How to Create A Password for Folder on Windows 10

Table of Contents

Protecting sensitive, personal information from prying eyes is one of the most important things to do for privacy and security. Even though there are plenty of software and applications that claim to protect confidential files and folders, in some cases, they may not work appropriately. In such instances, creating a password for your folder is one easy and reliable way of keeping your files secure on Windows 10. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the steps involved in creating a password for a folder in Windows 10.

Video Tutorial:

Why You Need to Create A Password for Folder on Windows 10

Windows 10 provides users with a range of privacy and protection options, but creating a password for your folders is undoubtedly one of the easiest and efficient ways to secure your files. Here are some reasons why you might need to create a password-protected folder:

You may want to store some confidential information in that folder, and you don’t want anyone else to access it except you.
You want to provide an additional barrier for security measures on a shared computer.
You may want to pass on the folder to someone else and only provide access to it if that person has a password.

Method 1: Using Batch File

Creating a password-protected folder using the batch file method is one of the most common ways for Windows 10 users. In this method, we create a batch file that will double up as the file that locks and unlocks the folder once you have set the password correctly.

Here are the steps to create a password for a folder with a batch file:

Create a new folder where you want to store the files you want to protect.
Open Notepad by pressing the Windows key + R and typing ‘notepad’.
On the empty notepad sheet, copy and paste the following code:

@ECHO OFF TITLE Folder Private if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK if NOT EXIST Private goto MDPrivate :CONFIRM echo Are you sure you want to lock this folder? (Y/N) set/p "cho=>" if %cho%==Y goto LOCK if %cho%==y goto LOCK if %cho%==n goto END if %cho%==N goto END echo Invalid choice. goto CONFIRM :LOCK ren Private "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" echo Folder locked goto End :UNLOCK echo Enter password to unlock folder set/p "pass=>" if NOT %pass%==password1234 goto FAIL attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Private echo Folder Unlocked successfully goto End :FAIL echo Invalid password goto end :MDPrivate md Private echo Private created successfully goto End :End
In the code, there is a line that reads "Enter password to unlock folder" at the end of line 17. You’ll need to change the password to something else. Change "password1234" to whatever password you’d like to create.
From the notepad file, click file and choose "Save As."
On the "Save As" screen, change the file type to "All Files."
Save the file as "lock.bat" in the folder that you created in step one.
Double click on the "lock.bat" file to execute it.
A new folder will appear named "Private."
Move all the files you want to protect to this new "Private" folder.
Double click on the "lock.bat" file again and type "Y" when prompted to confirm that you want to lock the file.
You will see a new shortcut to a control panel file appear – this is a locked file you’ve just created.
To protect future access to this file, hide this locked file by right-clicking on it and selecting "Properties." Click the "Hidden" checkbox and then OK.
The Private folder is now protected by a password.

Pros:

This method is entirely free.
You can use any file explorer to browse and access your protected folder.
You can easily use this method on other computers as well; just copy your batch file, and voila, you can now lock other folders and files.

Cons:

This method hasn’t had security protocols that have been audited by professionals, which may limit your trust in the system.
If you lose the batch file, you may not be able to access your protected folder.
If others know how you created your locked folder, they can unlock it with ease.

Method 2: Using 7-Zip File Manager

This method that uses 7-Zip File Manager is another way you can create a password for your folder in Windows 10. Though it is somewhat complex compared to using a batch file, it is still an effective way of achieving your folder password protection.

Here are the steps involved in this method:

Download and install 7-Zip on your computer.
Make a folder, save all the files you want to protect in it.
Right-click on the folder, select "7-Zip," and click "Add to Archive."
At the bottom of the screen, type the desired password, and click "OK."
All the files you want to encrypt will now be saved as a .7z file in the folder which you created in step 2.
A prompt box will ask you to confirm the encryption process. Click "Yes" to initiate the process.
All files in the directory you chose will now be compressed and password-protected.

