Mac provides a number of features that can enhance your privacy but password-protecting folders isn’t one of them. But, as it happens, there are more than one way to password protect folder on Mac.
Password Protect a Folder on Mac #2: Keka (7-Zip Alternative on Mac) Another common way to password protect a folder on Mac is using acrhive app like 7-Zip, which can set a password to compressed file. 7-Zip is free and well-known app for file archiving. Unfortunately, there is. Jul 01, 2020 Password Protect Folder In Mac Computer. This process is fairly easy but it does need a slight workaround to get you there. Step 1: First of all, you gotta open disk utility which will be available to you down there in the applications folder or you can just use the search bar to search for that.
In this guide, we have covered 5 of the best ways to password-protect folders on Mac and encrypt them as well. You can use these methods when you need additional protection for your files from co-workers or even your partners. Most of these methods involve enterprise-level encryption. So, if you want to lock a folder on Macbook pro, air even iMac, this guide will help.
Also Read: Ways To Password Protect a Folder in Windows
#1 Password Protect Folder on Mac Using Disk Utility
Disk Utility is an in-built macOS app for managing disks, drives and partitions. As it happens, it also lets you create a password-protected folder in your Mac. It is not a folder, per se. But, you can easily manage all your files. Let’s have a look at the steps now.
Step 1
First, we have to open Disk Utility app on Mac. You can simply search via Spotlight or find it in Utilities subfolder of Applications.
Go to File > New Image > Image from Folder. Alternatively, you can press Shift+Command+N
Step 2
Now, you have to select the folder that you want to password protect.
Step 3
In the upcoming window, you have to select a few things such as the name and security type.
- Give the name for the password-protected folder
- Provide some tags and select the location where you want to save it
- For encryption, choose 128-bit AES Encryption and provide the password
- For Image Format, you have some choices, such as Compressed, read/write, hybrid image and read-only. Choose one of them
Once you are done, click the Save button.
Step 4
Depending on the size of the folder, the encryption process may take some time. Once you get the confirmation message, go to the location where you saved the image.
Type the password and click Okay.
Now, you can see a virtual disk with the same name of the folder. Open it to see the files and access them.
After the use, Eject the drive to make sure that no one else can access the folder.
Note: If you had selected read/write for Image Format, you will be able to copy and paste files easily. But, it depends on what kind of protected folder you want.
You can count on this method if you need something native. As you see, we don’t need a third-party app to protect folders on Mac using Disk Utility.
#2 Password Protect Mac Folders Using Hider
If you want to password protect folder in mac without disk utility, then third-party apps are better option.
Macpaw Hider is an popular app to enable password protection for folders and files. However, it does work like having a secure space inside your Mac. Hider is a paid software (starts at $19 for single license) but you can check out the free trial for 15 days. Canon pixma ts9120 mac.
You can use this method to encrypt and protect folders, files and secure notes. It also has an impressive UI to make things cool. Once you are installed, you can add whatever you want to protect into the Hider 2 UI. It also offers an option to hide the document/folder.
Read: The Best Ways to Password Protect PDF File
This is the best thing we loved: once you close Hider 2, everything is secure. You have to enter the password to access contents from the Encrypted folder. Hider 2 is a premium software and it comes at $19.95 for one license.
You can try this method if you need a more accessible way to password-protect files and folders. You cannot use this method if you want to send/transfer the locked content.
#3 Encrypt Files via Terminal, using OpenSSL
Here is another built-into-Mac method to protect your folders and files. You should use this method if you want to add files to encrypted folder in Mac. We are going to do this using Terminal and it involves some code. If you would, let’s have a look at the steps.
Step 1
Open Terminal on your Mac and enter the following command.
Now, in this command,
openssl and aes-256-cbc designates the encryption type.
–in ~/Desktop/Photo.jpg designates the file you want to encrypt and its location
-out ~/Desktop/Encrypted.file designates the location where the encrypted file would be saved
Step 2
Enter the command and provide the encryption password when asked
Confirm the Password to continue
Step 3
Now, you can see the Encrypted.file document on your Desktop. Depending on your need, you can change the directory and encryption methods
Note: To decrypt the same file, enter the following command
Make sure you change the file-names and add ‘-d’ without quotes.
As we said earlier, you can use this method to encrypt and protect individual files. Since everything can be managed via Terminal, you don’t need a third-party software. Well, the limitation is, you can’t do it for folder.
#4 Use Concealer to Password Protect Files, Folders and More
Concealer is an advanced Mac app that lets you encrypt and store files and folders. In addition, you can take care of sensitive documents like Notes, Credit Card and software licenses. All of these are protected by one master password.
