enter (the characters you enter will be shown) and encrypt file names (file names will be in the form of asterisks, additional protection).

4. The password is set to archive. An asterisk next to a file means it is password protected. You can add any file or folder to the created archive by first entering a password.

5. When opening the archive, a window will appear asking you to enter a password.

Archived files WinRar archiver open without problems.

Let's figure out how to put a password on a folder using the free Dirlock program. This is a fairly simple way to protect personal data. Download and install the program ().

After this, just right-click on the folder that we want to protect with a password and select “Lock/UnLock”.

In the next window, enter the password for the folder 2 times and press the “Lock” button. If you check the box next to “Hide”, the folder will become hidden. You can find it in the folder with installed program C:\Program Files\dirLock\. To open a folder, you need to click on the folder and select “Lock/UnLock” again, and then enter the password.

I would like to note that the program does not work correctly in, at least for me.

Developers release thousands every day different programs. So in the sphere software Password Protect USB appeared. It is distributed free of charge and finding it will not be a problem.

After downloading the program, you need to install it. In order to put a password on a folder using Password Protect USB, you will need to perform a number of simple steps:

1. Launch the program and click Lock Folders. Next, a window will appear in which you need to specify let to the folder. These actions can be done in just a few clicks: right-click on the folder and select Lock with Password Protect USB from the context menu that appears.

2. A small window will open where you need to create a password and enter it for confirmation. Click Lock Folder.

3. A message will appear that the folder is password protected, and there will be a red icon on the folder itself. If one of the users tries to open it, he will see a window where he must enter a password.

Having installed password protection to a folder, you can transfer it to it various documents. Access to them will be closed.

Using Password Protect USB, it is possible to set a password for folders that are located both on the computer and on flash drives.

The Anvide Lock Folder program allows you to do similar actions. You need to launch it and click on the big plus sign. Then we find in the list required folder and click “Ok”. A folder will appear in the program window indicating its location. To set a password, you must first select it, and then click on the lock and enter the password. Anvide Lock Folder differs from similar software in that it provides a password reminder function. The folder can only be accessed through the program.

Often users find themselves in a situation where they need to hide the contents of a folder or file from prying eyes, so the question arises of how to put a password on a folder.

Unfortunately, the developers of the Windows operating system did not provide for such a function as setting a password for individual user files and directories.

In the OS you can only configure the ban certain users use or view specific type directories, files or programs.

Setting a password for a folder is necessary if:

• you want to hide your files from unauthorized access by others;
• want to protect your personal data from illegal copying or distribution.

Set a password for the archive

Using this method, you can password-protect a folder with any type of file, while it is possible to hide the very fact that the archive contains files of a certain format.

The window for entering the code will pop up even before the archive opens, so it is impossible to find out about its contents if the user does not know the combination. A password for an archive without programs is the easiest way to protect folders.

Advice! The function of setting a password for the archive does not require pre-installation additional software, you only need to have pre-installed free programs WinRAR or 7-ZIP.

To add the desired folder to the archive and password-protect it, follow the instructions below:

• Right-click on the folder you are interested in and add it to the archive, as shown in the figure;

• Immediately after you have selected the “add to archive” action, a window will appear with various settings parameters of the created archive. Go to the tab with additional parameters and find the button to set a password, it is shown in the figure;

• Click on the button that allows you to set a password.

After this action, a small input window will immediately appear. New code must be entered twice (to verify correct insertion). You can also check the box next to the option to encrypt file names.

Thus, third-party users will not be able to find out anything about the type of files being hidden.

The process of setting a password for an archive

After trying to open the archive, we see that you first need to enter the code and only then can you view and edit its contents.

This method of installing the code is the simplest and most effective. However, to implement it you will need to have one of the archivers on your computer.

Also, if the code is forgotten or lost, restoring the contents of the archive will be enough challenging task for the user. This is why you should keep backup copy protected files, for example, on cloud storage.

Using the above method, you can also password-protect an archive on a flash drive.

Using PasswordProtect USB

You can find it on the Internet great amount third-party software that can handle the task of installing code on the system object you need.

