How To Set Password For Folder Without Any Software

An external hard drive is equivalent to a mobile memory, which realizes data storage by simply connecting to a computer. You can use an external difficult bulldoze to support files, free upwardly space on SSD/HDD, or transfer files, specifically big files from one reckoner to another. The external hd is becoming more and more than popular because it's small in size, big in capacity, and easy to carry.

An external hard drive tin carry important and sensitive files, including individual personally identifiable details, family photos, revenue enhancement and financial information, login credentials, and more. Considering the security of your data, to prevent people with ulterior motives from stealing your data, you should encrypt and countersign protect the external hard drive.

password protect external hard drive

This post shows y'all how to countersign protect an external hard drive on Windows x in two means. You can password protect files or folders on the external hard drive without encryption by using a file lock tool, or you can directly use BitLocker to password protect an external hard drive.

In improver, how-to steps to password protect an external hard bulldoze on Mac are also provided. Allow's acquire how to exercise it.

How to Password Protect Folders on an External Hard Drive Without Encryption

A costless file lock tool - EaseUS LockMyFile can help you password protect any type of files and folders on an external difficult bulldoze without encryption.

Y'all can utilise its Locking File feature to protect the files or folders on a local hard drive, external difficult drive, or USB wink drive with a stiff countersign. In one case you lot've set up upward the password, anyone accessing the files or folders on your external hard drive will demand to enter the countersign first.

Hither are the simple guides to password protect folders on an external hard drive with EaseUS file lock software.

Other highlighted features of EaseUS LockMyFile to protect data on external hard drive:

Password protect Seagate external hard bulldoze, every bit well every bit Toshiba, WD, and other brands of external disks
Encrypt files or folders on an external hard drive with an AES encryption algorithm
Hibernate files or folders from external hard disk, completely invisible to anyone or any programs even under Windows Safe Manner
Back up file shredder to completely delete data on external disk without recovery
Monitors disks or folders and their subfolders as the user makes any deportment or alter

Step ane. Download and install EaseUS LockMyFile on your figurer. For the first time setup, enter a potent authentication countersign for use, and a valid email accost for password retrieval in case you lot forgot the countersign. You can alter the password someday in "Settings".

enter password

Footstep ii. To lock files or folders on an external device, navigate to the "External Disk" section and so click "Locking File". Next, on the right menu, choose the "Lock File(due south)" or "Lock Folder" selection.

lock external drive file step 1

Step iii. Select the target external drive and choose specific files or folders you want password protect, and and so click "Open".

lock external drive file step 2

Step four. Enter the password and confirm it in one case, and click "Lock". Wait for the process to consummate. Your important files and folders should be fully protected with a stiff password.

lock external drive file step 3

How to Password Protect External Difficult Drive Windows 10 Using BitLocker

Windows has an inbuilt-in disk encryption tool, named BitLocker. BitLocker comes with Windows ten Enterprise and Pro, Windows 8 Professional and Enterprise, Windows seven Ultimate and Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate and Enterprise, and Windows Server 2008 and later.

BitLocker lets you encrypt and password protect data on both internal and external hard drives. Because of version limitations, if you want to password protect an external hard bulldoze in Windows 10 Dwelling, go back to the above method and use EaseUS LockMyFile to make it.

Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to the computer. Correct-click the external difficult bulldoze and select "Turn BitLocker On".

turn on bitlocker

Footstep 2. Ready the password used to protect your external hard bulldoze. Then, back up the recovery key to a secure place. If you forgot your password, you tin access the bulldoze with the recovery fundamental.

password protect usb

Step 3. If you want to protect the whole drive every bit well as newly added files and folders, cull "Encrypt entire drive". Or you lot can only cull to encrypt the used disk infinite.

password protect entire usb

Step 4. Microsoft BitLockeroffers two encryption modes. If you have the latest Windows version, you lot can choose "New encryption fashion" with additional integrity support. Otherwise, select "Compatible manner" and and so click "Adjacent".

compatible mode

Step 5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish encrypting the external hard drive.

encrypt USB

How to Password Protect External Hard Drive on Mac

It'due south equally important to countersign protect external hard drives on Mac. If you haven't protected your external hard drives with a password till at present, this is how to countersign protect external hard drives on Mac.

1. Countersign Protect an External Hard Drive by Using Disk Utility

When you lot format an external hard drive with Disk Utility on Mac, y'all can encrypt and protect it with a password in the steps below.

Step one. Connect your external difficult drive to the Mac.

Step 2. Go to "Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility". Or you lot can open up Deejay Utility by searching for information technology in Spotlight.

Step 3. Select your external disk on the left side menu, cull "Erase" in the toolbar. Think to support data before using this procedure.

erase external hard drive

Step 4. Enter a name for the drive. Then, click the "Format" option and choose "Mac Bone Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)".

format hard drive

Footstep v. Click "Erase". Enter and verify a password, then click "Choose".

Step vi. Finally, click "Erase" and "Done". When the process is finished, you volition see that your drive is encrypted and you need to enter the password every time you lot restart your Mac or connect the external hard bulldoze.

2. Encrypt an External Hard Drive on Mac Without Erasing

As the difficult drive formatting will lead to data loss, yous can take another way to encrypt your external hard drive without erasing it.

Step ane. Connect the external difficult drive to your Mac.

Step 2. Open the Finder window. Locate and right-click the external deejay, then select "Encrypt (drive name)" from the driblet-downwards menu.

encrypt USB on mac

Step 3. Enter and confirm the password at the popular-upwardly dialogue box. You lot tin can also add a hint to help recall the password later.

Step 4. Select "Encrypt Disk" to outset encrypting the external hard disk drive. Depending on the size of the file, it can take a lot of time.

Summary

These are two means to countersign protect an external hard drive in Windows 10. Y'all can utilize EaseUS LockMyFile to lock and put a countersign to your external difficult drive without encryption. With this software, information technology's not rocket science to protect your reckoner, external hard drive, and USB flash bulldoze.

For users who don't like to use a 3rd-party tool, you can apply BitLocker to encrypt your whole external hard drive. This article also shows yous 2 means to password protect an external hard drive on Mac with or without erasing. Cull the i that works all-time for you.