How to Set Password for Folder in Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista

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How to Set Password for Folder in Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista

30 November 2017 Jennifer Thatcher Technology Manager of Test Dept.

Summary
Want to set password for folder to protect private data but do not know which way is better? Here we make comparison of several effective and most accepted folder encryption methods for you.

Data security is of increasing concerns for computer users now. No matter we are in work place or home, we will get some certain files and folders which we do not want other to access. The best protection for such kind of folders might be setting password for them.

There are so many folder password protection methods provided on the Internet. However, some are too complicated and some have limitations on Windows system. Which one is the most effective and secure? Here we will go through two main and most accepted methods.

☞ Method 1: Set Password for Folder with Script (Modify the property of the folder)

How to Set Password for Folder How to Crack

☞ Method 2: Set Password for Folder with software like Winrar, Winzip, 7zip

How to Set Password for Folder How to Crack

☞ Method 3: Set Password for Folder with Renee File Protector

Locking theory of Renee File Protector How to Set Password for Folder Possibility of Cracking

Method 1: [Free] Set Password for Folder with Script

This methods is using system script to password protect a folder. It will modify the properties of folder and rename the target folder, which will hide the folder at last (Actually, it just hides the folder). Once you enter the password in script file, the folder will be shown. This is one of the free method which can lock a specific folder.

Convenience: ★★★☆☆

Processing time: ★★★★★

Safety: ★☆☆☆☆

Difficulty to crack: ★☆☆☆☆

Suitable to defend: Those who do not know much about computer, such as children, housewife and the aged.

Supported system: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista/2K

Support to lock piles of folders at a time: NO

How to Protect Folder with Password

>> Create Script file.

Please save the following content as “lock.bat” (Use Notepad). Or you can download the script that we have make (Click here to download).

cls
@ECHO OFF

title Folder Private
if EXIST “Control Panel.{11EC1999-8888-3333-EEEEE-01003A305237}” goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER

:CONFIRM
echo Are You Sure You Want To Lock The Folder (name:Private) (Y/N)
set/p “cho=>”
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM

:LOCK
ren Private “Control Panel.{11EC1999-8888-3333-EEEEE-01003A305237}”
attrib +h +s “Control Panel.{11EC1999-8888-3333-EEEEE-01003A305237}”
echo Folder Locked.
goto END

:UNLOCK
echo Enter Password To Unlock Folder
set/p “pass=>”
if NOT %pass%==PASS goto FAIL

attrib -h -s “Control Panel.{11EC1999-8888-3333-EEEEE-01003A305237}”
ren “Control Panel.{11EC1999-8888-3333-EEEEE-01003A305237}” Private
echo Folder Unlocked Successfully
goto END

:MDLOCKER
md Private
echo Private Created Successfully
goto END

:END

>> Change Password and Folder Name

With the text pasted in, you can adjust the locked folder’s name as well as the password used to unlock it. The default folder name is “Private” and the default password is “Pass”. You can find and adjust them in the “lock.bat” file.

Change folder password in script.

Change folder name in script.

>> Save files in Target Folder

After saving the “lock.bat”, please double-click it and then a new folder named “Private” will be created in the same catalog. Please put the files or folders into “Private”.

>> How to Lock the “Private” Folder

Step 1: Double-click “lock.bat” and enter “y” in the pop up Window.

Step 2: Hit “Enter” and you will find that the folder ”Private” has disappeared.

>> How to Show the Hidden and Locked Folder?

Step 1: Double-click “lock.bat” again.

Step 2: Enter the password you set in the pop up window and hit “Enter”.

Step 3: Wow, the disappeared folder is shown again.

Advantages:
Easy to go. The only thing you need to do is to save the script and make the operation. It does not need any complicated operation or professional knowledge. Besides, whole process will not take too much time. It is enough to prevent unauthorized access from those who do not know much about computer, especially for housewife and childrent.

Disadvantages:
Easy to crack. Does not support to lock a batch of folder at a time.

How to Crack Folder Protected with Script

It is very easy to get this folder even you do not get the “lock.bat” file. All you need to do is to show all hidden files, folders and drive in browser.

Step 1: Hit “Win” and “E” button, please click “Organize” -> “Folder and search option”. (Here is the process in Windows 7). If you are using Windows 10, the “Folder and search option” could be found in “File” item.

Step 2: Please check the 3 items which has been highlighted in the picture. And click ok.

select items which can show the locked folder with script

Step 3: Then the hidden folder will be shown but with another name.

It is just so easy to crack the folder protected with script. Too easy to be cracked? Want to get a more secure and convenience solution? Click here!

Method 2: [Free] Set Password for Folder with Software like Winrar, Winzip, 7zip

This method is to compress the entire folder with the password protect function in some compression tools. This method is time-consuming. Especially you have include some large files. Of course, this method is safer than using script. And it is harder to crack. Besides, if you want to add new files, you need to go through the whole decompress process.

Convenience: ★★☆☆☆
Processing time: ★★☆☆☆
Safety: ★★★☆☆
Difficulty to crack: ★★★☆☆
Suitable to defend: Anybody
Supported system: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista/2K
Support to lock piles of folders at a time: Yes

How to Set Password for Folder

Preparation: Please download one of these compression tools.

