If you want to improve the security of your compressed files and folders and do not want others to view the contents of your zipped folders, you need to look for ways to password protect them. Most people use Windows zip and unzip features to archive or exchange their folders on a regular basis. However, you also need to ensure that these files are protected. This article will tell you how to password protect zip files in different ways.
Password protecting zip files
- As a result of the many variations in Microsoft Windows, only Windows Home Edition and Windows XP Professional have the in-built ability to password protect compressed or zipped files.
- If you want to password protect your zip file, first locate it on your computer.
- Now, copy that file in a compressed folder and give it the same file name by doing a right-click on the file name, selecting “Send to” option and clicking on compressed folder option.
- Compress other files in a similar fashion and then double-click the newly created compressed folder to open it.
- Now, right-click in the zipped folder and paste it. You will see the copied file in the zipped folder. You can copy-paste as many files as you want in the same process.
- Now, click on the File button in the toolbar of the compressed folder and choose “Add a password” option.
- Type in a password of your choice, confirm it and click OK.
- Close the folder to complete the process of password protection.
- You will have to enter the password to open the compressed folder from now on.
Password protect zip files in Vista:
- You can password protect zip files in Vista by using either WinZip or WinRAR.
- To protect files using WinZip, launch WinZip tool and click on “New”.
- Browse the location where you want to save the file, type a filename and click on OK.
- Now, select the file that you wish to add to archives; for selecting multiple files, hold the Ctrl key on your keyword and then left-click all the files that you want to add. Click on “Add” button to finish adding the files.
- Next, click on the “Actions” button and select “Encrypt”.
- Type a password here and confirm it by typing it again.
- Click on OK to finish the process.
- To use WinRAR for password protecting zip files, launch WinRAR application and locate all the files you want to archive.
- Now, click on the “Advanced” button and click on “Set Password”.
- Enter the password you want to set for the compressed file and confirm it by typing again.
- Click on OK, name the zip file and again click on OK to create the archive.
Tips to password protect zip files
- If you want to remove the password, first double-click the folder to open it. Then, click on the File menu and choose “Remove Password” option.
- Even if you password protect zip files, their file names are still visible. To protect file names, you should add them to a folder and give it an innocuous name. Now, compress and encrypt this folder thus creating a folder within the compressed folder that hides your files from view.