How to Lock a Folder Using a Batch File

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: February 5, 2023 Tested

Do you have items you want to keep hidden on your computer? Creating a locked folder using a batch script is a fun and easy way to hide files in low-stakes situations that don't require files to be encrypted. This wikiHow teaches you how to create a locker folder using a batch file.

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1
Open Notepad. Notepad has an icon that resembles a blue notebook folder. Use the following steps to open Notepad:
- Click the Windows Start Menu.
- Type "Notepad."
- Click Notepad .

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/749776-2-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-2-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/749776-2-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-2-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The batch script is in the box below. Highlight the entire script. Right-click it and click Copy , or press " Ctrl + C ." The script is as follows: ^{[1]
X
Research source}

 cls 
 @ 
 ECHO 
OFF title 
Folder Locker if 
 EXIST 
 "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" 
 goto 
 UNLOCK 
 if 
 NOT 
 EXIST 
Locker goto 
 MDLOCKER 
 : 
 CONFIRM 
 echo 
Are you sure you want to Lock the folder (Y/N) set/p 
 "cho=>" 
 if 
 %cho% 
 == 
Y goto 
 LOCK 
 if 
 %cho% 
 == 
y goto 
 LOCK 
 if 
 %cho% 
 == 
n goto 
 END 
 if 
 %cho% 
 == 
N goto 
 END 
 echo 
Invalid choice.

timeout 1 goto 
 CONFIRM 
 : 
 LOCK 
 ren 
Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" 
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" 
 echo 
Folder locked

timeout 3 goto 
 End 
 : 
 UNLOCK 
 @ 
 echo 
off set 
 "psCommand=powershell -Command " 
$pword = read-host 'Enter Password to Unlock folder' -AsSecureString ; ^ 
  
$BSTR=[System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::SecureStringToBSTR($pword); ^ 
  
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAuto($BSTR) "" 
 for 
 /f 
 "usebackq delims=" 
 %% 
p in 
 ( 
 ` 
 %psCommand% 
 ` 
 ) 
 do 
 set 
 password 
 = 
 %% 
p if 
 NOT 
 %password% 
 == 
TYPE_YOUR_PASSWORD_HERE goto 
 FAIL 
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" 
 ren 
 "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" 
Locker echo 
Folder Unlocked Successfully

timeout 1 goto 
 End 
 : 
 FAIL 
 echo 
Invalid Password

timeout 1 goto 
 end 
 : 
 MDLOCKER 
 md 
Locker echo 
Locker created successfully

timeout 5 goto 
 End 
 : 
 End

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Go back to your blank Notepad document. Right-click at the top of the page and click Paste , or press " Ctrl + V " to paste the code into Notepad.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/749776-4-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-4-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/749776-4-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-4-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Locate where it says "TYPE_YOUR_PASSWORD_HERE" in the script. It's about three-quarters of the way down. It's in the line that starts with "if NOT %password%==".
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/749776-5-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-5-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/749776-5-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-5-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

5
Save the document as a batch file. Use the following steps to save the Notepad document as a batch file:
- Click File .
- Click Save as .
- Click the drop-down menu next to "Save as type."
- Select All files (*.*) .
- Type a file name in the File Name field (i.e. LockedFolder).
- Type ".bat" at the end of the file name (I.e. LockedFolder.bat).
- Click Save .
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/10\/749776-6-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-6-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/10\/749776-6-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-6-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Once you are finished saving the Batch file, you can close Notepad.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/749776-7-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-7-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/749776-7-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-7-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Navigate to where you saved the batch file in File Explorer. Double-click the batch file to run it. This will create a new folder called "Locker" in the same folder as the batch file.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/749776-8-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-8-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/749776-8-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-8-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

You can move objects into the folder by dragging and dropping them, or you can copy and paste them into the folder.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/749776-9-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-9-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/749776-9-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-9-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

A Command Prompt will open. It will ask you if you want to lock the folder.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/749776-10-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-10-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/749776-10-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-10-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The Locker folder will disappear from the folder. This indicates it is locked.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/749776-11-1.jpg\/v4-460px-749776-11-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/749776-11-1.jpg\/aid749776-v4-728px-749776-11-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

11
Unlock the folder. When you want to gain access to the folder again, use the following steps to make the Locker folder reappear:
- Double-click the batch file to run it.
- Enter the password you input into the batch file before you saved it.
- Press the Enter key.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I re-lock the file?

Community Answer

Double-click the file again. It will ask for a password. Enter the password, and you're done!

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Question

How do I reset the password?

Community Answer

Right-click on the .bat file. After doing so, click 'edit.' You can change the code through this.

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Question

My folder will not re-lock when typing Y. What do I do?

Community Answer

Are you sure you're typing everything correctly? What Windows version are you using?

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Thank you for your feedback.
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Tips

Set the batch file attribute to "hidden" so it will not show up in a standard File Explorer window. You will need to set File Explorer to show hidden files and folders to view the batch file.

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For a more robust method of password protecting folders, try using Axcrypt, Windows Bitlocker . Bitlocker is available on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Axcrypt is a third-party encryption program that works on all versions of Windows.

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Warnings

Programs like 7zip File Manager will be able to access the folder.

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Do not rename the file after it is secured. It will no longer be protected.

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Windows Search could find it the hidden folder.

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Be aware that anyone who can access the batch file can edit it in Notepad and find out the password.

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How to Lock a Folder Using a Batch File

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