Password Protect Folders


  1. Posts : 84
    Windows 10
       #1

    Password Protect Folders


    I am trying to figure out how to password protect some work folders on my laptop that my girlfriend uses sometimes. She likes to snoop around and would rather not have her looking at my work documents.

    I tried to follow this guide but it doesn't seem to be working:

    How To Password Protect a Folder in Windows 10
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  2. Posts : 1,621
    Windows 10 Home
       #2

    One alternative you can do with best-safety is password-protect ZIP files using 7-zip; include those ZIPs with your routine backups onto external media. There are a few 3rd party utilities that report to be able to password a folder, I do not know what they are because I have never done that.
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  3. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #3

    Password protection does absolutely nothing, you need to encrypt folders/files, if you are serious about it.

    Like with VeraCrypt - Home or simply use a document encryption, office suites offer 256-bit AES encryption.
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  4. Posts : 84
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I'll try the encrypted zip files. If that's a no go, I'll try the VeraCrypt

    Thanks Guys
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  5. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #5

    Just note, that encrypting your files is a double edge sword. If you forget your password or mistype it, you will loose access to your files forever. Considering, you are talking about work files, be sure, you will take that into an account.
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  6. Posts : 84
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I know the password as it's my work password to login to my Server there, Thankfully that password never expires
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  7. Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       #7

    If she is not technically savvy, you can simply hide them by r-click/Properties/General/Attributes and check 'Hidden' then check show Hidden files in View tab of explorer when you want to see them. Just put the files in a sub folder of a sub folder that you know about but will be hard to navigate to, under normal circumstances.
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  8. Posts : 84
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    That's not a half bad idea. Thanks
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  9. Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       #9

    Another idea, if it's just a few files is to rename the ext and then back to access it. EG; I have a txt with a bunch of passwords. I name it after my college fight song and then rename the txt extension to mp3. It looks like a music file among hundreds. When I need to use it, I rename the extension back to txt and open with Notepad to view.
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  10. Posts : 27
    Windows
       #10

    Even better use BitLocker if you have it and create a virtual drive. When you need your work files you double click an icon, type in your password and all your work folders will appear. Once you've finished you unmount ("lock") your volume and you're done.

    You can also backup your virtual drive very quickly by copying and pasting the .VHD(X) file onto a USB drive and that's it. Secure, heavily encrypted and extremely convenient.

    Not all versions of Windows come with BitLocker but if yours does it's better than VeraCrypt because it's part of the operating system.
    Instructions here.
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