Operating System

Secure Your Data: How to Lock a Folder in Windows 10

People always want to keep their computer files secret from everyone. Therefore, they may ask themselves how to lock a folder in Windows 10.

How to Lock a Folder in Windows 10

Your files become inaccessible if you set a code for them, and only the person with the password can use it. We are going to tell you how to lock a folder in Windows 10 in different ways. 

How to Set a Password for a File?

  1. Click right a file or a folder.
  2. Click on Properties.
  3. Find and check the Encrypt to secure data.
  4. Hit OK.
  5. Close Properties window.

Note: After encrypting a file, an encryption certificate will be made automatically, and the thing you need to do is to back up this certificate. To do this, you can select Back up Your File Encryption.

  • Choose Back up Now.
  • Hit Next in the Certificate Export Wizard tab.
  • Hit Next again.
  • Input the password.
  • Click on the Next.
  • Choose a name for your file to before exporting.
  • Click on the Next.
  • Select Finish icon to complete it.

How to Set the Right Key to Encrypt Files Fast?

  • Hold Windows and R.
  • Go to Regedit.
  • Click on Enter to go to the Registry Editor.
  • Look for HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Explorer\Advanced. To do this you copy these exact words in the bar of registry address.    Click right on Advanced Project to make a new DWORD (32-bit) value.
  • Rename the newly created one as EncryptionContextMenu.
  • Select hexadecimal.
  • Change Value Data to 1.

Note: If wish to cancel it, you need to remove the created key.

  • After doing the encryption, you will see a lock icon on the top right corner of the file.

Note: the protected files can only view with this device. If you need to use them on another device, you should copy the files on another device before using them.

How to Use idoo File Encryption to Make a New Folder with Password?

Idoo is a powerful and convenient encryption software. To use this follow the steps below:

  1. In the left of the menu, click on Lock File form Hard Disk.
  2. To add the file to lock, click on Lock File.

Note: Also, you can lock file folders or local drives through adding them to the list from Lock Folder or Lock Partition.

Note: You can only access to the locked files by entering the correct password.

Note: In addition to the ability of File Encryption to encrypt, lock, hide and deny, it supplies users to monitor the data.

How to Back Up Locked Folder Encryption Keys in Windows 10?

To do so, follow the steps below.

  • Hold the Windows +R to go to the Run command.
  • Write certmgr.msc.
  • Hit OK.
  • Enter Personal store in the left side.
  • Click on Certificates.
  • Choose all certificates for Encrypting File System.
  • Click right on the chosen files.
  • Select All Tasks.
  • Click on Export.
  • Hit Next on the first screen.
  • Start the Certificate Export Wizard.
  • Keep the selected defaults selected.
  • Click on Next.
  • Tick the box next to Password to activate the password.
  •  Input a password in the boxes.
  • Choose Next.
  • Give it a name and find a location to save the PFX file.
  • Click on Next to go over the information.
  • Click on Finish to export the file.
  • Click on OK.
  • Whenever you want to use this certificate, from any place you saved it open it.

How to Protect the Password and Hide the Folder?

As a good example, we can mention Wise Folder Hider. It is a practical program to keep you data safe because it can hide your data behind two passwords. To use it, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the program and set a primary password. Any time you want to enter Wise Folder Hider you need this password.
  2. Select Hide Folder from the Hide File tab.
  3. Select the folder you want to keep safe.
  4. After that, the folder will vanish from the main location.
  5. Click on the menu on the bottom right and click on Open to see the folder again.
  6. Click on Close to hide the folder again or unhide to permanently reinstate it.
  7. Optional: For more security, you can set another password before the main password. To do this, select the down arrow and choose Set Password.

How to Activate BitLocker on a Virtual Hard Disk?

To do so, follow the steps below:

  • Go to Control Panel.
  • Select System and Security.
  • Choose BitLocker Drive Encryption.
  • Choose Folder-Vault drive under the Fixed Data Drives.
  • Choose Turn on BitLocker.
  • Tick the option of Use a Password to Unlock the Drive.
  • Set a new password to keep your folders safe inside the drive.
  • Hit Next.
  • Select Save to a File.
  • Choose a location to store the recovery key.

Note: If you forget your password or lose your recovery key, you cannot recover your files. Thus, ensure to keep the file in a safe place.

  • Select Save.
  • Hit Next.
  • Choose Encrypt Used Disk Space Only.
  • Select Next.
  • Choose the Compatibility Mode.
  • Hit Next.
  • Choose the Start Encryption.

How to Use Encryption Software to Keep Files and Folders Safe?

Also, you can use disk-encryption software in addition to regular password usage.

7-Zip

It is free software that you can use in any Windows. This software is a file archiver that utilizes high compression and strong AES-256 encryption. It makes your files compressed and encrypted. Therefore, whenever you want to access them, you should decompress the file first. But, you can pay a small price for high quality. Follow the steps below to secure your data using 7-Zip:

  • Download the latest version of 7-Zip.
  • Install the software.
  • Select 7-Zip File Manager in your Windows directory.
  • Select the file you wish to protect from the 7-Zip control panel.
  • Click on Add.
  • Select your compression options:
  • Choose a name for your encrypted file.
  • Set a strong password under the Encryption part.
  • Set your compression level to HIGH and compression method to AES-256.
  • Select OK.

Your file is now encrypted, compressed, and protected. To decompress it, follow the steps below:

  • Choose the file you like to open from the control panel 7-Zip.
  • Select the Extract.
  • Input the password in the dialogue box.
  • Hit OK.
  • Now your file is decompressed, and you can open it.

VeraCrypt

VeraCrypt is a different platform, and free security tool through the support of AES, Serpent, and TwoFish keys, which can encrypt files practically. Not only it can encrypt the full disk, but also it can encrypt a folder. The users might choose to encrypt a folder or the whole system. It is a simple software for users, although it might seem frightening. After downloading and installing the software, follow the steps below:

  • You need an encrypted folder to store your data. To do so, make a volume.
  • Hit Create Volume.
  • Click on Create an Encrypted File Container.
  • Hit Next.

Note: VeraCrypt allows you to make a normal container which can be visible or invisible. You can choose the Standard volume, or it will choose the best option for you.

  • Click on Select File and look for a place to store it.
  • Hit Next.
  • Choose your encryption method. AES-256 is suggested.
  • Hit Next.
  • Specify how much space you need. Usually 10 MB is ok, but sometimes you need more space.
  • Set the password for your folder.
  • Hit Next.

Note: Ensure to choose a strong password.

  • Now the software is ready to make your container.

Note: The movement of the mouse is a great tool for encrypting a folder. Move your mouse around to make the encryption stronger.

  • Click on Format.

Follow the steps below, to add a file or a folder to your container:

  • Choose a drive number from one of the drives to install your volume.
  •  Select any of the capital letters of volume name.
  • Choose Select File.
  • Go to the folder where you saved your encrypted container.
  • To choose the volume, click on Open.
  • Select Mount to install the volume to the chosen drive,
  • Input your password.
  • Hit OK.
  • Now your container is ready.
  • To open another window of the container, you should double-click the Mounted Drive. Also, you should find the container in This PC.
  • Now, you can copy your content your new encrypted drive.
  • Hit Dismount to close the file and encrypt it once again.

Conclusion

In this article, we taught you how to keep your data safe by locking the files. Have you ever locked any file or folder? Which method will you choose to lock your files? Do you use any other method?

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