When a zip file contains multiple items, the unzipped files are stored in a folder that has the same name as the zip file. For example, if you unzip a file called Archive.zip, the files are placed in a folder called Archive. This folder is located in the same folder as the Archive.zip file. Password protect ZIP file to protect ZIP files, without your permission and without ZIP file password, others can't or more difficult to enter you ZIP files. But when you forgot ZIP file password, or can't remember all character of the ZIP file password, ZIP password cracker online to crack ZIP file password, then you can use the ZIP file as usual.
- Winzip is the world's leading zip utility for file compression, encryption, sharing, and backup. Save time and space on your Mac with Winzip.
- How to Protect Folders With Passwords. Both MacOS and Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education Editions have their own encryption programs that you can use to encrypt and password-protect files and folders on your hard drive.
Would you like to prevent unauthorized people from accessing sensitive data that you store on data servers and shared computers, or send via email? Then it’s best to use password-protected archive files, like those in ZIP format.
You can password protect ZIP files on both Windows 10 and macOS. However, the range of functions provided by your system’s password-protection tools are limited. For this reason, we recommend using external software.
Password Protect ZIP Files with Windows System Tools
Microsoft Windows 10 provides a feature for password protecting files and folders which is integrated in the operating system. Windows password protection can also protect ZIP files from unauthorized access, without having to use third-party software. To activate password protection for your files, follow these steps:
Windows password protection is only available in the editions Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, Education, and Enterprise, not in Windows 10 Home.
Step 1: Using the right mouse button, click on the ZIP file that you would like to password protect.
Step 2: In the shortcut menu, select the “Properties” option to open the file properties.
Step 3: In the “General” tab, click on “Advanced” in order to open the “Advanced Attribute” dialog window.
Step 4: In the “Advanced Attributes” dialog window, select the check box next to “Encrypt contents to secure data”.
Step 5: Close the “Advanced Attributes” dialog window by clicking on “OK” and save the change in file properties by clicking on “OK” or “Apply”.
The file icon now displays a padlock. This indicates that the corresponding file is password protected. But what does this actually mean?
After you have activated password protection, you’ll note that you can still open the file without a password prompt. File content can also be displayed and processed without changes. Nevertheless, the file is password protected – with a key generated by Windows that is stored in your user account.
You have access to the file as long as you are logged into your user account. By contrast, other users will be denied access. This can be very practical in many situations. However, only in a few application cases does it serve as a password-protected ZIP file. For instance, this feature is not intended for sending password-protected ZIP files. For this, we recommend using a compression program with an encryption feature.
Encrypting File Folders with macOS Standard Tools
Though it’s true the Apple operating system macOS does not offer any native features for password protecting ZIP files, you can however protect the directories – in which ZIP files are located – as image files. To do so, follow these steps:
Step 1: Create a new folder in Finder – macOS’ standard file manager.
Step 2: Relocate all ZIP files that you’d like to protect into the folder you just created.
Step 3: Open the macOS hard drive service program. You can do this via Spotlight search.
Step 4: Click on “File” in the menu bar above and choose “Image from Folder” under “New Image”.
Step 5: Choose the folder you created at the beginning that has the files you wish to protect and click on “Open”.
Step 6: Give the image a name and choose a save location.
Step 7: Choose the type of encryption:
- 128-Bit-AES encryption (recommended)
- 256-Bit-AES encryption (more secure, but slower)
Step 8: Enter a password of your choosing and confirm entry by clicking on “Choose”.
Step 9: Make sure that the image format is set to “Compressed” and complete the process by clicking on “Save”.
The encrypted image is created in .dmg format in the save location you specified.
Select the image by double-clicking on it and entering your password to access the password-protected file.
An open .dmg file is displayed as an integrated drive in Finder.
Eject the image via Finder if you are no longer using the protected files. Otherwise, they will remain accessible without a password prompt.
To make sure that your data is protected from unauthorized access, you should delete the unencrypted original data.
