Step-by-Step instructions on how to use
Folder Lock...

How To Encrypt Folders?

Folder Lock enables you to protect your data and information by allowing you to encrypt folders containing your valuable data. You can encrypt and protect any number of folders on your PC. Using Military Standard 256-bit AES on-the-fly encryption to protect your important folders, Folder Lock encrypts your important data and gives you complete peace of mind when it comes to keeping your files safe. Folder Lock encrypts and decrypts your files on-the-fly i.e. the contents of your files are loaded in memory instead of your computer's hard drive. This guarantees that your data is unrecoverable from the hard drive, and is, therefore, faster than normal encryption and decryption as this method does not decrypt everything in your hard drive. Folder Lock also offers additional benefits over many other similar products in the market including Secure Backup, which backs up all your encrypted files to your secure backup account, re-adjust Locker size automatically, allowing your data to be portable and secured at the same time. To encrypt folders in Folder Lock, you do not have to be techie as the program has been developed so that all processes are run on-the-fly and behind the scene.

To start encrypting folders, you will need to create a Locker. A Locker is simply an encrypted storage file that uses government-level 256-bit AES encryption algorithm to store and protect your important folders. These Lockers can store any number of files as they are dynamic and resizable; can be created on your hard drive, portable drives as well as network shared folders, network mapped drives and NAS devices, added in 'Secure Backup' so they can be backed up automatically. Furthermore, since Lockers are undeletable without a correct password (depending on your security settings), you can be rest assured that whatever files you dump into them will remain confidential, theft-proof, and loss-proof. To do this, go to the 'Encrypt Files' feature in Folder Lock and click on the 'Create Locker' button on the top menu (see image below). The 'Create Locker' button will create your Locker.

Once you click on the 'Create Locker' button, the Locker creation wizard will start and will request you to input your 'Locker Name' and your 'Locker Path'. By default, the Locker name (e.g. Locker01) and the Locker path will be provided, the Locker path will show in your computer's My Documents folder. Once you have provided the details, click 'Next' to continue where you will be requested to enter your Locker password details (see image below).

In the 'Set Locker Password' field, you will need to enter a password for your Locker. SINCE PASSWORDS ARE IRRECOVERABLE IN, AND THROUGH, FOLDER LOCK, IT ADVISABLE THAT YOU KEEP A HARD-TO-GUESS YET EASY-TO-REMEMBER PASSWORD.

You must also make sure the password is of at least 6 characters short with a maximum cap of 100 characters. Additionally, you may also use Alphanumeric or special characters to set your password. The wizard will also show a password-strength meter to guide you in terms of setting a powerful Locker password and you will have the option to enter your password using the Virtual Keyboard available to render ineffective any possibilities of your password being hacked into by a Keystroke recorder or Keyloggers.

After setting and confirming your Locker Password, click 'Next' to continue to the next step where you need to specify what type of Locker you wish to create (see image below). You have an option of two unique Locker types: 1) Portable Locker; and 2) Basic Locker. By default, the wizard will select the Portable Locker.

You may keep the Portable Locker selected if you wish to backup your encrypted files to an secure backup account using Folder Lock's 'Secure Backup' service. On the other hand, if you do not wish to create a Locker with the secure backup support, then you may select the Basic Locker option instead. This type of Locker will allow you to encrypt folders of any size. However, Basic Lockers CANNOT be backed up.

Once you have selected your Locker type, click 'Next' to proceed to the next step where you will be asked to select the data size you wish to protect in your Locker (see image below). PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR LOCKER DATA SIZE IN THE FUTURE, therefore, it is strongly recommend that you select a maximum size for your data to allow for any future data protection needs.

You may select any Locker data size from the available presets in the 'Choose Size' field. Alternatively, you may also click on the 'Custom' link to set your own Locker size. Please remember to choose a Locker size between 300 MB – 2 TB for the Portable Locker, and a Locker size between 20 MB – 14 TB for the Basic Locker. Once you have set the Locker size, the wizard will display the size of the Locker-file that will be required to create your Locker, as well as the available disk-space.

Once you finish setting up the size of the Locker, click on the 'Next' button to start the Locker creation process. The wizard displays a progress bar that will show until the Locker creation process is completed. After your Locker has been successfully created, the wizard will display Locker Name, Locker Path, Locker Size, and the Locker Type information for your new Locker, as well as give you the option to open the Locker after you click on the 'Finish' button. (see image below).

To open the Locker after you click on the 'Finish' button, simply select the checkbox next to Open Locker on Finish to do this. This will mount and open the newly created Locker on a drive. The default drive on which the Locker mounts is Z:\ (see image below).

From the list of Lockers in the main Encrypt Files feature, you may then select your Locker and start adding your folders to it. However, if you do not wish to open the newly created Locker at this time, simply remove the check from the checkbox, and click on the 'Finish' button to close the wizard, and you will be taken to the Locker list in the main 'Encrypt Files' interface, which will also show your newly created Locker. From the Locker List, you can then Open, Edit, Copy/Move, and Delete your Locker. Optionally, you may also add this Locker to the 'Secure Backup' list.

You can encrypt folders in the following ways from within Folder Lock:

If Your Locker Is Not In The Encrypt Files List. (see image below)

To encrypt folders with Folder Lock if your Locker is not listed in the Encrypt Files list, go to the Encrypt Files module in Folder Lock, and click on the 'Open Locker' button on the top menu to locate and select your Locker from the your PC. Click on the 'Browse' button in the 'Locker Location' field to locate your Locker. Next, enter the Locker password in the 'Enter Password' field. Once you have entered all the required details, click on 'Open' to open your Locker in Windows Explorer. Simply select your folders that you wish to encrypt and add them to the Locker by drag-n-drop or by the copy/paste method. Close the window and that is all there is to it. Your folders are now encrypted with military standard 256-bit encryption.

If Your Locker Is Closed And Listed In The Encrypt Files List. (see image below)

To encrypt folders with Folder Lock if your Locker is listed in the Encrypt Files list and displays the Closed status, then go to the Encrypt Files module in Folder Lock and select your Locker. Next, click on the 'Open Locker' button on the top menu and in the popup window, enter the Locker password in the 'Enter Password' field. Click on 'Open' to open your Locker in Windows Explorer. Simply select your folders that you wish to encrypt and add them to the Locker by drag-n-drop or by the copy/paste method. Close the window and that is all there is to it. Your folders are now encrypted with military standard 256-bit encryption.

If Your Locker Is Open And Listed In The Encrypt Files List. (see image below)

To encrypt folders with Folder Lock if your Locker is listed in the Encrypt Files list and displays the Opened status, then go to the Encrypt Files module in Folder Lock and select your Locker. Next, click on the 'Explore' button placed at bottom-left of the list and in the Locker window that pops up, simply select your folders that you wish to encrypt and add them to the Locker by drag-n-drop or by the copy/paste method. Close the window and that is all there is to it. Your folders are now encrypted with military standard 256-bit encryption.