If you are someone who is concerned about the privacy of their files and folders on Mac, then you might have thought of making some of them password-protected. However, native macOS doesn’t really allow you to put a password on your folder, at least not directly. But don’t worry, there are a few workarounds that you can try to make your folders password-protected on Mac. In this article, we will discuss some of those methods and their pros and cons.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed:
Here are some things you must have before we start with the process:
- A Mac (obviously)
- The folder you want to make password-protected
- Some level of technical proficiency
What Requires Your Focus?
Before we dive into the methods to make a folder password protected, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it’s important to understand that the methods that we will detail below don’t really password-protect the folder but rather hides it. Additionally, it’s recommended that you don’t misplace or forget your password since it will be easy to lose access to your files and folders.
Different Methods to Make a Folder Password Protected on Mac:
Method 1: Via Terminal
Let’s start with the most technical but the most secured method to make a folder password-protected. Here’s how you can make a folder password-protected using Terminal:
1. Open Terminal from Spotlight or Applications -> Utilities.
2. Enter the following command and hit enter:
sudo mkdir -p /Private/foldername
3. If the terminal asks for your admin password, enter it to proceed.
4. Next, enter the following command:
sudo chflags -R hidden /Private/foldername
This will hide the folder.
5. Finally, to make the folder password-protected, enter the below command:
sudo chmod 700 /Private/foldername
This will make the folder accessible only by you (the owner).
Pros:
- Highly secured and can’t be accessed without the password.
- Sysadmins recommend using this method.
Cons:
- The most technical method in all four.
- If you forget the password, you will lose access to your folder (forever).
Method 2: Via Disk Utility
The second method involves using Disk Utility/X. Here’s how you can make your folder password-protected using Disk Utility:
1. Head to Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility.
2. Click on File -> New Image -> Image from Folder.
3. Choose the folder that you want to make password-protected.
4. Enter a name for the disk image and under Encryption, choose 128-bit AES encryption.
5. Finally, click on Save.
Pros:
- Fairly easy method and no technical expertise required.
- You can change the password whenever you want.
Cons:
- It creates an additional (disk) image file rather than just password-protecting the folder directly.
- It’s less secure and someone can delete the disk image to access the folder.
Method 3: Via Third-Party Apps
Another way to make a folder password-protected on Mac is by using third-party apps. Some of the more popular ones include Encrypto, Espionage, and Kakasoft Folder Protector. These are some of the most popular apps that you can consider to protect your folders.
Pros:
- Easy to use and no technical expertise required.
- Can be used for more than one folder at a time.
Cons:
- You may need to pay to use these apps.
- You may have to download an additional app to protect the folders, which could take up disk space.
Method 4: Via Archive Utility
This method is similar to method 2, but instead of using Disk Utility, you can use Archive Utility. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Select the folder you want to make password-protected.
2. Right-click on it and select Compress "Name of the folder".
3. Once the compression process is complete, double-click on the ZIP file to open it.
4. Select the contents of the folder and drag and drop them outside the ZIP file.
5. Once you have moved the contents outside the ZIP file, the ZIP file will be devoid of any content.
6. Right-click on the ZIP file and select Get Info.
7. Under the name and extension field, add a ".zip" extension to the file name (i.e., name.zip).
8. Click on the lock icon at the bottom and enter a password to protect the file.
Pros:
- No technical expertise required.
- Easy to use and can be done in a few steps.
Cons:
- The password-protected folder will be in a ZIP file format, which could be inconvenient for some.
- It’s less secure and someone can extract the contents of the ZIP file to access the folder.
Why Can’t I Make my Folder Password-Protected?
There could be a few reasons why you can’t make your folder password-protected. Here are a few:
- Your macOS version may not support the functionalities required to password-protect the folder.
- You might not have admin access to your Mac.
- You might not have the technical expertise required to use Terminal or Disk Utility.
If you are facing any of the above issues, consider using third-party apps to password-protect your folders.
Implications and Recommendations
It’s important to understand the implications of password-protecting your folders. Firstly, password-protecting your folders doesn’t make your files immune to hacking or cyberattacks. It merely adds another layer of protection. Secondly, it’s crucial to not forget your password and keep a backup in case you lose it.
5 FAQs About Making A Folder Password Protected on Mac
Q1: Can I encrypt the entire home folder?
A1: Yes, you can encrypt your entire home folder from the Security & Privacy preference pane.
Q2: Can I password-protect multiple folders at once?
A2: No, you need to follow the steps for each folder individually.
Q3: Can I compress a folder and then add a password to it?
A3: Yes, you can password-protect a folder that has been compressed using Archive Utility.
Q4: Can I unpassword-protect a folder?
A4: Yes, follow the same steps to remove the password from the folder.
Q5: What’s the most secure way to password-protect my folder?
A5: Using Terminal to hide and password-protect the folder is the most secure method.
In Conclusion
These are the different ways to make a folder password-protected on Mac. While Terminal is the most technical but the most secure method, disk utility is a convenient way to do it. Third-party apps can be used as well, but you may need to pay to use those. Lastly, Archive Utility is a quick and easy way to password-protect a folder. It’s important to remember your password and keep a backup in case you lose it.