So, if you have some private photos, videos, or documents you don’t want to make their way into wondering eyes, then we have got you covered!   There are a couple of different methods to password-protect your folders on Mac, all of which are relatively straightforward and less time-consuming.

How to Password Protect a Folder on Mac? 

As mentioned above, you can apply a few different methods of password-protecting your folder.

Through Disk UtilityThrough Terminal

So, let us learn about each of these methods in more detail below. 

Password Protect Folders Using Disk Utility 

If you want a hassle-free approach and don’t want to dig into the technical aspects of encryption, then using Disk Utility can be the perfect option you can choose from. With this method, you can create your selected folders into disk images, making them easy to encrypt on your Mac devices. Here are some steps you can follow. 

Password Protect Folders through Terminal 

Since Disk images are only exclusive to Macs, individuals will require a Mac to open these files up. If your goal is to encrypt files and send them to someone who may not have a Mac, then the Disk Utility method might not work for you.  One of the most common reasons you need encryption is when some files need to be sent by email. Since emails are unsecure, you might want to encrypt files that have confidential documentation. There is a complete cross-platform way to do this, and it’s using Zip Utility. So, to create a zip file encrypted with a password, you will have to configure it through Terminal. Here is a step-by-step guide you can follow. 

Download Third-Party Applications 

While Mac offers direct ways to encrypt and password-protect files, many might think these methods are too little too taxing. So, to have even easier access, you can use third-party applications—some of the more popular and reliable apps include  Data Guardian and Cisdem Appcrypt.  Additionally, if you want to learn how to password-protect files on Mac, this article might help you. 

How to Password Protect External Hard Drive on Mac? 

If you want to password-protect your external drive on Mac, you will have to navigate through Disk Utility. Here are some steps you can follow. But, The only downside to this method is that you must first erase all data. So, if you have a new external hard drive or don’t have any important files that you don’t mind losing, then this is the perfect method you can apply.

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