If you’re a bit more conscious of privacy, encrypting your files is a better solution. Lock My Folders is an on-the-fly encryption software to lock and encrypt all kinds of pictures, videos, documents, files and folders. In this article we’ll explain how to use this program to create an encrypted and locked folder in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP.

Part 1: Set Password

Click here to download the Lock My Folders application and install it on your computer. The first time you launch the program, it will prompt you to set a master password that will be used to encrypt your files later on.

Enter a password that you can remember as you’ll need it to open and use the program next time.

Part 2: Create An Encrypted Folder

To create an encrypted folder, click on Add button from within the Lock My Folders program.

In the popup window, type your desired folder name and specify the location where you would like your new secure folder to be created. Click OK. You can create a secure folder in your local hard drive or USB flash drive.

Now your secure folder should have been created. You can then copy all your private photos, documents & videos into this folder, or create or edit a confidential file in the secure folder. All your files stored in this folder will be encrypted automatically on the fly.

Part 3: Manage Your Encrypted Folders

With the steps above you can create as many secure folders as you want. You can lock your secure folder after you finish working with it. Just right-click on the secure folder and select “Lock My Folder“.

When a secure folder is locked, everyone couldn’t access all files in it without knowing your password. You can also set your locked secure folders to be invisible from Windows Explorer and Command Prompt, by following these steps:

1. Start the Lock My Folders program.
2. Click on the Options icon from the top right corner of the main screen, and then select Settings.
3. Check the “Hide the secure folders when they are locked” box.

   

If you shutdown or restart your PC, all your secure folders will be locked out automatically.

The next time you need to open or access the secure folder, you need to unlock it firstly. Right-click on the secure folder and select “Unlock My Folder“.

The program will ask you to enter your password. Upon successfully verifying the password, the program will open the secure folder in Windows Explorer.

If you need to reinstall your operating system or transfer your secure folders to another machine, just backup the secure folders to an external storage device and you can then import them to the Lock My Folders program again. It’s that simple!

How to Safeguard Your Data with Protect My Folders?

1. Download the installer of Protect My Folders. After that, double-click the downloaded file and allow the setup wizard to complete the installation.
2. Upon first run, you will be asked to create a password for the application. This step is crucial because it will protect the application from allowing others to unhide your hidden folders.

   

3. After you create the password, the main window will open for the application. From here, you do all the work. Click the “Add/Lock” button, navigate to the folder you wish to hide and click OK.

   

4. Now that the folder is hidden, so it will not appear in Windows Explorer. You cannot even type the path of the folder and have it appear, even from Command Prompt.
5. To access a folder that you have hidden, all you need to do is run Protect My Folder program again and enter your password. Choose the folder you wish to access and click on Unlock button.

With the folder password protected, the folder cannot be unhidden without entering the password. This  adds a second layer of protection for the folder in case the Protect My Folders program is deleted.