How To Make A Folder Password Protected In Windows 10

We all take computer files we'd like to go on secret from the world, but not everyone knows how to password protect a folder in Windows ten. Whether you lot're hiding notes from someone with access to your computer or (hopefully) something less drastic, you're immune to have some privacy. Fortunately, in Windows 10, you tin can constrict those unmentionable plans or files in a secret folder that is password protected, and you tin do it without buying whatsoever additional software. One time you've created a new folder in Windows 10, here'due south how to countersign protect it. You tin never exist besides careful when it comes to privacy.

How to Password Protect a Folder in Windows 10

A note before you start:

We've received comments about issues people have see with this how-to. So, nosotros went dorsum and performed multiple rounds of testing internally, and can now confirm that following this process closely, footstep-past-footstep, works — at least on our end.

Only simply to be prophylactic, you should beginning attempt this how-to using files that you can afford to lose, just in case the method doesn't work for you. Likewise, make sure you're keeping some record, somewhere, of the exact password you're using to lock your folder. If you lose the password, your files aregone, and since every computer is different, we tin't deduce exactly what went wrong on your end.

Also, yes, the FolderLocker file can be reverse engineered past someone who understands the process, merely this isn't meant to keep tech-savvy folks out, just nosy family members who y'all don't trust.

Tips from readers:

Do non use a password with a space, every bit this may create an result with the batch file.
Aye, files placed in your locked folder can appear in Recent Files listing in various apps, such equally Microsoft Give-and-take.
Back up your backups! Here's how to change your password in Windows 10

Here'due south how to countersign protect a folder in Windows x, so you tin can fill it with files y'all desire to keep hole-and-corner — and how to lock it, open information technology and repeat.

How to lock a folder with a password in Windows x

ane.Right-click inside the folder where the files you desire to protect are located. The folder y'all want to hide can fifty-fifty be on your desktop.

2. Select "New"from the contextual menu.

3.Click on "Text Document."

iv. Hit Enter. It doesn't matter what the file will be named. You can delete this text file in one case the lockable binder has been made.

5.Double-click the text file to open up it.

6. Paste the below text into the new document:

cls

@Repeat OFF

title Folder Locker

if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK

if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER

:Ostend

echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)

fix/p "cho=>"

if %cho%==Y goto LOCK

if %cho%==y goto LOCK

if %cho%==n goto END

if %cho%==Due north goto Terminate

echo Invalid choice.

goto Ostend

:LOCK

ren Locker "Command Console.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

attrib +h +s "Command Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

echo Folder locked

goto End

:UNLOCK

repeat Enter password to Unlock folder

set/p "pass=>"

if NOT %pass%==Your-Countersign-Hither goto FAIL

attrib -h -south "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

ren "Control Console.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker

repeat Binder Unlocked successfully

goto End

:Neglect

echo Invalid password

goto end

:MDLOCKER

md Locker

echo Locker created successfully

goto Terminate

:End

seven. Find where it says "Your-Password-Here" in the document.

viii.Replace "Your-Password-Here" with the countersign you lot desire to lock the folder with.

9.Click File.

ten. Select "Save Equally..."

11.Click on the "Text Documents (*.txt)" menu bar that's adjacent to "Relieve equally type:"

12. Select "All Files"

13.Change the file proper noun to "FolderLocker.bat"

14.Click "Save."

15.Double-click FolderLocker.

The Locker folder has been generated!

sixteen. Fill the Locker folder with the items y'all want to protect.

Fill the Locker folder with the items you want to protect

17. Open the FolderLocker file, because it'south fourth dimension to lock that folder upward!

18. Type "Y" into the screen.

19.Click Enter, and the Binder Locker window volition disappear, along with the Locker folder itself. Your secrets are now rubber.

To unlock the folder, double-click "FolderLocker" to open it.

Enter the countersign you entered in Step viii, and click Enter.

Enter the password you entered in Step 8

The Locker folder is back. You can open up information technology to discover your hidden files. Repeat Steps 17, 18 and xix to lock the folder once again.

Repeat Steps 17, 18 and 19 to lock the folder again

To learn more about how to make use of your laptop, check out our guide for what to do as you fix up your new laptop . We've likewise got instructions if you lot're trying to figure out how to reset Windows ten PCs and how to reset your password in Windows 10 . Lastly, tired of Windows? We've got a guide that answers the relatively new question of " Should I Purchase a Chromebook? "

If you observe yourself running into serious Windows issues, you might demand to take advantage of that extended warranty and give tech support a jingle. Check out our Tech Support Showdown to see how each laptop manufacturer stacks upwards on the back end.