Win RAR	Charge	https://www.win-rar.com/
Winzip	Charge	http://www.winzip.com
7zip	Free	http://www.7-zip.org/

Here we will make Winrar as an example.

Step 1: Download and install Winrar.

Step 2: Right-click the folder you want to lock and click “Add to archive…”.

how to use winrar password protect target folder with winrar

Step 3: Please click “Set password” in the pop up window.

how to use winrar set password for compressed folder

Step 4: Set the password and confirm again for the compressed folder. Please click OK.

how to use winrar enter password for the compressed folder

Step 5: Compression will go through automatically. The larger size the folder you try to lock, more time will need to compress.

Step 6: After compression, you will get a compressed file which is password protected. Of course, you need to delete the source folder. Or other can still check your folder.

Advantages:
Easy to get and use the software. Now compression tools are very common. All you need to do is to set a password which can not be cracked easily and rename the compressed file. Then you can save it anywhere you want. Besides, the security of this method is good that anyone who wants to crack this file need to spend hours.

Disadvantages:
It is not so convenience if you want to access the files inside. You need to decompress the files at first. What if the files you want to access is a 3GB+ video? The decompress time may take hours.
Besides, there are many cracking tools which can help users crack Winrar, Winzip password protected folders.

How to Crack Folder

Besides cracking the compressed folders on your computer, people who are interesting in your folders can copy these folders to their computer and get more time to crack the files with any cracking tools they found on Internet.
Such software usually use dictionary cracking. Some can even add personal information like birthday, phone number, etc to increase the success rate of cracking.

software which can crack compressed folder

Want to encrypt folder with a more convenience method which does not need to decompress or can not be copied to cracking? Click here to find solution!

Method 3: [Free Trial] Set Password for Folder with Renee File Protector

Methods above are some free solution to lock folder with password in Windows. However, those methods are inconvenience, not secure or easy to crack. If you care much about the data security and want to find a better solution, then you can have a try of Renee File Protector which was designed by Rene.E Laboratory with over 2 years. Renee File Protector includes multiple helpful functions to provide overall protection to your data and private information.

Overall protection provided by Renee File Protector:

Protection for External Memory Devices:
Password protect to lock files/folders in external memory devices like SD card, external hard disk, memory card, USB disk, etc. p >

Protection for Shared Folder:
Lock shared folder with password to ensure the right people get access to the files in shared folder.

Hide Data:
Support to hide a batch of files/folders/partitions in local disk. Even you enable the “Show hidden files/folders” in Windows, the protected data will not be shown.

Protect from Modification:
You can enable others to check the protected data but can not modify or delete the protected data.

Lock Data in Local Disk:
Lock files/folders/partitions in local disk with password. Just a few simple steps you can prevent the protected data from unauthorized access.

Monitor:
Any activity of the targets which has been added to the monitor list will be recorded. You can check the log at anytime.

Safe Delete Function:
Erase data you select without trace. Unrecoverable! Truly protect your privacy!

Compatible with: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP

Get Free Version

people has downloaded and lock their folders!

Here, I think most of you are interested in how to set password for folders. Let us get more about how Renee File Protector works here.

Locking Theory of Renee File Protector

Lock function of Renee File Protector:
It lock folder with password and control the access to target folder with file system driver. Whole locking process will not modify data inside the folder. Besides, it will not limit the number of the files/folders you want to lock.

Time consuming for folder locking with password:
Folders in Local Disk: nearly instant.
Folders in External Disk: May take a few minutes because we need to lock the target files/folders in a special way.

Convenience: ★★★★☆

Processing time: ★★★★★

Safety: ★★★★☆

Difficulty to crack: ★★★★★

Suitable to defend: Your friends, colleagues, children, partners, etc.

Supported system: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista/2K

Support to lock piles of folders at a time: Yes

How to Password Protect Folder with Renee File Protector

Folder locked with this method will not be password-protected after the uninstall of Renee File Protector. Of course, only you enter the correct password, the uninstall of Renee File Protector will be processed.

The first time you use Renee File Protector after installation, you will be required to set the master password and the email address.

set master password for renee file protector

Step 1: Launch Renee File Protector and go to “Lock File” in “Hard disk”.

Step 2: Click “Lock Folder” and then select the target folder in the pop up browser.

Step 3: Renee File Protector will lock the selected folder once you confirm.

You can also lock target folder via right-clicking it. Please click “Renee File Protector” and then “Lock(Deny read/write/run)” in the menu. Then the folder will be locked once you enter correct master password of Renee File Protector.

Step 4: You will be notified that the target folder is not accessible when you double click it. Enter the master password in the pop-up window. Then you are able to get access to the data inside.

Locking folder with Renee File Protector is so easy and secured. Without authority or correct password, nobody could get into the protected folder. You can lock multiple folders in different partitions with Renee File Protector. Besides, it is hard to break the locking folder here. Get it now!

Possibility of Cracking

Brute force is inevitable challenge for every encryption software. Renee File Protector always gets ready for different challenges. Thanks to the limitation from file system drive, others can not copy the protected folder to other place.

Besides, users can make security settings in “Security” to master the cracking activity. You can get email notification and lock the account for 10 minutes once users enter wrong password more than 5 times.

Want to provide better to your private folder? Confusing which method is suitable of you? Now you can get more about the methods we provide here. Download and make comparison of them now!