Portability

Portable Lockers

The ability to convert an encrypted folder into a self-executable file (.exe), allowing you to open your locked files on a PC that doesn't have the software installed.

Editorial Pick

The Best Way to Secure Specific Folders

Of all the options we covered, here is why we recommend Folder Lock for most users. It bridges the gap between complex drive encryption and weak native folder hiding.

Instead of forcing you to encrypt your entire 4TB Seagate drive just to hide some financial documents, Folder Lock lets you create secure, dynamic "Lockers." You can drop these Lockers onto any external hard drive. Better yet, using its Protect USB/CD feature, you can make these Lockers portable, meaning you can access them on other Windows PCs without needing administrative rights to install software.

Alternatives

Folder Lock vs File Encryption — Key Differences

How does Folder Lock compare to popular free encryption alternatives like VeraCrypt?

Step by step

How to Lock a Folder on External Hard Drive Using Folder Lock

If you want to create a secure, portable vault on your external HDD, follow these steps.

Step 1: Create a New Locker

Open Folder Lock and navigate to the Encrypt Files tab. Click Create Locker. This will act as the secure vault for your external drive.

Step 2: Save it to Your External Drive

When prompted for a save location, select your connected external hard drive (e.g., E:\ or F:\). Give the Locker a name.

Step 3: Set a Strong Master Password

Choose a secure password. Warning: Folder Lock does not save your password on a server. If you lose it, you lose access to the data.

Step 4: Choose Locker Size and Format

Select the size limit for your Locker. Folder Lock uses dynamic sizing, meaning if you create a 50GB Locker, it only takes up space as you add files to it. Click Next to finish creation.

Step 5: Move Your Sensitive Folders

The Locker will mount as a virtual drive on your PC. Drag and drop your sensitive folders into this new virtual drive. Once finished, close the Locker. The files are now encrypted on your external drive.

Folder Lock (Trial)

Free

Test the core locking and encryption features.

  • Lock and hide files
  • Create encrypted Lockers
  • Standard support
Download Trial

Cloud Secure

Secures folders specifically stored in cloud synchronization folders like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

Folder Protect

Goes beyond locking to prevent files from being deleted, modified, or accessed, operating even in Safe Mode.

Portability & Beyond

Portable Lockers (.flk / .flka)

The ability to convert an encrypted folder into a secure, self-contained file container. These portable vaults can be moved to any USB or external drive and accessed on other computers without leaving data traces.

Secure File Shredding

After moving your sensitive data into an encrypted locker, top-tier tools will permanently wipe the original unencrypted files from your drive so they cannot be recovered by data restoration software.

Cloud Backup Integration

Look for software that allows you to sync your encrypted local lockers with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, ensuring you have a secure backup if the physical external drive is damaged.

Secure syncing of private encrypted files between local storage and cloud services
External hard drive connected for secure encrypted folder storage
Editorial Pick

The Best Way to Secure Specific Folders

Folder Lock 10 security feature banner for protecting folders and encrypted data

Of all the options we covered, here is why we recommend Folder Lock 10 for most users. It bridges the gap between complex drive encryption and weak native folder hiding.

Instead of forcing you to encrypt your entire 4TB Seagate drive just to hide some financial documents, Folder Lock 10 lets you create secure, dynamic "Portable Lockers." You can drop these encrypted vaults directly onto any external hard drive. These self-contained files can be transported anywhere and accessed on other machines securely.

  • Military-grade AES 256-bit encryption for local and cloud data
  • Create dedicated Portable Lockers specifically for external USB/HDD drives
  • Securely shred original files beyond recovery after locking them
  • Cross-device syncing capabilities for up to 5 devices
Folder Lock 10 Pro software boxshot for Windows data security
Alternatives

Folder Lock vs File Encryption — Key Differences

How does Folder Lock 10 compare to popular free encryption alternatives like VeraCrypt?

$ QUICK COMPARISON

Both tools can protect sensitive data, but they take different approaches. Folder Lock 10 is designed around easy file and folder protection with portable encrypted Lockers, while VeraCrypt focuses on encrypted containers and entire volumes.

FOLDER LOCK 10 Best for simple folder-level protection

Create encrypted Lockers, move them to an external drive, shred original files, and use built-in cloud and device-sync features from one interface.

VERACRYPT Best for volume and container encryption

Create encrypted containers or protect an entire partition or drive when you want more technical control over how storage is encrypted.

> Choose based on whether you prefer a guided folder-security workflow or a more technical disk-encryption workflow.
Feature Folder Lock VeraCrypt
Feature Folder Lock 10 VeraCrypt
Primary approach ✓ File, folder and Locker-based protection ✓ Encrypted containers and volumes
External drive protection ✓ Portable Lockers for USB/HDD storage ✓ Encrypted container or volume on the drive
Beginner-friendly workflow ✓ Guided graphical interface ~ More technical setup
Secure file shredding ✓ Built-in shredding tools ✕ Not a core built-in workflow
Cloud backup and device sync ✓ Integrated with Folder Lock features ✕ No built-in cloud-sync service
Best suited to Users who want quick folder security and portable encrypted storage Users who want detailed control over container or drive encryption
Step by step

How to Lock a Folder on External Hard Drive Using Folder Lock

If you want to create a secure, portable vault on your external HDD, follow these steps.

Folder Lock 10 main Windows interface used to access data protection features

Step 1: Access the Portable Lockers Feature

Open Folder Lock 10. In the main interface, navigate to the Safeguard section in the right-hand menu and select Portable Lockers. This specific feature is designed exactly for external storage.

Folder Lock 10 Safeguard screen showing the Portable Lockers feature

Step 2: Create and Locate Your Vault

Click on Create Locker. Give your new portable vault a descriptive name, and for the location, browse and select your connected external hard drive (e.g., E:\ or F:\).

Folder Lock 10 desktop locker screen for creating and locating an encrypted vault

Step 3: Establish a Secure Password

Type in a strong, unique password and confirm it. Crucial Warning: Folder Lock utilizes strict AES 256-bit encryption and does not store passwords on their servers. If you forget this password, your data is completely unrecoverable.

Folder Lock 10 locker settings screen for configuring encrypted locker protection

Step 4: Define the Locker Capacity

Use the dropdown menu to set a maximum size limit for this locker (Pro users can allocate up to 2 TB). Click the Create button. The software will generate a secure file container on your external drive.

Folder Lock 10 lockers screen displaying encrypted locker containers and storage controls

Step 5: Transfer and Secure Your Files

Once created, you can open the locker (which acts like a virtual drive). Drag and drop your sensitive folders inside. When you are done, simply click Close Locker in the application. Your files are now permanently encrypted and safely self-contained on your portable drive.

Secure virtual drive concept for encrypted folders stored inside a protected locker

Folder Lock 10 (Free)

Folder Lock 10 software boxshot for the free Windows edition
Free

Test the core locking and local encryption features.

  • Basic file hiding capabilities
  • Create Desktop Lockers (Limited to 1 GB)
  • Sync across 2 devices
  • Note: Portable Lockers not included
Download Free Version

Cloud Secure

Secures folders specifically stored in cloud synchronization folders like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

Folder Lock cloud security features screen for protecting synchronized folders

Folder Protect

Provides granular, policy-driven access controls. Choose between 'No Access', 'No Visible', 'No Delete', or 'No Write' permissions to precisely dictate how others interact with your shared files.

Folder Lock 10 Safeguard Protect Folders screen with access control options