If you need help remembering passwords, use apassword manager.

The best ones are found inour guide to the best password managers.

7-Zip is a free and open-sourcefile archive utilitythat protects folders with a password.

The Add to Archive command

Download 7-Zipand install it on your rig.

Find the folder you want to password protect, right-click it, then choose7-Zip>Add to archive.

In theEncryptionsection, key in your password, then selectOK.

The password field in the Add to Archive window

you might modify other attributes and tweaks for the compressed folder.

Test the password-protected folder by opening it in Windows Explorer.

You should see a password prompt.

Archive file password prompt

The original folder is still on the computer and can be accessed without a password.

Only the newly-created archive file is protected by a password.

Delete the original folder in Windows Explorer.

The Advanced button in Properties

Look in theCompress or Encrypt attributessection for theEncrypt contents to secure datacheck box.

If it’s available, opt for check box.

SelectOKand choose the desired options when prompted.

The “Encrypt contents” option

Your folder and its contents are encrypted and only accessible by your account.

Here’s how to do it:

Open Disk Utility.

The easiest way is through Finder, viaApplications>Utilities.

The “Image from Folder” command

Go toFile>New Image>Image from Folder.

Locate and choose the folder you want to protect with a password, then selectChoose.

Change theEncryptiontype to128-bit AES encryption (recommended)or256-bit AES encryption (more secure, but slower).

The Choose button

input your password in both boxes, then selectChoose.

Select theImage Formatdrop-down menu, then chooseread/write.

it’s possible for you to give theDMG filea custom name and choose a different location to save it.

Encryption options in Disk Utility

Wait while the password-protected folder is created.

It’s finished when you see theOperation successfulmessage.

SelectDoneto end the prompt.

The Password entry window

you might also exit Disk Utility.

When you’re done accessing the folder contents, delete this disk image by dragging it to the trash.

If not, you leave its contents exposed without password protection.

The read/write option

This level of protection requires a password to gain access to the files.

To arrange the data back to its unencrypted form, you enter a passcode or password.

The Save button