None of the versions of the Windows operating system allows you to 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 applications out there are not free. That said, there are a few free folder locking utilities available for Windows operating system.
In this guide, we will talk about the top five 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 10.
SecretFolder
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 be uninstalled without entering the password that you have set to protect your important folders. This means that if a user gains access to your PC, s/he can’t access your protected folders by uninstalling the 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 helpful 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 yet another free software to password protect folders. Just like other folder locking tools, you need to set up a master password and then add favorites that you want to make invisible and lock.
Just like SecretFolder software, it can’t be uninstalled without the master password. You need to enter the master password in order to 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 the 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 the 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.
Download Anvi Folder Locker