A large proportion of such programs, unfortunately, can harm your files rather than protect them from unauthorized access by other users.

This article presents the most popular and common types of software that have been tested big amount users, so these programs will not harm your computer and files that need to be password protected or hidden.

This program is available for download and installation on PC and is compatible with Windows 10.

PasswordProtect USB allows you to password-protect folders and remove the previously installed encryption. The application has an intuitive user interface, so working with this utility will not be a difficult task for the user.

You can start the code installation process not only using the main program window, but also using the computer desktop.

After you have installed this software on your operating system, the installation function will be displayed in the menu of each folder, you just need to right-click on it, as shown in the figure:

• Next step You must enter the code in the window that opens. Enter it twice to eliminate the possibility of error.

• After installing the code, a sign will be displayed on the folder icon, indicating that the folder is protected. When you try to open a password-protected folder, the following dialog box will appear. This is the most common way to put a code on photo folders.

Folder Lock Software

This program can protect a folder on a laptop or PC. Supported operating systems: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10. The utility encrypts the folder itself, without an archive.

You can put the code on a folder with absolutely any content: files, photos and documents.

To install it on a folder using this program, follow the instructions:

• Download and install Folder Lock;
• Enter a password in the text field, which will be the folder password;
• Click OK;
• Drag the desired folder to the main program window or use the “add” icon;

• After the folder has been added, it immediately becomes locked and can only be opened by a person who knows the password.

Set a password for a network folder

You can also password protect network folder. For this you can also download individual programs, For example:

You can also use the program Folder Guard(

Manufacturers operating systems are seriously concerned about the security of user data, and Microsoft company from among them. Many large corporations use Windows system, which becomes more and more reliable with new versions. Despite this, it does not provide a function for setting a password on separate folder or file. Microsoft explains the absence of such an opportunity by the presence of an option to activate a password for individual user computer, but this is not always convenient.

A common situation is when an employee in the office leaves the computer for a couple of minutes to make coffee or talk on the phone. At this point, his personal files are not protected unless he logs out of his profile. Anyone can not only view files on a computer, but also download them, which is fraught with problems. However, there are several ways that allow you to put a password on a folder in Windows any versions, either using or not using third-party programs.

How to put a password on a folder in Windows without programs?

The method that will be described below does not provide full protection data in the folder from the actions of intruders.

This code is a script that will allow you to put a password on a folder in Windows without programs.

Statistics show that many people are careless about their passwords, choosing secret code your date of birth or your name. OkeyGeek site advises you to be more careful when choosing a password, in particular, adding letters of different case, punctuation marks and numbers to it, which allows you to confuse programs for automatic selection password.

Attention: This file will remain visible to users, and through it they will need to access the personal folder on which the password is set. We recommend choosing a name for the file that would “repel” intruders. For example, the file can be named " Win.bat" or " splwow64.bat».

As we said above, this method not ideal, and experienced users Computers that want to access your folder will not be saved by setting a password in this way.

How to find out the password set on a Windows folder?

If you know which file is responsible for hiding/opening a private folder on the computer, then it’s quite easy to find out the password that triggers the script. You don't need any specialized tools or programs for this.

The password can be obtained as follows:

It seems like you only need to do 2 steps to open a folder with a password, and that's true. But for an ordinary user, a child or a person who understands practically nothing about the principles of computer operation, it will be difficult to figure out how to open a folder hidden under a password.

A computer that is accessed by multiple people may need to protect the data stored on its hard drive. An office machine with personal work or a home PC with storage on its hard drive. secret information- not important.

There are two ways to solve the problem - either, or protect a separate folder. Then neither curious household members nor equally inquisitive colleagues will be able to view the contents of the “secret” folder without permission. To learn how to set a password for a folder, read further in the text of our article.

Option 1. Protection using Windows

For PC with OS Windows versions XP and older provide an extremely simple method for putting a password on a folder on your computer. He doesn't require additional download applications or software installations.

