Overview
How to Password-Protect and Encrypt Files Using 7-Zip
Secure files in a password-protected “.zip” file using 7-Zip. This is a free, open-source file archiver with AES-256 encryption and a high compression ratio.
Steps
Step 1 — Open 7-Zip
Open “7-Zip File Manager” on a Fleming computer (a physical computer or VDI). For a personal computer, you can download and install 7-Zip from here: https://www.7-zip.org/
Step 2 — Locate Files
Navigate to the files you wish to protect, select them, and then select the “Add” button (the bright, green plus symbol in the top-left corner).
Step 3 — Name and Format
Enter a name for your file and set the archive format to “zip.” Take note of where this file will be saved; for example, the zip file in the illustration below will be saved in “C:\public\.”
Step 4 — Password and Encryption
Enter a password for your file and set the encryption method to “AES-256.”
Step 5 — Save File
Select “OK” to save the file and confirm its location.
Notes
Names of files are viewable without entering a password, but these files cannot be opened until the password is entered to extract the files.
Windows 10 cannot extract these password-protected files; only 7-Zip will prompt for a password to extract these files.