Password Protecting ZIP Files with Third-Party Software
Since the options for each operating system are limited, we recommend using a third-party program. For example, we have chosen 7-Zip, a free packer application with a high compression rate and reliable encryption. It creates archive files in the 7z, TAR, WIM, and ZIP formats. The program’s encryption feature is available for 7z and ZIP files.
Follow these steps to create a password-protected archive file for any file folder of your choosing:
Step 1: Download the open-source 7-Zip compression program from the provider’s website and install the software on your system.
7-Zip is automatically integrated into the Windows Explorer shortcut menu.
Step 2: Using the right mouse button, click on the file folder that you would like to encrypt.
Step 3: Choose “7-Zip” in the shortcut menu and click on “Add to archives…” in the pop-up menu.
Step 4: In the packer program’s configuration mask, you’ll find the required settings for the save location, archive format, compression strength, compression method, and encryption.
Enter a password, then enter it again.
In archive format, 7z is available with AES-256-bit encryption. This can also be used for password protecting ZIP files. What’s more, the latter can be encrypted with the ZipCrypto algorithm.
Opening an archive file that has been password protected with 7-Zip requires you to enter a password.
Windows users often utilize the WinZip packer program for password protecting ZIP files. The programs WinRAR, Peazip, Bandizip, and Ashampoo Zip Free also offer encryption features. We provide you with a detailed comparison of the range of features in our article on the most popular WinZip alternatives.
Summary
How to crack a ZIP file password without software? Enter the right ZIP password to bypass ZIP file lock screen without software. But if you can't remember the exact ZIP file password, you should the help of ZIP password cracker, crack ZIP file without password.
Password protect ZIP file to protect ZIP files, without your permission and without ZIP file password, others can't or more difficult to enter you ZIP files. But when you forgot ZIP file password, or can't remember all character of the ZIP file password, ZIP password cracker online to crack ZIP file password, then you can use the ZIP file as usual.
EelPhone Zip Cracker is the best ZIP password cracker in 2021, according to your memory of ZIP file password, you can get the most effective way to crack ZIP file password from 5 ways on the ZIP file cracker, and the rate of success up to 95%, higher than other ZIP file cracker. More you remember of ZIP file password, quicker you can crack the ZIP file.
Steps to crack ZIP file password with EelPhone Zip Cracker
Even can't remember any details about the ZIP file, you can get the way to crack the locked ZIP file with the help of EelPhone Zip Cracker, here is the steps.
Step 1: ZIP file password hacker free download on windows, only windows version, and workable on windows 10/8/8.1/7/xp/vista but not on Mac, so if you don't have windows, borrow one, download and install it. Save the locked ZIP file on the windows, and then on the home page of EelPhone Zip Cracker, click on the + icon to import the locked ZIP file to the ZIP cracker.
Step 2:
Once the ZIP file was loaded into the cracker, on the right side, choose the crack type from three methods. Can You Password Protect A Zip File Mac
Dictionary Attack
It's the quickest way to crack ZIP file password, it's better to create one text file on windows, list of the combination of the ZIP password you remember, if you don't offer the dictionary file, the tool will use the most frequently used dictionary file to attack ZIP file password.
Mask Attack
It's same as the first type, the length of the password, the character type not included in the ZIP password, the prefix and the suffix and other possibilities.
Brute Force Attack
When you don't know any details about the ZIP file password, you can use this way to attack the ZIP file password directly, it takes a few minutes, so be patient during the attacking process.
Step 3: Whichever way you choose to attack ZIP file password, at last click on Recover button to attack ZIP file password, and then use the recovered ZIP file password to get into a locked ZIP file.
Crack ZIP file password with EelPhone Zip Cracker when you can't remember the details about the ZIP file password, from five tips on the cracker, select the most suitable tip to bypass locked ZIP file. It takes only steps of the whole process, and no skill needs.
Alex Scott
Mac Os Password Protect Zip File
This article was updated on 30 December, 2020
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