How can I lock a folder in windows 10 with password for restricted access

I don't like using BitLocker to lock a folder in Windows 10. While BitLocker provides excellent security for entire drives, it’s not designed for folder-specific protection, and its use has some drawbacks:

• BitLocker encrypts entire drives or partitions, not individual folders. To lock a folder in Windows 10, you'd typically encrypt the whole drive or use other tools for folder-specific encryption.
• Only available on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Windows 10 Home users cannot use BitLocker without upgrading.
• Encryption and decryption processes can slightly reduce disk performance, especially on older hardware. If the recovery key is lost, or if the drive becomes corrupted, you may permanently lose access to your data. Data recovery can be complicated without the recovery key.
• Major system updates or hardware changes can sometimes cause BitLocker to ask for recovery keys or cause boot issues. Since it encrypts entire partitions, it doesn't allow for selective folder encryption without encrypting the whole drive. Many implementations of BitLocker rely on TPM hardware for automatic unlocking. If your device lacks TPM, you'll need to configure BitLocker with a password or USB key, which can be less convenient.
• If the recovery key is stored insecurely or shared, the encryption loses its effectiveness. Physical theft of the device still risks data if the attacker has the recovery key or can bypass BitLocker.