If you have important files on your Mac or PC that you want to keep private, there are several security measures you can use to protect the information. A common measure is to lock your computer when you’re not using it, requiring a password to bypass the login screen. You can also password-protect folders, which is useful if you’re using a shared laptop or desktop.

Since most versions of Windows can't password protect files, you'll need a third-party application like 7-Zip. 7-Zip is a free, open-source file archiver that password protects folders.

To password protect your folders with 7-Zip, follow these steps:

Download 7-Zip and install it on your computer.