To implement it, several conditions must be met:

1. The folder (file) must be stored in the file section NTFS system. To display file system you need to go to START – My Computer – Required Disk(in the screenshot this is drive C).

2. The user must create a separate account with a password in advance.

In order to put a folder under a password, you need to hover the cursor over the desired folder (the “Password” folder in the example) and right-click on the icon. In the window that appears, in “Properties”, check the “Cancel” box. general access to the folder." After clicking “Apply” and confirming the password, the folder is closed to outsiders.

This was the first of many methods - the simplest and quick option protect folders with valuable information.

Option 2: Using third-party utilities

Third-party programs for setting passwords on folders – great way data protection. Among the numerous programs it is worth noting such as:

• Anvide Lock Folder– a serial compact program, to use which there is no need to install the application on your computer. The program file can be stored on removable media(flash memory, external drive);
• Password Protect USB– performs the same functions. Designed to maintain the confidentiality of data in folders stored both on the hard drive and on USB drives;
• File lock– the utility is convenient to use. Allows you to protect folders with a password and saves the passwords used for each folder. Using the program you can do complete removal files or folders (it will not be possible to recover deleted data - the utility clears the area on the disk previously occupied by the folder).

The operating principle of such useful utilities can be considered using the example of one of the most popular programs- Password Protect USB. You can download it both in a trial version and in “full volume” on some software portals.

The first use of the utility requires running it:

• in the window you need to select Lock item Folders;
• specify the path to the desired folder;
• Set password.

After making sure that the program works correctly, without errors, you can proceed more succinctly:

• right-click on the icon of the desired folder;
• select “Lock with Password Protect...” in the dialog box;

• Enter the password twice in the appropriate lines to set the password and confirm it;
• You can use a password hint by checking the “Password Hint” checkbox.

The appearance of the folder will now change - about set password will say "brick" on the icon. Unauthorized attempts to open a folder protected in this way will be met with a prompt to enter a secret code:

To unlock, just right-click on the folder and select in the window the desired line. After entering the password, the folder will again be open to all PC users.

Option 3. Using archivers

Strictly speaking, now we’re not really talking about setting a password for a folder. This method password protects not the folder itself, but its zipped version. Wherein this option is distinguished by a certain elegance - after all, archivers are usually used only for their intended purpose. So creating a password protected version of the folder can be thought of as interesting way data protection.

First of all, you will need the archiver program itself. Download and install on PC WinRAR program, the user gets the opportunity to securely hide important data behind a password. In addition, the document archive takes up much less usable space on your hard drive or flash drive.

How to use the utility to protect folders? Right-clicking on the folder icon will open a window in which you need to select the “Add to archive” line.

In the archiver window that opens, select “Set password”:

All that remains is to ask required password and remember it - recovering passwords for archives is quite difficult.

Now you need to delete the original folder. The saved archive will be reliably protected - each time you try to extract information, you will be asked to enter a password.

When you try to protect personal data, you probably set a password to boot the system or create account with appropriate access rights. Sometimes you just need to secure some information. Therefore, users begin to look for materials about.

You can, of course, simply hide the folder, but this will not help you in any way from a security perspective. All you have to do is see it when you go to the directory where it is located. So this method is unsafe.

Unfortunately, Windows 7 does not provide the ability to put a password on a folder, but there are other ways using third-party software. Again, this will not protect your folders from being deleted, for example, so there is no 100% guarantee.

Now let's look at the following password setting methods:

1. Archiving programs;
2. Special utilities;
3. Using a hitrov bat script.

How to put a password on a folder using an archiver

The main purpose of archivers is to pack one or more elements into one file with the possibility of compression. We will use these tools to set passwords for folders in Windows 7. These programs include:

1. WinRAR
2. WinZip
3. 7-Zip
4. Hamster Free ZIP Archiver
5. A lot others.

Let's consider this feature using the example of WinRAR and Hamster Free ZIP Archiver, since others operate on the same principle.

In order to password protect the folder with the WinRAR utility, perform the following steps:

1. Install WinRAR.

2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive” in the context menu.

