How to Encrypt USB Folder in Windows 10 for Free
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30 September 2017 Senior Product Manager
Summary
Troubling about how to encrypt sensitive data in USB disk? Now with the 2 methods below, you can free encrypt the sensitive data in USB with password!
USB disk has become an important storage device in our daily life. It can help us save various types of file such as photos, videos, working or study documents, etc. Besides, being a remove device, USB disk is with small size, portable and compatible with any computer. But you need to know that the portable size could make the USB disk easy to lost or stolen by others. If you save sensitive data or confidential files in the USB disk, it is necessary for you to provide better protection to the data inside. Now you can protect folder in external disk like USB with password in Windows 10 with password for free with the 2 free methods below!
Download the professional data protection software and protect folder in external hard drive with password!
Method 1: Using Bitlocker
Bitlocker Drive Encryption is only available on Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise. If you use other version of Windows 10, please move to Method 2.
Things to Know before Diving into Bitlocker
- For best result of using Bitlocker, your computer must be equipped with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip which enables your devices to support advanced security features.
- You can use the Bitlocker without a TPM chip by using software-based encryption, but it requires some extra steps for additional authentication.
Steps about How to Use Bitlocker
Step 1: Insert the target external hard drive, click “Start” and then type “Bitlocker”.
Step 2: Select the target external hard drive and then click “Turn on Bitlocker”.
Step 3: On the “Choose How You Want To Unlock This Drive” window, please select “Use a Password to Unlock This Drive”.
Step 4: Choose where you want to save the recovery key in case you forget your password.
Once you click start encrypting, Bitlocker will start to work on securing your external hard drive. When plugging the drive into another computer, password required window will pop up. You need to know that it is not only limited to Windows 10, but also in other Windows even Windows XP.
Method 2: Using Professional Data Protection Software
Some customer may not have Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise, or just think using Bitlocker is too difficult to use? Is it possible to password protect data in external hard drive? Of course. With Renee File Protector, you can easily achieve the protection in a few steps and protect the data even your external hard disk gets connected to other computers.
With Professional Data Protection Software Renee File Protector, you can
- Protect files and folder in external memory devices like USB disk, SD card etc with password.
- Hide files in external memory devices.
- Select any files or folders to make the protection.
- Protect data in local disk and shared folder with hide, lock, deny read or write function as well.
- Monitor any files, folders and even partition you want.
Compatible with： Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP
Get Free Version Now
people has downloaded and made the protection.
How to Encrypt External Hard Drive
The first time you use Renee File Protector, you will be required to set your master password and the email address which can help you recover the password when you forget it.
Step 1: Launch Renee File Protector and click “Lock File” in “External Disk”. Then connect your external hard disk to computer.
Step 2: Click “Lock Folder” on the right side and select the target folder in external hard drive.
After selecting the folder(s), you need to set the password. Renee File Protector provides 2 password modes for external hard disk. Please select the mode you need.
*Now, new version provides “Guest Password” which can authorize users to check the files but can not unlock.
Step 3: Check & edit the files inside the password protected folder.
Target computer does not need to install Renee File Protector.
After lock, it will create a new file named “(original name of the folder).exe”. Then the original folder will be deleted automatically.
If you want to access the password protected folder and edit the files inside, please click this .exe file and then enter the related password in the pop up window.
Step 4: After entering the correct password, a floating window of the password protected folder will be shown on the right-top corner on desktop.
You can click “View”, “Change Password” and “Unlock” to make the operation you want.
How to Unlock the Folder Permanently in External Hard Drive
Unlock in Other Computer (Without Renee File Protector)
After lock, it will create a new file named “(original name of the folder).exe”. Then the original folder will be deleted automatically. If you want to unlock folder permanently, please click this .exe file and then enter the password you set before in the pop up window.
After unlock, please click “Unlock” in the floating window and confirm the operation.
Unlock with Renee File Protector
If you want to unlock the folder in your own computer which you password the folder in, you can unlock it with Renee File Protector.
①. Click “Lock File” in “External Disk”.
②. Select the target folder(s).
③. Click “Unlock” button.
④. Enter the password you set.
Not so clear about the operation? Get more from the video!
Still annoying about how to encrypt data in the external hard drive? Now using Renee File Protector can solve this problem at once!
