Does the folder keep its structure inside the protected file?

Yes — subfolders and file paths are preserved exactly. When the recipient unlocks it, they get the same folder tree back.

Password Protect a Folder — Free, In Your Browser. No Software.

How it works

Open the tool in any browser — Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox.
Drag your whole folder onto the page (or click Choose folder). Subfolders and structure are kept intact.
Set a password and click Protect Files. The folder downloads as a single encrypted file. To get the folder back, open the file with the password — everything unpacks exactly as it was.

Why isn't there just a "set password" right-click option?

Because no desktop OS ships one:

What people try	What it actually does
Windows "Encrypt contents" checkbox (EFS)	Ties files to your own Windows login. Anyone using your account sees everything; nothing you can send or share.
BitLocker	Encrypts the whole drive. Once you're logged in, every folder is open. No per-folder password.
Mac Disk Utility encrypted image	Works, but multi-step, easy to get wrong, and Windows recipients can't open the result.
"Hidden" folders	Not protection at all.
Encrypting the folder into a locked file	Works everywhere, survives email/cloud/USB, and only the password opens it.

Locking it for yourself vs. sending it

For your own storage (archives, backups, a folder on a shared PC): use the Encrypted .zip output. Open it later with the password — in your browser via Bulk Archiver, or with free apps like 7-Zip and Keka.
For sending to someone else: consider the Vault (.html) output — a single file the recipient opens in any browser with just the password. Nothing for them to install. Ideal for non-technical recipients.

No password recovery — by design. The tool never sees your password, so nothing can be reset. Pick a strong passphrase (there's a one-click generator) and store it somewhere safe.

Lock your folder now

Drop a folder, set a password, done — in about 30 seconds.

Open Password Protect ZIP →

FAQ

Can Windows 11 or 10 put a password on a folder?

No — no modern Windows version has a built-in folder password. The EFS checkbox protects files under your own login only, and BitLocker locks whole drives. Encrypting the folder into a protected file is the practical answer.

Can a Mac put a password on a folder?

Only via Disk Utility's encrypted disk images — clunky, and Mac-only output. The encrypted file approach works across every platform. Details: password protect files on a Mac.

Does the folder structure survive?

Yes. Subfolders and paths are preserved exactly; unlocking restores the same tree.

Is anything uploaded?

No. Encryption runs in your browser — disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it keeps working. Neither files nor password ever leave your device.

Is there a size limit?

The encrypted .zip output has no fixed cap (device memory is the practical limit — multi-GB folders are fine on desktops). The vault output is capped at 50 MB of input.