3. The “archive name and parameters” window will open in front of you. On the “general” tab, you need to specify the name of the archive, select its format and the “normal” compression method. In general, you don’t have to change anything here; I don’t recommend changing the compression method, since our goal is just to password-protect the folder and not waste precious time.

5. In the “password entry” window, check the box next to “display password as you enter” so that you can see what you are entering and only once. If you do not want the contents of the archive to be seen, check the “encrypt file names” checkbox. Set a password and click OK.

6. After the completed actions, the window will have the name “archiving with password”, in which you must click the OK button. An archive will be created, upon clicking on which you will be required to enter a password.

In the event that it is driven in wrong password You will see an error message and will not be able to access your files.

In order to password protect a folder in Windows 7 with the Hamster Free ZIP Archiver program, follow the following procedure:

1. Install Hamster Free ZIP Archiver.

2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive.”

3. You will see the utility interface where our folder will be displayed. Click on “password”, check the box “show password” and enter the desired combination.

4. Click the "archive" button and select "save to computer." Then specify the location to save the password-protected archive.

If you enter wrong phrase, the program will warn you about this, so try again.

Special programs for setting a password

Such utilities use encryption of elements, with the help of them we will try to password-protect a folder in Windows 7. Even if these programs are uninstalled, the files remain inaccessible. By setting passwords to enter the applications themselves, you will increase the level of security for your folders. Let's look at an example: Flash Crypt and Anvide Lock Folder.

With Flash Crypt use the steps:

1. Install Flash Crypt.

2. Select the desired folder and right-click, in the menu click on “protectwithflashcrypt”.

3. You will see a window where you need to enter a password of at least 4 characters twice. Leave the rest unchanged and click “protect”.

4. Wait until the folder is encrypted, after which the Flash Crypt icon will appear on it. Left-click and see a password request window pop up. If entered correctly, the folder will be decrypted and will be available in its original form.

Anvide Lock Folder is portable and does not require installation. There is a possibility password-protect the program login. Perform the following manipulations:

1. Run ALF.exe.

3. Click on the plus sign and specify the folder that you want to password protect and press the F5 key. Set a password and select the “close access” button. If necessary, you can also provide a hint.

4. After which the folder will disappear from view and will be accessible only from the program.

5. In the program, click the F9 key, enter the specified password and click “open access”. After which the folder will again be available in Windows Explorer 7.

How to password protect a folder using a bat script

This method, unlike the previous ones, is the most unsafe, since it uses the usual hiding of folders in Windows 7. A user who knows how to turn on the display hidden elements, will see this folder without any problems, so before using the script, make sure this option is not enabled.

To begin, create a document with a .txt extension and copy the following code snippet into it:

cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Folder
if EXIST "Secretno" goto DOSTUP
if NOT EXIST Folder goto RASBLOK
ren Papka "Secretno"
attrib +h +s "Secret"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:DOSTUP
echo Vvedite parol, chtoby razblokirovat papku
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== moi-parol goto PAROL
attrib -h -s "Secretno"
ren "Secretno" Papka
echo Papka uspeshno razblokirovana
goto End
:PAROL
echo Nevernyj password
goto end
:RASBLOK
md folder
echo Papka uspeshno sozdana
goto End
:End

Then save it and . This is done from txt to bat. At this point the batch file is ready for use. The essence of this script is this:

1. The first time you click on it, a folder named “Papka” is created, into which you copy the secret content.
2. The second click creates a “Secretno” folder, which is assigned the hidden attribute and disappears.
3. The next time you click, you are asked to enter a password. If the input is incorrect, the script closes, so run it again.
4. After entering the correct data, the folder will be visible and have the name as in the first step.

If you want to change your password, then instead of MOI-PAROL, type yours in Latin characters.

With this we have sorted out, how to password protect a folder in Windows 7. Using archivers and special programs, perhaps the most safe options, but no one is safe from deleting a file or forgetting a password. effective when you focus on inexperienced users PC. Besides, who bothers to open a batch file in notepad and burn through all the data.