Password-protecting a folder – how do I password-protect a folder? Detailed instructions for Windows and Mac

When using a computer on a daily basis, folder encryption is a very important feature. It’s worth knowing how to password-protect a folder. This is important not only on work computers, which often contain confidential data, but also on personal devices—for example, to protect specific files from children or other unauthorized individuals. How do you set a password for a folder (Windows 10)? Read our guide!

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, folder encryption is a built-in feature that doesn’t require any additional software. Note: This applies only to the Professional edition, as native file encryption is not available in the Home editions for home users on either operating system.

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How do I password-protect a folder? Windows 10

Protecting a folder with a password using the operating system is very simple. Let’s walk through each step of the process.

1. Right-click the icon of the folder you want to password-protect, then click "Properties" (or left-click the folder icon and press Alt + Enter, which opens the same menu).
   
   
   
2. In the "General" section (the default section—it opens first), you'll find the "Attributes" option at the bottom. Click the "Advanced" button.
3. Select the "Encrypt content to protect data" option. Click "Apply," then "OK."
   

Depending on your settings, a system notification titled "File Encryption System" may appear in the lower-right corner of your desktop. You can use this to back up your file encryption certificate and key and save the backup to an external storage device. If you select this option, a wizard will launch—you can also choose the “Back up later” option or skip it entirely.

The folder icon now features a distinctive padlock. This means that the folder has been secured.

NOTE: Encryption using this method is linked to your Windows 10 account. This means that other users of the same computer or network will not have access to the encrypted content; however, when you are logged in to the system (i.e., using your profile), you do not need to enter a password. It’s worth keeping this in mind, for example, when you want to password-protect a folder from children—to ensure no one else can access that folder, you must first log out of your profile on the computer.

For this reason, some users prefer to use dedicated file encryption software (such as Folder Lock). Some antivirus programs (such as Avast) and even WinRAR can also handle this task.

Microsoft Office – Encrypting Office Files

Office files—such as those with the .docx extension (Word documents), .xlsx (Excel spreadsheets), or .pptx (PowerPoint presentations)—can be easily encrypted using official Microsoft software. How do you do this?

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Simply click on "File," then the "Info" tab, and then "Protect Document/Workbook/Presentation" (depending on the file type). A menu will drop down; select the "Encrypt with a password" option.

Next, enter a password—it can include uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and special characters. Please note that a lost password cannot be recovered—if you lose your password, you will lose access to the file.

Apple macOS – How do I encrypt a folder on a Mac?

Apple also allows you to password-protect a folder. You don’t need any external apps to do this—the entire process can be completed using built-in macOS tools, specifically Disk Utility (you can find it using the system search function). If you’re using the English version of the system, the tool is called Disk Utility. How do you lock a folder with a password using it?

1. Click File → New Image → Folder Image
   
2. The tool will then ask you to select the specific folder you want to secure. You can choose a different name and location for the encrypted version (i.e., the image) than the original.
   
   
   
   

3. Select the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption type—you can choose between 128-bit and 256-bit options. For typical "home" folder security, this doesn't make much of a difference—while the 256-bit version is more secure, decryption may simply take a little longer.

   
   
   
   
4. In the "Image Format" tab below, select "Read and Write." Then enter the password—the same one in both fields. After clicking "Save," the folder will be secured in a few moments.