How to Password Protect an Archive
Create a password-protected, encrypted archive with 7-Zip.
Security
- 1
Select files to compress
Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to compress and protect in Windows Explorer.
- 2
Open 7-Zip add dialog
Right-click, select "7-Zip" > "Add to archive...". The 7-Zip archive dialog will appear.
- 3
Set a password
In the dialog, find the "Encryption" section. Enter a strong password in both the password and confirmation fields.
- 4
Enable filename encryption (recommended)
Check "Encrypt file names" to hide the contents list. Without this, anyone can see the file names inside even without the password. Available for 7z format.
- 5
Choose archive format
For maximum security, use the 7z format (supports AES-256 + filename encryption). ZIP format supports AES-256 but not filename encryption.
- 6
Create the archive
Click OK. Your encrypted archive is created. To open it, the password will be required.
Was this helpful?