Folder Guard is Windows folder security software that you can use to restrict access to files and folders or protect them with passwords.

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None of the version of Windows operating system allows you lock individual folders with passwords. In simple words, you can’t password protect folders without the help of third-party tools in Windows. Although there is an option to hide folders, the feature is of no use as most Windows users are aware of this feature.

Users who would like to lock folders with passwords to protect their data have no option but to go for third-party utilities. There are tools from popular software companies but most of the folder locking software out there are not free. That said, there are a few free folder locking utilities exist for Windows operating system.

In this guide, we will talk about the top four free folder locker software available for Windows. Note that we have omitted many tools from the list as they try to install malware or adware on your PC. All below mentioned free tools support Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.

SecretFolder

Setting Permissions for a File or Folder To set the permissions for a file or folder: Use Windows Explorer to locate the file or folder for which you want to edit the permissions. Right-click the folder, and then click Properties. Click the Security tab. To add a new access control setting to the folder, click Add. Folder Security lies within Security Tools, more precisely Antivirus. The actual developer of the software is Folder Security Software. Our antivirus check shows that this download is safe. This PC software was developed to work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 and is compatible with 32-bit systems. Download Folder Security. A simple and efficient software solution that can help you restrict the access to your more sensitive folders, with a user-defined password.

When it comes to free folder locking, SecretFolder is our favorite utility for the job. We have recently talked about SecretFolder and explained why it’s the best free folder locking software.

It’s worth noting that SecretFolder can’t uninstalled without entering the password that you have set to protect your important folders, meaning even if a user gains access to your PC, s/he can’t access your protected folders by uninstalling SecretFolder program.

The downside is probably its very basic user interface. But it doesn’t matter as long as it does its job without any issues.

HiddenDIR

HiddenDIR is another nice program designed to password protect your folders with ease. The application sports a much polished interface when compared to other similar programs in its class and is very easy to use.

Lock-A-Folder

Lock-A-folder is another free software to password protect folders. Just like other folder locking tools, you need setup a master password and then add favorites that you want to make invisible and lock.

Spiderman 3 pc game save files. Just like SecretFolder software, it can’t be uninstalled without the master password. You need to enter the master password in order begin the uninstallation, meaning anyone who has access to your PC can’t uninstall Lock-A-Folder and access your protected files and folders.

Unfortunately, the developer behind this project has abandoned the project, meaning there won’t be any updates in future.

Free Hide Folder

The user interface is very basic but usable. Free Hide Folder is just another program to lock and hide your important folders in Windows.

If you are aware of any good free folder locking software around, please let us know by leaving a comment.

Anvi Free Folder Locker

Anvi Folder Locker is yet another free software available to password protect your data for free on Windows 10. It functions similar to other tools mentioned above and has a better user interface. It adds Lock with Anvi Folder Locker option to the file context menu so that you can lock files quickly and easily.

16 Best Free Software for Folder Lock: – I lost all my data saved in a folder recently, just because my data was not protected. Apart from the fact that none of the Windows version comes with the password lock option for your personal folders, most of us are casual about the data we save on our PC or laptop and would not even consider protecting them.

What we do not understand is that this lets others get access to your privacy which can be either accidentally deleted by friends or family, or even manipulated by someone else. Hence, it is a good practice to keep your folders password protected so that your data is safe and secured.

While you do have the option to hide the folders in Windows operating system, it is of no use as the folder can be searched or unhidden. Hence, those who want to password protect their data they are forced to seek help from third-party software. So if you want to protect all your stuff in a jiffy, you can use some good applications to encrypt them.

Also read: – 16 Free USB encryption tools to password protect your USB

There are many applications out there that help to lock your folder, however, most of them are paid versions. Today we have compiled a list of some of the best free software for folder lock just for you that will help you save your drives on your Windows platform. So let’s get going.

Folder Lock Free

If you have a large quantity of data then you definitely want to secure it, and Folder Lock is one of the tools that helps you to achieve that. It helps you to lock and hide your files, folders, and drives by password protecting them. In addition, it also encrypts files, folders and email attachments, while it safely backs up your data and also safeguards your CD and the USB drives.

It doesn’t stop at that, as you can also create wallets to store your credit card details and other personal information with the help of Folder Lock. It prevents your data to be accessed by even the smartest of hackers and the spies with the hotkey-activated secret mode. Clean history and shred junk files with Folder Lock and try all the benefits for free for the first 30 days post which it costs $39.95.

Download: http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/

Price: Free; $39.95 after free 30 days trial period

Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10

IObit Free (Protected Folder)

One of the best choices of a folder locker goes to the IObit’s free Password or Protected Folder which is user-friendly, captures less disk space and offers a solid elementary protection for your files and folders. With IObit you can hide your files and folders from any outside access. While all outsiders are blocked to access your data, they cannot even view it in your absence.

It offers an extremely simple dashboard where you can just drag and drop your preferred data to be locked. Additionally, the program also keeps itself secured by password protecting itself so that no one can uninstall it either. Even though IObit’s Password Folder is a free application it is completely free of malware and viruses.

Download: http://www.iobit.com/en/password-protected-folder.php

Price: Free

Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10

Lock-A-Folder

Even though the developer has shelved the project meaning that there would be no updates to the product, you still have the option to download the archive Lock-A-Folder application for free. It is a user-friendly software that takes up a small disk space and helps you to lock or hide any private folders on your PC or laptop. This action blocks other users to have access to your files and makes your data invisible.

You need to create a master password to select the folder you want to hide or lock. Simply click on the option to make them invisible. You can again enter the password and select the desired folder to unlock it. Even when you need to uninstall the application, you need to enter the master password which means that no one in your absence can uninstall the tool without the password.

Download: http://lock-a-folder.en.softonic.com/

Price: Free

Compatibility: Windows XP/ Windows Vista/ Windows 7/8/10

Safehouse Explore

A free encryption software, Safehouse Explore helps to