How to password protect a zip file in Windows 11?

Password protecting a zip file is a great way to secure your files. There are several free methods you can use, and I’ll walk you through a couple of the easiest ways to do it, depending on your operating system. Let’s dive in! If you’re using Windows, you can use built-in tools to password protect a zip file, but it requires some command-line work. Here’s how:

1. Create a New Folder: Put all the files you want to zip into a new folder.
2. Create a Compressed (zipped) Folder:
- Right-click the folder you created.
- Go to “Send to” and select “Compressed (zipped) folder”.
- This will create a new zip file.
3. Password Protect a Zip file: Unfortunately, Windows doesn't natively support this, but you can use third-party software like 7-Zip for free.

4. Download and Install 7-Zip: Go to the 7-Zip website and download it.
5. Compress and Encrypt:
- Right-click the folder you want to zip.
- Hover over “7-Zip” and select “Add to archive…”.
- In the options that pop up, there’s a section called “Encryption”.
- Enter your desired password in the “Enter password” and “Reenter password” fields.
- Make sure to select “Zip” or “7z” under “Archive format” and click “OK”.