Keeping sensitive files on your computer safe is crucial, especially if there is sensitive information like important documents and passwords. Windows and macOS offer various methods to add password protection to folders, which can prevent others from accessing the files.
Windows users running Windows 10 or 11 Pro can utilize the built-in encryption system, which offers file obfuscation that locks a file to a specific account. By encrypting contents to secure data and choosing whether to encrypt all folders within that directory or merely the top-level one, users can secure their confidential data.
Versions of Windows OS that come before Windows 10 Pro, however, offer no protection for folders. On the other hand, macOS, like most versions of Windows, lacks native abilities to add password protection to folders. To create an encrypted disk image, which allows you to access the folder as a mounted virtual disk that’s password-protected, users need to create one using the operating system’s native Disk Utility that comes pre-installed on almost all Mac devices.
Another option for adding password protection to Windows folders is using third-party compression software like 7-Zip. Users can password-protect their critical data by navigating to the 7-Zip download page, selecting the right download, installing it, and selecting the green addition sign to create a compressed, encrypted duplicate of the folder they wish to password protect. Once you test that the password-protected zip file is working correctly, delete the original folder so that it can no longer be located.
By following these steps, users can take extra precautions to ensure their most important data is safe from any external threats that could compromise security.
