How To Secure a Folder in Windows 10 with a Password

How to Hide a Folder in Windows 10 with Password

Hiding a folder in Windows 10 and adding a password isn’t a built-in feature, which kind of sucks. Of course, Windows has to make things harder than they need to be. But hey, with a little bit of scripting and some trickery, you can set up a simple method to keep prying eyes away from your stuff. It’s not bulletproof security, but it adds a decent layer of obscurity.

This guide walks through creating a hidden folder that only opens if you know the password. The real trick is a batch file — yeah, a little script that toggles visibility and asks for your secret. Once it’s working, you’ll be able to hide your private files with a double-click, and unhide ’em just as easily with the right password. Not perfect, but it beats leaving everything out in the open.

How to Fix a Hidden Folder with Password on Windows 10

First, make that folder

Right-click anywhere on your desktop or inside some other folder and hit New > Folder.
Give it a nondescript name like “Work Files” or “Temp”.Doesn’t have to be fancy, just not obvious.

Sometimes, naming your folder carefully can buy you a little extra privacy since someone casually glancing won’t think twice about it. On some setups this might even be enough, but if you want to really lock it down, keep reading.

Next, open Notepad to write your script

Click on the Start menu, type Notepad, and hit Enter. Easy enough, right?
This is where all the magic begins. The script is simple, but it’s a lifesaver for quick hiding and showing your folder with a password.

Why Notepad? Because it’s super light, doesn’t require extra installs, and you can tweak the script later if needed. Just remember, you’ll need to save it as a batch file later, so stay mindful of that.

Write the batch script—here’s the broken-down version

Copy and paste the following into Notepad:

@ECHO OFF title Folder Locker if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER :CONFIRM echo Are you sure you want to lock the folder? (Y/N) set/p "cho=>" if %cho%==Y goto LOCK if %cho%==y goto LOCK if %cho%==N goto END if %cho%==n goto END echo Invalid choice.goto CONFIRM :LOCK ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" echo Folder locked goto END :UNLOCK echo Enter password to unlock folder set/p "pass=>" if NOT %pass%==YOURPASSWORDHERE goto FAIL attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker echo Folder Unlocked successfully goto END :FAIL echo Invalid password goto END :MDLOCKER md Locker echo Locker created successfully :END

Replace YOURPASSWORDHERE with your actual password — something you’d remember but isn’t obvious. Be careful, because this isn’t encryption, just hiding and locking with a password prompt.

Save the script, like, don’t mess this up

Go to File > Save As in Notepad.
Name it locker.bat.
Set Save as type to All Files.
Save it right next to the folder you just made. This way, they’re in the same place and it works seamlessly.

Trust me, forget to set it as “All Files” at the end, and Windows just saves it as a text file. Then you’ll be scratching your head wondering why it won’t run.

Using the script — hiding and un-hiding your files

Double-click on locker.bat. You should see a new folder named Locker appear.
Drop your secret files inside that Locker folder.
Run locker.bat again. When prompted, press Y to lock, and poof — the folder disappears.

That’s about it. To access the files again, run the batch file, enter your password, and the folder’s back. Kind of weird, but it works since Windows basically just hides the folder from view and disables access without the password.

Extra Tips for Better Privacy

Keep your password fresh — don’t get lazy or someone might guess it.
Backup important files somewhere else, just in case.
Pick a bland name for the main folder to avoid suspicion.
Don’t share the password around — trust no one.
For extra security, consider encrypting really sensitive stuff with dedicated tools like VeraCrypt or something similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide multiple folders within the main folder?

Sure thing, just drop more hidden folders inside the Locker folder. They’re all contained there — but only the main folder is hidden with the script.

What if I forget my password?

This method doesn’t have a recovery option — sadly, no magic backup. Write your password down somewhere safe, or you’ll be locked out of your own files.

Is there a chance I could lose data?

If you follow the instructions, pretty safe. Still, always back up your files somewhere besides that folder in case something weird happens or Windows glitches out.

Can anyone access my hidden folder without the password?

As long as you don’t share the password and don’t tamper with the script, no one should get in. It’s basically just hidden from casual view, not encrypted.

Will this work on other versions of Windows?

Yeah, more or less. Windows 7, 8, 11 — same idea. The commands might vary slightly, but the concept’s pretty much the same.

Summary

Create a new folder
Open Notepad
Write the batch script and save as locker.bat
Place your secret files inside the Locker folder
Run your batch file to toggle hiding and access with password

Wrap-up

Honestly, this isn’t some bulletproof security scheme, but it’s enough to keep your casual snoopers at bay. Kind of like a digital hiding spot that’s easy enough to set up once you get the hang of it. Just remember to keep your password safe — and don’t forget it yourself. It’s a bit clunky, but hey, it works on a budget, and sometimes that’s all that matters. Hopefully, this shaves a little time off someone’s pain when they wanna hide those files quick and dirty.