When I first heard about the Folder Lock application, I thought it to be just another application to lock various folders on my phone.
However, giving it a closer look proved that I was highly mistaken. This application can provide security to much more folders than I had presumed.
Folder Lock makes you to protect your drives, files, and folders with passwords, encrypt the crucial files on the fly, protect your portable drives, backup files in real-time, shred drives and files, and clean the history.
Knowing so many features lets me understand why millions of users have downloaded it. With more than 25 million users and still counting, Folder Lock is the application with the maximum number of users for file- security programs.
The application works for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11.
How to Use Folder Lock Application to Lock Your Files and Folders
It is just so simple to use Folder Lock to secure your files and folders away from the spying eyes of other phone and PC users. The best part about Folder Lock is that the user interface is very interactive.
You do not have to strain your mind too much to understand the usage of this application. When you open it, you will know how to access various buttons to use the Folder Lock best. Nevertheless, you can use this guide to understand the working of Folder Lock.
1. Hide Your Documents and Files
Folder Locks let you hide your important documents and files beautifully, and they do not come to the notice of anyone who touches your phone or computer.
Password protect videos and images.
Encryption of your data provides you with indestructible security. The process uses AES-256-bit encryption to keep your files secure.
On the other hand, you can lock your folders and files for effective and quick hiding and locking. Folder Lock lets you secure the files that you consider sensitive and access them frequently.
Whether you lock or encrypt your files, you can password-protect your files, folders, images, excel files, or virtually any file you want to protect.
Step 1. Download and install the Folder Lock application on your PC.
Step 2. First, the program will ask you to set a password for further usage. Set a strong password for your application. Make sure that you create a password that is strong enough that others cannot guess it.
You can use alphanumeric or special characters to create your password, but do not make it so strong that you cannot recall it yourself! Anyway, let us proceed further.
Re-enter your password to confirm.

Step 3. Click the ‘OK‘ tab given alongside the password space.
Step 4. If you want to hide your files, click the ‘Lock Folders‘ tab on the homepage’s left side panel.

Step 5. Click the ‘Add Items to Lock‘ tab on the page’s topmost bar. You will see a drop-down menu with the following options:
- Add file (s)
- Add folder (s)
- Add Drive (s)
You can use any of these options to add your files, folders, or drives and lock them. Using this option, you can hide images, videos, PDF documents, spreadsheets, word files, and any other format of files.
Step 6. When you add any file to this page, you will see the file’s name under the ‘Items‘ category and a green-colored lock under the ‘Protection‘ category.
Step 7. When you select the locked files in the Folder Lock application, the menu options on the topmost bar will activate. Using the topmost bar, you can unlock the locked items, select or de-select items, turn on the protection, and turn off the protection.
2. Encrypt your files
Encryption refers to converting data into secret code, which is one of the most effective methods to attain data security. To read the encrypted files, you need access to secret passwords or keys to decrypt the data.
The unencrypted data is known as plain text, and the encrypted data is known as cipher text. The Folder Lock software lets you encrypt your data in the simplest way possible.
Did you know you do not have to be a big enterprise to encrypt your data? With the ever-increasing incidences of data theft, more than 50,000 computers and mobile phones are compromised daily. You can encrypt your confidential folders and files with portable lockers.
How to Encrypt Your Files and Folders
With Folder Lock, it is again easy to encrypt your files. You need to create a locker to encrypt any file. Follow the steps given below:
Step 1. Open the Folder Lock application.
Step 2. On the left side panel, locate the ‘Encrypt Files‘ button and click it.

Step 3. On the topmost bar of the page, click the first button, ‘Create locker.’
Step 4. Enter the name of the locker in the first space.
Step 5. Enter the path of the locker where you want to keep it on your PC. Click ‘Next.’
Step 6. Create a stronger password for the locker on the next page and click ‘Next.’
Step 7. Choose the type of locker from the first drop-down menu.
Step 8. Choose the maximum size of the locker to accommodate the files you add to it in the future. You will see the free space required by the application on your computer and the available free space. Click ‘Next.’
Step 9. Click ‘Finish‘ to open the locker.
Step 10. A new pop-up window will open before you drag and drop files. Then, click ‘Close Locker‘ to encrypt your selected files.
Step 11. When you want to open the locker, click the ‘Open locker‘ tab on the topmost bar.
Step 12. Enter the location of the locker and enter the password. Click ‘Open.’
Step 13. You can use the other options on the topmost bar to edit your locker, close the locker, and back up the locker.
You can use the ‘Encrypt Files‘ option to encrypt your images, videos, documents, folders, spreadsheets, excel files, word files, and several other formats of files.
3. Secure Backup of Your Files and Folders
Folder Lock gives you great options to back up your data securely. You need to create an account to begin the backup process or sync your personal lockers. You get the following benefits of using Folder Lock for secure backup:
- You can have up to 2 TB of storage.
- The backup is encrypted end to end.
- You can restore and sync your data whenever you want.
- Folder Lock is faster than Mozy and Dropbox.
- The software takes an automatic backup when you modify it.
- The software is upgradable and scalable.
- Folder Lock is unrestricted and portable.
- You can hide and lock your files.
- You can password-protect your important folders and files.
- You can erase proof files.
Why Should You Use a Secure Backup of Folder Lock?
The only reason that your data is completely secure is enough to use Folder Lock. Your data is securely encrypted in the cloud and on your computer. You can access the encrypted files anywhere and anytime.
Folder Lock is more dependable than Box and faster than Dropbox. If you are satisfied with the trial version of Folder Lock, you can buy its monthly package for storage as follows:

