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How to put
a
password
on a folder

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If you share a computer with others, you might have a need to keep some documents
con dential. There are several ways to do this, depending on which version of
Microsoft® Windows® your computer is running.
If you're unsure which Windows system your computer is running, read here for
more information.

You should always set up an account for each person who shares a single computer.
This helps everyone access the programs and data that they want.

Password-protect a folder
Using a password to protect a folder means that you need to enter a password to see
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the list of documents in the folder. You can also Solutions
Products password-protect individual
Upgrade les Support
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either in a password-protected folder or in a folder without password protection. The
procedure is the same for les and folders.

Windows 7
1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder you want to password-protect. Right-
click on the folder.

2. Select Properties from the menu. On the dialog that appears, click the General
tab.

3. Click the Advanced button, then select Encrypt content to secure data. Click OK.
Your Windows username and password will be used.

4. Double-click the the folder to ensure you can access it.

Windows 8 and Windows 10

It is not possible to use Windows to password-protect a folder in Windows 8 or
Windows 10. You will need to download third-party software or use a zipped folder. If
you elect to use third-party software, be sure you download it from a reputable
source.

Zipped folder
Password-protecting a zipped le is a good solution if your version of Windows does
not support password protection. If you put the les you'd like to protect in a zip le,
you can then apply a password.

1. In Windows Explorer, highlight and right-click on the les you would like to put into
a zipped le.
2. Select Send to, then Zip folder (compressed). Follow the prompts to name and
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save the folder. Products Solutions Upgrade my computer Support About

3. Double-click the zipped le, then select File and Add Password.

4. Fill out the requested information, then click Apply.

Hide a folder
When you hide a folder or le in Windows, the folder or le does not appear in the
directory list, unless the Don't show hidden les, folders, or drives setting is
unchecked.

Windows 7, 8, and 10
1. Right-click on the le or folder that you want to hide. Select Properties.

2. Click the General tab, under the Attributes section, check Hidden.

3. Click Apply.

If the le or folder remains visible in the directory, you will need to enable another
setting.

1. In Windows Explorer, click the File tab.

2. Select Options, then select the View tab.

3. Under Hidden les and folders, select Don't show hidden les, folders, or drives.

To see your hidden les or folder, repeat the instructions above, but click Show
hidden les, folders, and drives.

Conclusion
Although Microsoft has taken away the ability to password-protect a folder, you can
still keep your con dential information private by using either a password-protected
zipped folder or hiding les and folders so they don't appear in the directory list.

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