How to password protect a shared folder

Updated By - November 13, 2007

Password protecting a shared folder can enhance security, especially if you are sharing sensitive information. The method to do this depends on the operating system you are using. Here are some steps  you can take for Windows and macOS. In addition to some third party tools that could be used for cross platform compatibility.

set a guest password to password protect shared folder

Password protect a shared folder | Windows

Using built in features (Encrypting File System - EFS):

  1. Right-click on the folder you want to protect.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Click on the Advanced button under the General tab.
  4. Check the box for Encrypt contents to secure data.
  5. Click OK and then Apply. Follow the prompts to complete the encryption process.

Using a Compressed (zipped) Folder

  1. Right-click on the folder and select Send to -> Compressed (zipped) folder.
  2. Open the compressed folder and click on File -> Add a password.
  3. Enter and confirm the password.

Password protect a shared folder | macOS

Using Disk Utility for password protection:

  1. Open Disk Utility from the Applications > Utilities folder.
  2. Click on File -> New Image -> Image from Folder.
  3. Select the folder you want to protect and click Open.
  4. Choose Read/Write from the Image Format dropdown menu and 128-bit AES encryption (or 256-bit for stronger security) from the Encryption dropdown menu.
  5. Enter and verify the password when prompted.
  6. Save the disk image. To access the folder, you will need to enter the password.

Third Party Tools for Windows | macOS | Linux

You can also use a free third party tool to password protect Windows, macOS and Linux files and folders.

Password protection using VeraCrypt:

  1. Download and install VeraCrypt from its official website.
  2. Open VeraCrypt and click on Create Volume.
  3. Select Create an encrypted file container and click Next.
  4. Choose Standard VeraCrypt volume and click Next.
  5. Click Select File to choose the location and name for your encrypted file container (this will be your protected folder).
  6. Set the encryption options and volume size according to your needs.
  7. Set a strong password and follow the prompts to format the volume.
  8. Once created, mount the volume in VeraCrypt, and it will appear as a virtual drive where you can store your files. When you dismount it, the files will be securely protected.

Password protection using 7-Zip (Windows):

  1. Download and install 7-Zip from its official website.
  2. Right-click on the folder you want to protect, go to 7-Zip -> Add to archive.
  3. In the archive creation window, set the Archive format to zip or 7z.
  4. Under the Encryption section, enter and confirm your password.
  5. Choose AES-256 for the Encryption method and click OK.

These are just a few methods you can use to password protect a shared folder.  Providing a range of options depending on your operating system and specific security needs. For cross platform usage, third party tools like VeraCrypt or 7-Zip are highly effective and widely used.