4 Easy Ways to Lock/Encrypt/Password Protect Folder in Windows 11

If you are sharing your Computer with others, you may want to protect your private files and folders with password from being accessed randomly by other users. Here you can learn about how to lock/encrypt/password protect folder in Windows 11.

• Way 1: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 in Properties
• Way 2: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 with Compress Software
• Way 3: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 with BitLocker
• Way 4: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 with iSumsoft FileCarer

Way 1: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 in Properties

To protect folder in Windows 11, using a file encryption tool and hidden feature offered by Windows can be a good choice. Here you learn to encrypt and hide your essential files and folders by modifying their properties.

Step 1: Encrypt folder in Windows 11

1. Right-click on the folder needed to protect and enter Properties.

2. Under General tab, click Advanced.

3. Tick Encrypt contents to secure data checkbox and click OK. Then confirm Apply in Properties window and choose Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files. Finally click OK and your folder will be encrypted and can’t be accessed from another user account.

4. It is recommended to back up your file encryption certificate and key in case it is lost and corrupted.

5. Check the box for Password and enter a password twice. Then choose encryption type in draw-down menu and click Next.

6. Set the File name for the backup certificate and click Next to finish exporting it.

Step 2: Hide folder in Windows 11

1. Right-click on the folder and choose Properties on context menu. Then tick the Hidden checkbox and click Apply.

2. Choose Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files and click OK to confirm Attribute Changes. Then click OK again and your folder will be hidden immediately.

Way 2: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 with Compress Software

Using a Compress Software such as WinRAR/7-Zip can not only save disk space by compressing files, but also protect files with a password. Here you can learn about how to password protect files and folders in Windows 11 using WinRAR. Before begin, make sure WinRAR is installed on your Windows.

Step 1: Right-click the folder and choose WinRAR > Add to archive.

Step 2: Tick Delete files after archiving and click Set password.

Step 3: Enter your password and click OK. Then click OK again in the Archive name and parameters window.

When you successfully password protect folder in Windows 11 with WinRAR, a password will be required to enter if someone try to check the information in folder.

If you don't want to use software, go to learn about how to protect a folder without any software in Windows.

Way 3: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 with BitLocker

BitLocker is a built-in encryption tool that enables you to encrypt your entire drive on Windows. To encrypt some specific files and folders in Windows 11, you can create a VHD (virtual hard disk) to store your important and sensitive files and encrypt the VHD with BitLocker. Here you can follow the steps.

Step 1: Press Win + X to enter Disk management. Then click Action > Create VHD.

Step 2: Click Browse to select a location and enter a file name for the virtual disk. Then set the virtual hard disk size such as 8 G. Then choose VHDX as disk format and select Dynamically expanding (Recommended) as disk type. After setting, click OK.

Step 3: Reenter Disk Management and initialize the virtual disk as GPT partition style. Then click OK.

Step 4: Scroll down and locate the virtual hard disk. Then right-click on the Unallocated volume and choose New Simple Volume.

Step 5: Click Next to set the new virtual hard disk by default. Then you can store your important files and folders to the virtual hard disk.

Step 6: Right-click on the newly created virtual hard disk and choose Turn on BitLocker.

Step 7: Follow the instruction to set a password and back up a BitLocker recovery key. Then select "Encrypt used disk space only" or "Encrypt entire drive" as well as Compatible encryption mode. Finally click Start encrypting.

Step 8: Wait until the encryption is complete, your files and folders will be locked in the virtual hard disk and cannot be accessed without password or BitLocker recovery key.

Way 4: How to Password Protect Folder in Windows 11 with iSumsoft FileCarer

iSumsoft FileCarer is a safe and powerful file encryption tool that helps you to encrypt sensitive files and folders on Windows with a password. In this way, your file will be converted into an inaccessible text and no one can view it without entering a correct password. To encrypt file, download and install iSumsoft FileCarer on your Computer first.

Step 1: Launch iSumsoft FileCarer and choose Encrypt option.

Step 2:  Click on the folder icon to select the folder you want to encrypt.

Note: To select specific file, click the file icon.

Step 3: Enter a password to encrypt files and confirm it again.

Step 4: Finally click Encrypt button to start encrypting files.

Step 5: Once encrypted, anyone cannot access it unless entering a correct password to decrypt it.

The Bottom Line

That's all about how to password protect folder in Windows 11. You can easily encrypt/hide folder in properties or password protect folder with compress software. In addition, you create a virtual hard disk which can store all your important folders and lock it with BitLocker. If you are looking for a professional file encryption tool to password protect your files, iSumsoft FileCarer is recommneded for its strong encryption and easy use. No matter which way you choose, it will help you better secure your data from unauthorized access.