3 Ways: How to Password Protect Folder without Software in Windows

Password-protecting your files and folders are important to protect your privacy, whether or not you share your PC with others. Want to password protect folders in Windows 11/10 for added security? If you don't want to password protect the folder with third-party software, you still have three solutions. This article will show you how to password protect a folder on Windows 11/10 without software.

1. Password Protect Folder without Software Using a .bat File

Step 1: Open a plain text editor on your computer.

Step 2: Copy the command lines mentioned below and paste them into Notepad. Enter your password where it says it here:

cls

@ECHO OFF

title Folder Locker

if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK

if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER

:CONFIRM

echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(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.

pause

goto CONFIRM

:LOCK

ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

echo Folder locked

goto End

:UNLOCK

echo Enter password to Unlock folder

set/p "pass=>"

if NOT %pass%==YOUR PASSWORD HERE goto FAIL

attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker

echo Folder Unlocked successfully

goto End

:FAIL

echo Invalid password

pause

goto end

:MDLOCKER

md Locker

echo Locker created successfully

pause

goto End

:End

Step 3: Save the document as a .bat file and save it to the location where you want to keep the folder locker.

Step 4: Go to the folder locker and open it. This will open a Notepad file for you again. You just need to define the path to the folder you want to password protect and press Y to confirm.

2. Password Protect Folder without Software by Enabling Password Protection from Properties

Step 1: Go to the folder you want to protect, right click on it and select Properties.

Step 2: Click "General tab > Advanced > Check encrypted content to protect data checkbox > OK".

Step 3: Press the Apply button and now choose one of the following options - apply changes to this folder only or apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files. Then click the OK button.

Step 4: If you are using EFS to protect a folder for the first time, a notification will pop up to backup the encryption certificate and password protection key. Therefore, choose the Backup Now (recommended) option.

Step 5: Click the Next button > Set a password to protect the private key of the protected folder > Next.

Step 6: Click the browser button to select the location of the backup file and give a name to the file you want to export.

Step 7: Click the Next button and complete your certificate export process.

3. Password Protect a Folder without Software by Using BitLocker

Step 1: Disk Management > Actions > Create VHD.

Step 2: In the Browse section, type the name of the BitLocker volume and click the Save button.

Step 3: After that, specify the size of the virtual disk or check the Dynamic expansion option to automatically increase the disk size and click OK.

Step 4: After creating the new disk, right-click it and select Initialize Disk.

Step 5: Keep the default settings and click OK.

Step 6: Once the initialization process is complete, right-click on the unallocated space to create a new simple volume.

Step 7: Click Next to create a new volume and format the drive.

Step 8: Now, turn on BitLocker Drive Encryption from Control Panel.

Step 9: Click to enable BitLocker encryption on the new volume.

Step 10: Click on Unlock drive with password option and set a strong password.

Step 11: Select a location to save the recovery key and click Next.

Step 12: Now click Start encryption and wait a few minutes to password protect files without software.

Tips: If you are at a loss with the above methods, we recommend that you use IUWEsoft Password Protect Folder Pro to quickly and safely lock, hide and disguise any files, folders and drives on your Windows computer. It is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista.