How to Lock Folder Without Any Software

Lots of times we need to protect folders in our computer for various security reasons. Most of the time few confidential data needs to be secured from other users on same computer. We always asked to download some 3rd party software to protect our local folders, and these 3rd party software will help us to create password for our folder and make it secure.

There are few disadvantages using 3rd party software:

1. There might be Virus or spy in 3rd Party software
2. If this software is trial version, we may end up without unlocking our folder
3. Software may contain some threats or other malware which may harm our computer
4. We always have to rely on this software and re-install again incase we are formatting our PC

Also See: Download Free Antivirus for Windows 8

Good news is, Now you can Protect folder without using any software but simply using batch file programming. Don’t worry, even if you don’t know programming, I will help you to make your life easy and teach you step by step and with proper print screen.

* This trick will work on all windows platform (Win XP, Win 7, 8)

1. Open Notepad (Start –> Run –> type “Notepad” –> Enter

You can open Notepad program on your windows XP , 7 or Windows 8 machine using Start –> Run –> type “Notepad” and press Enter

2. Copy Given Code into Notepad

cls

@ECHO OFF

if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"goto UNLOCK

if NOT EXIST MyFolder goto MDMyFolder

:CONFIRM

echo Are you sure to lock this 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 MyFolder "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

echo Folder locked

goto End

:UNLOCK

echo Enter password to Unlock Your Secure Folder

set/p "pass=>"

if NOT %pass%== wolfsoft goto FAIL

attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"MyFolder

echo Folder Unlocked successfully

goto End

:FAIL

echo Invalid password

goto end

:MDMyFolder

md MyFolder

echo MyFolder created successfully

goto End

:End

Your Notepad file will looks like above screen.

3. Save the Notepad file as .Bat file

Goto File –> Save as

Select “All files” in Save as option

Give file name: Protect.bat (Extension .Bat is must)

4. Create Secured Folder using Batfile

Double click on Protect.bat file and that will create a new folder as shown below

Copy all your secure data/files inside newly created Folder.

5. Lock Folder

Once all data moved to new Folder, you can protect the folder using Locker and secure folder with a password.

Simply double click on “Protect.bat” file which will ask you with below type of command prompt.

Enter “Y” and press Enter to Lock your Folder and secure.

Congratulations, Now your Folder is Hidden and protected. You have protected your folder without using any software.

**Make Sure you have turned off show hidden files in folder option.

Now, you definitely need to understand the process of Unlocking this folder, and retrieve your information back.

How to Unlock Folder without using Software

Unlocking your folder is pretty simple. You simply need to enter default password when prompted.

Note down, default password to unlock folder without using software is “wolfsoft”

Double click on Protect.bat and it will prompt you to enter password to unlock your protected folder.

That’s it, your folder is back to visible mode. You can now work on your data and re-protect them as and when needed.

Bonus Trick: Change default password

Ofcourse you can change the default password easily. Simply open “protect.bat” file withnotepad and change the default password as per your wish. Below is the illustration shows the location of default password in notepad.

Yes, now you have setup your own password to protect a folder and make it password protected in windows xp, 7 or 8 and that too without using any software.

*You always can place and hide Protect.bat file to make it more secure, else there are chances that someone can open and read your password.

Hope this tutorial on How to Lock / Unlock Folder Without Using Software in your Windows computer helped you to learn some new trick.