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How can I password protect winzip file on Windows PC?
How to password protect WinZip file? No problem — I’ve done this myself a bunch of times, and it’s pretty straightforward. Here’s the lowdown based on my experience:
1. Open WinZip: First, fire up WinZip on your PC. If you don’t have it, there’s a free trial version that works just fine for this.
2. Create or open your zip: Either select the files you want to zip and click “Add to Zip” or open an existing zip file that you want to password-protect.
Set the password:
* When you’re ready to zip the files, look for the “Encrypt” or “Password” option. Usually, it’s a checkbox or button that says “Set Password” or “Encrypt.”
* Click on it, and a prompt will pop up asking you to enter your desired password. Make sure it’s strong — a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols — and something you’ll remember.
3. Choose encryption method: WinZip typically offers 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption. The higher, the better for security. Pick 256-bit if you can.
4. Save or create your zip:
* After entering the password, proceed to create or save the zip file.
* Now, you are able to password protected WinZip file! When someone tries to unzip it, they’ll need that password.
Pro tip from my own experience: Don’t forget your password! If you lose it, there’s no way to recover the files from that zip. Also, avoid using super obvious passwords to keep your stuff safe.