To protect the folder, sensitive data, there are many ways, such as hiding them into difficult positions to find, saving in removable storage devices and putting them in tanks, saving in the cloud with strong passwords. But if you often have to access them, you will have to leave on your computer, even the easiest places to get. At that time, the more effective way to protect the main folder is hidden, setting passwords or encoding.
In the article below Quantrimang will guide you 5 ways to protect the folder on Windows:
1. Hide any folder with Windows options available
Windows has a built -in tool for you to hide the folder you want. This is a method of poor security, not used to protect important data. You can also use this tool to hide the folders that you feel entangled.
How to do the following:
- Access File Explorer Then go to the folder you need to hide
- Right -click on the folder and select Properties (on Windows 11 is to choose Show more options > Properties)
- Click select in cells “Hidden” then press OK
To review the files, all you need to do is on the window Folder Optionsremove the items Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives and Hide Protected Operating System Files. Or you can click on the box “Hidden Items“In the menu View of File Explorer.
2. Turn the folder usually into a hidden system folder by Command Prompt
Command Prompt is an application that translates the command line available in most Windows operating systems. It is used to execute the imported commands. Most of these commands automate tasks through script and batch files, perform advanced management functions and fix incidents or solve certain types of Windows problems.
Command Prompt has the official name of Windows Command Processor, but sometimes it is also known as Command Shell, or even by its file name, CMD.Exe.
Turn the directory into a hidden system folder with Command Prompt more difficult than before, so of course the security will be higher. To perform successfully, you will have to manipulate a little with the Command Prompt command window.
How to do the following:
- Press Win + R to open Tremble then type CMD and Enter to open Command Prompt
- Type the following command line into Command Prompt:
attrib +s +h “C:\Users\Quantrimang\Desktop\Bi Mat” - Replace C: \ Users \ Quantrimang \ Desktop \ Bi Mat By links to the folder you need to hide. For example: D: \ tailieutiengnhat
- After completing the command you press Enter And the folder will be hidden. Even if you abandon hidden in the Folders Options can not be found.
- To remove hidden, you need to run the above statement but change the seal “+“With a sign”–“
3. Encryption of files or folders without installing additional software
Encryption is an effective way to protect your files. Microsoft has a built -in encryption tool in Windows so you can easily protect your data.
How to do the following:
- Right -click on the file or folder to be encrypted Properties
- Click the button Advanced
- Click Select in Encrypt Contents to secure data then press OK
- Press Apply to complete
- If the file encodes, the system will send suggestions that you should lock the file and its parent folder
- After encryption, files or folders will turn green
The only downside of this method is that it links encryption with your user account. This means other accounts on the same computer cannot open the files or folders that you encoded. However, if using the account, this method has no effect.
How to back up the key to encrypt the locked folder in Windows 10
Follow these steps to manually back up the key for encrypted folders:
1. Press the key Windows + R To open the command dialog box Trembleenter Certmmr.mscthen choose OK.
2. In the left compartment, moved to Personal Store> Certificate.
4. Right -click on the selected files, then move All Tasks> Export.
7. Select the next box Password To turn on the password and fill in the text fields below. Select Next.
8. Select where to save the PFX file and name the file.
9. Select Next To review the information you have provided and select Finish To complete the export.
10. Select OK On successful reminder. If you need to use this certificate, just open the certificate from anywhere you have saved in step 9 and follow the reminder on the screen.
4. How to hide and access the hidden folder by .bat file
1. Before starting, you must create a folder to store folders that need to be protected. To do this, you only need to create a directory in the usual way and named any name.
2. Navigate to the folder you just created, open the folder and proceed to create a new document text by right -clicking any space in the folder, selecting New => Text Document.
3. Open the text document file you just created, copied and pasted the code below:
cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Private
if EXIST "HTG Locker" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure you 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.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Private "HTG Locker"
attrib +h +s "HTG Locker"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== PASSWORD_GOES_HERE goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "HTG Locker"
ren "HTG Locker" Private
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Private
echo Private created successfully
goto End
:EndNote:
In the code above, instead Password_goes_here With the password you want to set. Finally, in Save as type select All typename the file Locker.bat.
4. Now you can delete the original text file.
5. Next double click on the file Locker.bat To open the file. At this time it will create a new folder named Private. This private directory is where you can store all important files and folders ….
6. After moving the data to be confidential into the Private folder, proceed to double click on the file Locker.bat.
Immediately a command line dialog box will appear with the content asking if you agree to hide this folder, you just need to enter “Y” Then click Enter.
7. After completing the Private folder will disappear.
8. If you want to access the Private folder, double -click on the file set Locker.bat And enter the password you set in the command line window and press Enter.
How to see the files again
To review the files, all you need to do is on the Options folder window, removing the items is Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives and Hide Protected Operating System Files.
Then on the screen will appear a warning window as shown below:
To open the Folder Options window as well as to hide or show or show files, folders on Windows 7, 8 and 10, you refer to the steps done here.
If you accidentally forget the password
If you accidentally forget the password or if you want to change the password, all you need to do is right -click the locker.bat file and choose Edit And proceed to change the password is done.
The above only helps protect your sensitive files from curious eyes. Those who know this trick or know the computer can easily open the file you have hidden, then you need a real password for the folder. You can see 3 software that Quantrimang.com introduced such as: Wise Folder Hider, Folder Guard, Secure Folder
Some common questions
How to lock a folder in Windows 10 to prevent deletion?
An option is right click on the folder and select Properties> Security> Advanced> Disable Inheritance> Convert Inherited Permissions into Explicit Permissions on this Object. Then, select a user from the list, select Edit> Show Advanced Permissions> Type> Deny and choose the next box Delete.
How to hide folders on PC and lock that folder itself in Windows 10?
To hide files and folders in Windows 10, right -click on the folder and select Properties> General> Hidden> Apply> OK. Although you can prevent hidden files from displaying by adjusting the Explorer file, other users can easily display hidden items by changing this settings. A third -party tool to add a password protection lock and hide folders more effectively.
