How to Password Protect Files in Windows 11 or Windows 10
- Before you start
- 1. Select the file
- 2. Choose the output location
- 3. Choose cipher and hash settings
- 4. Encrypt and verify the file
- Frequently asked questions
Free File Lock protects individual files, including documents, photos, videos, audio, archives and PDFs. It supports Windows 11 and Windows 10. It is not a full-folder locker and it does not replace BitLocker, device encryption or backups.
Make a backup before encrypting anything important. Keep the original until you have successfully decrypted a test copy. Use a long, unique passphrase and store it in a trusted password manager.
1. Select the file you want to protect
Open Free File Lock and click Browse beside the source-file field. Select one file and confirm that the displayed path and file size are correct.
2. Choose a safe output location
Click the second Browse button and choose an output folder and file name. Use a different name or folder from the source so the unencrypted original is not overwritten.
3. Choose cipher and hash settings
Choose a cipher and hash supported by your installed version. Prefer Rijndael with SHA-256 or stronger when available. DES, MD5 and SHA-1 are legacy options and should not be your first choice for new sensitive data. Record both selections because the same settings are required to decrypt the file later.
4. Enter a passphrase, encrypt and verify
Enter a long passphrase in Passphrase, type it again in Confirm passphrase, and click Encrypt. When the operation finishes, decrypt a test copy and open it to verify the contents before deleting or moving the original.
Can Windows 11 password protect an individual file?
Some Windows editions provide EFS, and Office documents can protect their own contents. Free File Lock is a separate utility for encrypting individual files on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Can this program protect an entire folder?
It is designed for individual files. To protect a folder, encrypt the important files individually or use an encrypted archive or drive.
Can I recover a forgotten passphrase?
Do not assume recovery is possible. Store the passphrase securely and keep a separate backup.
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