How to password protect folders in Windows without third-party software

There are a variety of third-party software packages with which you can add a password to folders in Windows. However, it is also possible to add a password to a folder without any additional software.

Instead, you can set up a batch file that adds a password to the folder, which allows you to password protect folders without the need for third-party software in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1 and 10. Read on to learn more.

1. Enter a folder where you want to create the folder with the password.

2. Right click to create a text document.

3. Then open the text document, and copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) the following code into it:

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

:End

4. Save the document as locker.bat (you will have to select “All files” in the Notepad saving window to save the file as a .bat instead of .txt file). Which saves the document as a batch file, and can delete the original text file.

5. Note: the text PASSWORD_GOES_HERE must be changed with an appropriate password.

6. When you double-click the batch file to run it for the first time, a folder named “private” is created.

7. Double-click on the locker.bat file to confirm Y to hide the folder.

8. Double click will ask you for the password you entered in the text file instead of PASSWORD_GOES_HERE and then confirm again with Y, and the folder reappears.

Finished!

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