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ZoeyAdams's avatar
ZoeyAdams
Iron Contributor
May 13, 2025

How can I password protect winzip file on Windows PC?

Hi folks, I have several winzip files on my Windows 10 PC. I need to add a password to them so the files are in safe place. Unfortunately, I am unable to find such a feature from the internal os fun...
WilliamJackson's avatar
WilliamJackson
Iron Contributor
May 13, 2025

The 7-zip command line interface is quite effective solution to help you password protect a zip file on Windows PC.

The 7-Zip Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful way to use the 7-Zip file archiver through terminal commands in Command Prompt or PowerShell—without opening the graphical interface. It allows advanced users to compress, extract, encrypt, test, and manage archives with full control and automation capabilities.

How to password protect winzip file

Download and install 7-Zip from the official website. Make a note of the 7-Zip installation path.

Now, use the following PowerShell command to password protect a zip file:

& "C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe" a -tzip "C:\Path\To\output.zip" "C:\Path\To\your\files\*" -pYourPassword -mem=AES256

Explanation:

a : Add to archive.

-tzip : Use ZIP format.

"C:\Path\To\output.zip" : Destination ZIP file.

"C:\Path\To\your\files\*" : Files to compress.

-pYourPassword : Set the ZIP password.

-mem=AES256 : Use AES-256 encryption.

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