How To Password Protect A Folder In Windows 10 Home

Although Windows 10 doesn't have an selection to protect folders and files with a password, it doesn't mean that yous're data isn't secure. One of the reasons why y'all can't fix a password to a binder is considering your account is already protected from unauthorized access with a password and fifty-fifty encryption if y'all use BitLocker to encrypt your entire device.

However, if yous have precious family and friends photos, depository financial institution information, and other business documents that you feel would be more secure using a countersign, y'all can utilize a combination of a virtual hard disk drive and BitLocker to password protect folders and files on your calculator. And all without the demand for third-party tools or complicated scripts, which are probably non every bit secure as using the Windows x built-in encryption feature.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you lot through the steps to protect a folder with a password using a virtual hard disk and BitLocker available with the professional version of the OS.

How to protect a folder with password on Windows ten

Although Windows 10 doesn't include an option to add a password to a folder, you can gear up a virtual disk with BitLocker, which gives you lot the power to mimic the same password protection experience and extra security without complicated steps.

Creating a virtual hd

To create a virtual hard disk drive on Windows 10, employ these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Disk Management and click the superlative outcome to open the app.
Click the Action menu.
Click the Create VHD option.
Click the Scan button to select a location to store the virtual disk.
Specify a name for the drive. For example, folder_vault.
Click the Save button.
Under the "Virtual difficult deejay size" section, specify the amount of space that you want to reserve for storage. For case, 8GB, simply you tin can use any corporeality based on the content that you want to protect.
(Optional) Nether the "Virtual hard disk drive format" section, select the VHDX option.
Select the Dynamically expanding option then the storage will merely grow as you salve files.
Click the OK button.
Right-click the "Deejay x," and select the Initialize Disk option.
Check the new Disk 10.
Select the MBR (Main Kicking Record) option.
Click the OK button.
Right-click the "Unallocated space," and select the New Simple Volume option.
Click the Next button.
Apply the default settings for the volume size.
Click the Next push button.
Use the "Assign the following drive letter" drop-down menu to select a letter for the new drive.
Click the Next button.
Utilize the "File system" driblet-down menu, and select the NTFS option.
Use the "Allocation unit of measurement size" drop-downward menu, and select the Default pick.
In the "Value label" field, blazon a descriptive name for the drive. For example, folder_vault.
Bank check the Perform a quick format choice.
Unless necessary, clear the Enable file and folder compression selection.
Click the Side by side button.
Click the Stop push.

Once you consummate the steps, you'll end up with a virtual hard disk that you lot can care for as a folder and countersign protect using BitLocker.

Enabling BitLocker on a virtual difficult disk

To fix BitLocker on a virtual hard disk on Windows 10, employ these steps:

Open Control Panel.
Click on System and Security.
Click on BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Under the "Stock-still data drives" section, select the folder_vault drive.
Click the Turn on BitLocker option.
Bank check the Employ a password to unlock the drive pick.
Create a countersign to protect your folders inside the drive.
Click the Next push button.
Click the Save to a file button.
Select a location to store the recovery key.

Quick tip: If you forget the password or lose the recovery cardinal, you won't be able to recover your files, and so brand sure to go on this file in a secure identify.
Click the Save push button.
Click the Next button.
Select the Encrypt used deejay infinite only option.
Click the Next button.
Select the Compatibility mode option.
Click the Adjacent button.
Click the Start encryption button.
Click the Close button once the encryption has finished.

After y'all complete the steps, you can begin using the virtual disk as a folder to protect your content with a password.

Locking and unlocking binder with password

Once you created a virtual drive and configured BitLocker, you'll need to know a few steps to lock and unlock your files and folders.

Unlock folders with password

To admission folders and files protected with a password on Windows 10, apply these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Scan to the folder with the folder_vault.vhd file.
Double-click the VHD (VHDX) file to mountain it to File Explorer.

Quick notation: If you lot receive a "is not accessible" and "Admission is denied" message, this is normal behavior because yous mounted the bulldoze, but you haven't unlocked information technology with the password yet.
Click on This PC from the left pane.
Nether the "Devices and drives" section, double-click the bulldoze to open up the sign-in page.
Type the password to unlock the drive with your of import files and folders.

Quick tip: If y'all can't recollect the countersign, click the More than options link, click the Enter recovery key option, and type the 48-digit recovery primal available in the text file that you should have saved when setting up BitLocker on the virtual hard disk.
Click the Unlock button.

In one case y'all complete the steps, you volition be able to admission your of import files and folders.

Lock folders with password

When you no longer need to access your files, use these steps to lock the drive:

Open File Explorer.
Click on This PC from the left pane.
Under the "Devices and drives" section, correct-click the BitLocker drive, and select the Eject pick.

Afterward yous complete the steps, the folders will remain encrypted and protected using the BitLocker password. The side by side fourth dimension that yous need to access those important files and folders, you'll demand to follow the unlock instructions, which include inbound the password again.

The best part about using a virtual hard disk drive with BitLocker to add a password to a folder is that you tin go on to unlock your files on the same or different reckoner using the above steps.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to mutual questions nigh Windows ten, visit the following resources:

Windows x on Windows Central – All you need to know
Windows ten help, tips, and tricks
Windows x forums on Windows Central

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