Pros:

If you work with a lot of huge files, this method may be more suitable than the batch file method since this works with the 7-Zip compressor to keep things organized.
It is an effective way of keeping files in archives and files protected with a password.
You don’t need the original password to open the file. 7-zip makes the encrypted file viewable and allows editing of the files, even without using a password.

Cons:

If you quit 7-zip without securing your file properly, the compression process will crash, and you won’t be able to use the password to protect your files.
You need the 7-zip installer to extract the file later, so it does have third-party requirements, which you may not be comfortable using.
You need to use the 7-zip compressor to browse and access your compressed files, and it may take some time getting used to it.

Method 3: Using Windows 10 Encrypting File System

Windows 10 operating system comes with a built-in encryption function known as the Encrypting File System (EFS). This feature enables users to encrypt files without the need for third-party tools. Files are only accessible to users with the correct key to decrypt them after encryption.

To use EFS to encrypt your files, you need to follow these steps:

Create a folder and add the files you want to protect to it.
On the folder, right-click and select "Properties."
Under the "General" tab, select the "Advanced" option.
In the next window, tick the "Encrypt contents to secure data" checkbox and select "OK."
You will then be asked to back up the encryption key. This is necessary so that you can decrypt your files if you forget your password. Choose a secure location to save this key and then click "Next."
Choose a secure password, and that password will become the key used to decrypt the files. Click "OK" to encrypt your files.
Your files are now encrypted with a password.

Pros:

This feature is built-in on the Windows operating system, so it is an excellent way to encrypt a file without needing to integrate third-party tools.
If you use Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise, you can customize advanced security policies that suit your level of security.
You can encrypt individual files regardless of their location on your hard disk.

Cons:

If you change your Windows user account password or suffer a crash on your hard disk, you may no longer access your encrypted files.
If someone asks for your Windows credentials, they will gain access to your encrypted files without the need for a password.
If you want to encrypt files on a shared computer and are logged in with your Microsoft account, other users will still have access to your files since the files are only encrypted locally and your Microsoft account credentials sign you in on the computer.

What to Do If You Can’t Create a Password for Your Folder on Windows 10

If you are having trouble generating a password for your folders after following these methods, try some of the following fixes:

If you’re using the batch file method, ensure that you set the batch file security settings accordingly.
Before encrypting files, check if you’re logged in as an administrator. If you’re logged in as a standard user, you will face certain limitations.
Ensure that your files are not open in the background. If files you want to encrypt are open, it may cause issues while encrypting the files.

Bonus Tip

In regards to Method 1 using the batch file, if you’re concerned about the password integrity for your protected folder or file, try adding a few characters here and there within the batch file to add more complexity to your generated password. You can also consider changing the file’s icon to something else. This is an added layer of security that makes your file less conspicuous to culprits who are interested in guessing your password.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do you need to install third-party software to create passwords for your folders on Windows 10?

A: No, Windows 10 comes with several built-in encryption features like Encrypting File System that are available to its users.

Q2: During encryption, why are some files skipped?

A: Files that are compressed, damaged, or incomplete will be skipped.

Q3: Is the password recovery key necessary every time I want to add an encrypted file?

A: No, once you backup your encryption keys or use your Microsoft account to log into your account, you won’t need to have the key every time you want to encrypt a file.

Q4: Can I rename encrypted folders and files?

A: Yes, once the files and folders are encrypted, you can rename them to whatever you want, and it won’t affect the encryption.

Q5: Do I need to set up a password that is case-sensitive?

A: Yes, use a password that is a mixture of upper case and lower case characters, special characters, as well as numbers for a stronger password.

Final Thoughts

Encryption is essential in protecting sensitive information, especially on Windows 10 OS, where several ways can help you to fulfil this objective. By using some of our easy-to-follow methods to create a password for your folder on Windows 10, you can be assured your sensitive information will be protected. Our guide offers you simple steps that you can follow to lock or encrypt your folder without using third-party software. Use these methods to secure your files, such as tax returns, personal information, and even confidential business transactions.