- $5 (trial) for 10 GB
- $10 (trial) for 20 GB
- $20 (trial) for 50 GB
- $30 (trial) for 100 GB
- $60 for 200 GB
- $100 for 500 GB
- $200 for 1 TB
- $400 for 2 TB
After creating your account, you need to choose any storage plans based on the locker size you need for the backup.
Your credit card details will be required for a free trial. You will not be charged any amount if you cancel your subscription before 30 days.
4. Protect USB, CD & Email Attachments
With this option, you can protect your External Drives and USB. You can copy your locker to the external drives and USB and execute your lockers there. You can protect your DVD and CD media with Folder Lock.
The software burns the lockers to your DVDs and CDs and makes the locker executable. You can also protect your email attachments with Folder Lock. The software protects the attachments in your emails with passwords and compresses the important files.

How to use protect USB
You do not need to install Folder Lock software to open your protected files on your USB drive. When you click on ‘Protect USB Drive,’ you will be prompted to choose from the two options:
- Make my existing locker portable
- Create a new portable locker in my USB Drive
You can use any of these options to protect your USB drive. If you make your existing locker portable, your current locker will be converted and copied to the selected USB drive.
If you create a new locker in the USB drive, you will be required to enter the name and path of the portable locker you wish to create. You can refer to the ‘Encrypt Files’ section to know how you can create a new locker.
Protect DVD and CD Media
When you click ‘Burn CD and DVD media,’ you will be prompted to select your existing locker files to burn on the CD or DVD. Select your CD/ DVD drive and click next.
If your locker size is less than 4 GB, Folder Lock will convert it to a self-executable encrypted file. If your locker size is more than 4 GB, Folder Lock will copy the locker along with a different executable file.
Protect Email Attachments
When you click ‘Protect Email Attachments,’ you will be prompted to add files or folders to be protected as email attachments. Click ‘Next’ and enter the following details in the next window: ZIP name, ZIP path, set a password, and confirm the password.
After filling in all these details, your files or folders will be encrypted. Click ‘Email Now’ to send someone your encrypted file or folder.
It is recommended that you send the encryption password separately in another email. You can also click ‘Finish’ if you want to email this attachment later.
5. Password Wallets
Another awe-inspiring feature of Folder Lock is the Password Wallet. You can use this digital wallet to securely save sensitive information, such as your Social Security Number, credit card details, debit card details, passwords of sensitive websites, passwords of digital wallets, etc.

Step 1. When you click ‘Password Wallets’ on the left side panel of the main interface, you will be prompted to create a wallet.
Step 2. Click the ‘Create wallet‘ tab on the homepage’s topmost bar.
Step 3. On the next window that opens, create a wallet name and browse its path where you want to locate it.
Step 4. Set and confirm a password and click ‘OK’ to open your created wallet.
Step 5. Click the ‘Create Card’ tab given on the topmost bar.
Step 6. Type the card’s name and choose the card type from the drop-down menu. Enter the details of the card.
You can select the ‘Delete Card’ tab to delete the details of the selected card. Click ‘Close Wallet’ to close the current wallet. You will be prompted to enter the password when you want to open a wallet next time.
6. Shred files
We want to get rid of many files, folders, and documents on our computers, but we do not want them to be accessed by anyone else.
It is a fact that pressing the ‘Delete’ button or ‘Shift + Delete’ does not erase any data from your computer. Anyone with twisted intentions can recover this deleted data. You need a reliable solution such as Folder Lock to erase such files permanently.
With this software, you can shred any unwanted files or folders on your computer, and they will not be accessible to anyone at any time in the future.

