Password Protect Folders Using My Lockbox

Many people want to password protect some of the folders which have their personal documents in it. Windows does not provide any such native tool so that a user can lock any folder they want. But you can password protect any folder on your hard disk using a freeware tool called My Lockbox. This tool enables you to hide, lock and password protect almost any folder on your computer. You can use My Lockbox to hide your private data from prying eyes – your files will be not accessible both from local and remote users.

My Lockbox is supported on Windows XP, Vista and 7 (both 32-bit and 64-bit edition). It supports FAT, FAT32 and NTFS file systems. You can download My Lockbox from its web site at http://fspro.net/my-lockbox/. The download is in form of a setup program. You need to install it on your system before you can protect your folders. Installation is very easy – it is recommended that you keep all the default suggested options during the installation.

After the installation is over, run My Lockbox from its Start Menu shortcut. You can also run it by double-clicking on its Desktop shortcut. It will ask you for setting up a password. Type in your password twice. You can also type a password hint in case you forget your password.

Password Protect Folders

After you have setup your My Lockbox password, just right-click on any folder that you want to password protect and choose Protect with My Lockbox as shown.

Password Protect Folders

This would make that folder disappear from the Windows Explorer. Now you can only view this folder by unlocking this folder using the My Lockbox control panel. You can open this My Lockbox control panel by clicking on the My Lockbox icon in the notification area. You can also use the hotkey Ctrl + Shift + P to open the control panel. You will be asked for your My Lockbox password before you can access the control panel. In the control panel, just click on the Unlock button to unlock the locked folder.

Password Protect Folders

This would make the protected folder appear again in the Windows Explorer so you can use it as a normal folder. After you are done editing, copying, deleting or modifying the contents of the folder, you can again password protect this folder by just clicking on the Lock button in the My Lockbox control panel.

Password Protect Folders

My Lockbox is a freeware tool which allows you to easily password protect any folder of your choice without the need to encrypting the folder contents. The protection is instant and you do not have to wait for any process to finish. So if you are looking for free password protection for your private folders, just grab the freeware My Lockbox tool.