In addition to that, Concealer allows you to set individual password for stored files as well. Just like we said in the case of Hider 2, it also uses 256-bit encryption. Once closed, everything is clean. Without the master password, whatever you stored in Concealer will be inaccessible.
There are also some other smart features that may interest you. But the point is that you can simply drag-n-drop files and encrypt them with best security. Of course, don’t expect to share these files easily. Unlike the Terminal and Utility Disk methods, you should have Concealer app for encryption and decryption.
Concealer for Mac is available at a price tag of $19.99. However, there is a free trial version that allows you to save a limited amount of data.
#5 Password Protect Files Using Compression
Here is another method to protect files/folders via Terminal. However, we are going to compress the folder or file with a password. This way, the contents cannot be accessed without a password. But, since it’s a ZIP file, you can easily send/transfer it.
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Let’s have a look at the steps.
You have to open Terminal and bring it to where you’ve stored the file. In my case, I had my files on Desktop.
Now, after the confirmation, you have to enter the following command.
So, this means the file Photo.jpg will be converted to a ZIP file named photo.zip. You have to provide a strong password after the command. Repeat the password and you’re done.
In a second or two, you can see the zipped file on your Desktop. Now, whenever someone tries to open the ZIP they will require a password to open a folder on Mac. Do one more thing: delete the original file, since the same is safe inside one ZIP file.
As you can see, this method works like a piece of cake. You don’t have to worry about anyone accessing the files, especially if you deleted the originals. Also, this password protection would work even if you transfer the ZIP file to somewhere else.
Bonus Tip
Want to prevent some folders from showing up via Spotlight? Here’s a method.
Add ‘.noindex’ after the folder name. If the folder name was Photos, make it Photos.noindex
The folder will not be shown in Spotlight search anymore. Keep it somewhere away and it’s a kind of safety.
Password Protect Folder on Mac
So, we have covered the 5 best ways to make a private folder on macOS. The first four methods use higher levels of encryption while the fifth one is compression. Anyway, it’s sure that others won’t have access to your files. If you ask us, Utility Disk is our favorite one. You don’t need a third-party app, but you have access to a read/write folder. Which one do you think you’d choose? Let us know in the comments.
Read: 4 Things You Can Do If You Forget Your Wi-Fi Password
Ever wanted to add an extra security layer so that you can secure your data? Your data can be sometimes accessed by anyone if your Mac computer is shared with others. You may have photos, videos, and files within folders that contain sensitive information that you don’t want others to see it. So, you can encrypt these folders and password-protect them on your Mac. Here’s how you do it.
Password protecting your files and folders is important to ensure that no one can gain access to them without your consent and password. Fortunately, your Mac offers you a built-in encryption tool that allows you to lock the folders with a password and later access them by unlocking them with the password you kept for encryption. Free wifi apps for pc.
Although you have the option to use third-party encryption tools that are available on App Store, however, you can make use of the built-in password-protected folder lock feature without spending any bucks on third-party apps.
Encrypt And Password Protect A Folder On Mac
- Hit Command + Space to open the Spotlight Light search and type Disk Utility.
You can also open Disk Utility from the Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility.
You will require the Disk Utility tool to encrypt and password-protect your folders on Mac. The Disk Utility will create a disk image of the folder that can be further protected with a password.
Password Protect Folder Mac Apple
- Now select File -> New Image -> Image from Folder from your menu bar.
Here, you can choose the folder that you want to encrypt. You can create a new folder and copy the files to keep everything in one folder.
Choose the location for the new folder image and give a name to it. Eye protection software for mac pro. You can add a color tag as well.
You will have the option to select two different encryption methods. One is 128-bit and another is 256-bit. The 256-bit is stronger and hard to crack, however slower whereas the 128-bit is a little less secure as compared to the 256-bit encryption but faster in processing.
- Choose your Encryption from the two options, 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption.
When prompted, set a password for the folder and verify it. You will need to make sure you remember it otherwise your data will be locked out.
Select the Image Format. Choose Read-Only if you just want your data in read-only mode and no modifications can be made. Or you can pick the Read/Write to modify your data in case you want to make changes to it by adding or deleting files.
Password Protect Folder Mac Apps
- Click Save and let it process the encryption. Click Done when it finishes.
Navigate to the location where you saved your folder image and double-click on it. The folder image file will be a DMG format.
Enter your folder password to access your data. Don’t forget to click remember your password if you don’t want it to enter again and again, but don’t choose it if you are on a shared computer.
Your folder will be mounted and you can see it in the Finder. Once you are done, protect it again by unmounting it via right-clicking on it and select Eject.
How To Password Protect A Microsoft Folder
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App To Password Protect Mac Folder
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