Step 1. Click the ‘Shred Files’ tab on the left side panel of the homepage of Folder Lock.
Step 2. Click ‘Add Items to Shred’ from the bar’s drop-down menu in the top left corner.
Step 3. After adding the files to the list, select them manually to shred. You can also click ‘Select all’ to shred all the files on display.
Step 4. You can choose more settings by clicking the ‘Options’ tab at the bottom. I will talk about these options later after these instructions.
Step 5. Click ‘Shred’ to erase the selected files permanently. Read the notification and click ‘Yes’ if you agree to delete the files forever.
Step 6. Click ‘Empty Shredded Space’ to shred all the deleted restorable files in the empty space of your hard drive. Select your target drive from the drop-down menu. Select the shredding method from the next drop-down menu and click ‘Start.’
Options of Shredding
When you click the ‘Options’ button in the ‘Shred Files’ menu, you can make changes to the Program Settings and General Settings.
The Password Security menu lets you set access control on various parts of Folder Lock by using an admin-level master password. The ‘Shred Settings’ menu lets you set default actions for shredding the files.
The ‘Auto Protection’ menu lets you enable a set of actions that will be performed if you do not perform any action with your keyboard or mouse for a certain period. You can exit the application, log off Windows, or shut down Windows after a set number of minutes.

The ‘Hack Security’ menu lets you monitor control and perform certain actions based on incorrect password entry attempts made on different sections of Folder Lock.
You can exit the application, log off Windows, or shut down Windows after a set number of incorrect password attempts. You can use the ‘Stealth Mode’ to run Folder Lock only by using hotkeys. You can set the privacy and hotkey options.
You can also set your preferences for locking and encryption in the ‘Preferences’ menu. You can set the preferences for online backup.
The ‘Clean History’ menu lets you clean the Windows temporary files, clipboard data, open/save directory, media player history, WordPad history, Run history, MS Paint history, Find Computer history, Recent Documents history, Find Files and Folders history, etc.
All these options are marked by default; you must press ‘Clean’ to erase the history.

Advantages of using Folder Lock
- If you cannot understand the Folder Lock application even slightly, you can take support from the ‘Support’ menu given on the application’s main interface.
- The software gives you high-tech safety options to secure your important data.
- You can create portable lockers that are self- executable in your USB drives, DVDs, CDs, and emails.
- You can lock your folders and files to hide your personal photos, videos, and documents with just a few clicks.
- You can back up your lockers and sync the encrypted files in lockers safely in a secure cloud.
- You can create digital wallets to save your passwords, credit card details, Social Security numbers, etc., safely and securely with Folder Lock.
- You can shred unwanted files from your computer so that no one ever recovers them.
- Folder Lock gives you complete privacy in the era of digital thefts with so many options for locks and encryptions.
Disadvantages of using Folder Lock
While there are so many advantages of using Folder Lock, there are some downsides as well:
- To use the secure backup facility, you need to submit your credit card details. Many people are not comfortable with furnishing their credit card details to any or many software.
- You may risk forgetting if you set up different passwords in different sections of Folder Lock. You may have to set a single password to protect, hide, lock, or encrypt your files and folders.
- You can also risk saving your passwords somewhere else, but that will defeat the entire purpose of having Folder Lock with you if your Folder Lock passwords are leaked out.
- For beginners, a few commands of the Folder Lock application may seem a bit complicated. However, if you are slightly aware of the technical terminology, you will not face any problem understanding it.
Different options for online cloud storage are available for the trial version and the advanced version of Folder Lock. If you want temporary but secure storage online, you can buy it from Folder Lock. You can pay for more storage later to secure more data.
Even if you buy the smallest storage, you can rest assured of its security and safety. I would strongly recommend Folder Lock for its modern and high-tech features.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Folder Lock utilizes advanced encryption algorithms to protect your files and folders from unauthorized access. It also offers features like password protection, secure backup, and secure deletion to enhance data security.
Yes, Folder Lock supports multiple devices. You can sync your encrypted files across different devices for convenient access.
Yes, Folder Lock is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. However, it does not currently support Linux.
It’s important to remember your Folder Lock password as it cannot be recovered if forgotten. Make sure to choose a strong password and store it securely. Forgetting the password may result in permanent data loss.
Yes, Folder Lock allows integration with popular cloud storage services, enabling secure syncing and storage of your encrypted files in the cloud.
Conclusion
Folder Lock is a comprehensive software solution that offers robust data protection features, user-friendly interface, and advanced encryption algorithms. With its secure backup options, file locking capabilities, and additional tools, it provides a reliable solution for safeguarding your sensitive information.
While Folder Lock may not be compatible with Linux and may have certain limitations, it remains a popular choice among Windows and Mac users seeking a convenient and effective data security solution.
In conclusion, if you prioritize the security of your files and folders and value ease of use, Folder Lock is worth considering.