How to Password Protect a Zip File for Free in Windows using 7-Zip, by OnlineComputerTips on YouTube. 3 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Download 7-Zip from the official 7-zip.org site and run the installer. Accept the default settings and finish the setup wizard.
Put the files or folders you want to protect in one place. Select them, right-click the selection and choose 7-Zip, then Add to archive.
In the Archive format dropdown, pick zip if you want the widest compatibility. Pick 7z if the person receiving it also has 7-Zip.
Look at the Encryption section on the right side of the Add to archive window.
Type your password in the Enter password field, then type it again in the Re-enter password field.
Set the Encryption method to AES-256. It is the strongest option in the list and stops casual cracking tools.
Click OK. 7-Zip builds the encrypted archive and places it in the same folder as your original files.
Test the result. Double-click the new zip and check that it asks for the password before showing anything inside.
Send the archive by email or cloud storage, then pass the password to the recipient through a different channel, such as a phone call or text.
Tips and common mistakes
The built-in Windows option, Send to then Compressed (zipped) folder, cannot add a password at all, so you must use 7-Zip or a similar tool.
Some older zip programs cannot open AES-256 archives, so tell the recipient to use 7-Zip or WinRAR if they get an error.
A forgotten password cannot be recovered, so store it in a password manager before you click OK.
In the 7z format you can tick Encrypt file names to hide what is inside. Plain zip archives always show the file names.
Questions
Can the recipient open the file without 7-Zip?
Windows File Explorer cannot open an AES-encrypted zip. The recipient needs 7-Zip, WinRAR or another tool that supports AES, so mention this when you send it.
Is a zip password the same as encrypting the files?
With AES-256 the contents really are encrypted, not just hidden behind a prompt. Without the password the files cannot be read, even with other unzip tools.
What happens if I forget the password?
There is no recovery option. You have to delete the archive and make a new one from the original files with a password you can remember.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
