Folder: How to Password Protect Files on a Mac

This updated guide examines Folder: How to Password Protect Files on a Mac and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Responsible-use note: Apply security techniques only to systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.

Part 1of 2:

Creating a Folder

1. OpenFinder. Click the Finder app icon, which resembles a blue face, in your Mac's Dock.
2. ClickDesktop. It's on the left side of the Finder window.
3. ClickFile. This option is in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
4. ClickNew Folder. It's in the File drop-down menu. Doing so will add a new folder to your Mac's desktop with the name field selected.
5. Enter a name for your folder. Type in the name that you want to use for your folder, then press?Return.
   • The name that you use here doesn't really matter since you're going to rename the password-protected version of the folder.
6. Add files to the folder. Once you've created your folder, you can add the files which you want to password-protect to it by doing the following:
   • Go to the files' location.
   • Select files to move to the folder by holding down?Commandand clicking each file.
   • Press?Command+Xto copy and cut the files.
   • Open the folder that you created.
   • Press?Command+Vto paste in the files.

Part 2of 2:

Creating the Disk Image

1. Open Disk Utility. Click Spotlight , type indisk utility, and double-click the Disk Utility result.
   • You can also find Disk Utility in the Utilities section of the Finder's Go menu item.
2. ClickFile. It's in the upper-left side of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
3. SelectNew Image. This is near the top of the File drop-down menu. Selecting it will prompt a pop-out menu to appear.
4. ClickImage from Folder…. It's in the pop-out menu. Doing so will open a new window.
5. Select the folder that you created. Go to the Desktop folder by clicking the drop-down box at the top of the window and clicking Desktop in the drop-down menu, then click your created folder.
6. ClickOpen. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window.
7. Enter a title for your folder. Type whatever you want to name your protected folder into the "Save As" text box.
   • You cannot use the same title as the folder that you created or any other folder on your desktop.
   • You can also select a save location by clicking the "Where" drop-down box and then selecting a folder in the drop-down menu.
8. Click the "Encryption" drop-down box. It's near the bottom of the window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
9. Click128-bit AES encryption (recommended). You'll find this option in the drop-down box. Doing so opens the password window.^[1]
10. Create a password. Type your preferred password into both the "Password" text box and the "Verify" text box, then click Choose in the bottom-right corner of the password window.
11. ClickSave. It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your settings and create your password-protected folder.
12. Use the password-protected folder. To open the folder, double-click it, then enter the password that you set for it when prompted. The folder will open, and a drive-shaped icon will appear on your desktop.
    • You may have to restart your Mac before the folder will ask for your password.
    • You can close and re-protect the folder by moving the drive-shaped icon into the Trash and then restarting your Mac.