How To Password Protect Google Drive Folders [Step-By-Step Guide]

Google drive is the primary cloud storage service. It is a prevalent service people use in their day-to-day life. You can save your files in a secure place just by having a google account. A google drive has a number of advantages, such as freeing up space on your phone, accessing data when you don't have your computer, etc.

You may now and again have to encrypt your Google drive folders to safeguard your confidential data from hackers breaching it. It isn't always necessary that the information is sensitive, but you may simply want to password protect your google drive folders from prying eyes. Assuming somebody utilizes your PC, they won't get to parts of the archives you don't need them to because of this.

Can you even password protect a google drive folder?

Google Drive doesn't really have the feature to password protect a folder. In theory, a Google drive folder is safeguarded by your account's password, except if shared with others. In this way, you can't precisely password protect individual files. However, you could encrypt them before transferring by utilizing a third-party app.

Yet, do you have any idea about how to secure the folders or files in Google drive? If not, don't worry. Mentioned below are some ways you can password protect your google drive folders.

3 Ways to Password Protect Google Drive Folders

These are some of the hand-picked methods through which you can password protect your google drive folders:

Method #1 - By using google forms

You can use google forms to protect your google drive folders. Let us understand how:

Step #1: Open your google drive.

Step #2: On the menu pane that is on the left side of your google drive, click on the option that says 'New' on it.

Step #3: Then, from the available options, select google forms.

Step #4: A google form will then open up.

Step #5: Specify a title to your form in the "untitled form" area. Use an easy-to-remember title for the document.

Step #6: In the untitled question field, enter a password for the field. Use "short answer" as the type of text. This can be found on the drop-down next to the "text" field.

Step #7: Toggle on the "required" button, tap the eclipses symbol, and turn on "response validation."

Step #8: Note that you should choose "text" instead of "number" in this section. Leave "contains" the way it is, then enters the password in the text field.

Step #9: In the "custom error text," enter something that prompts you to enter the correct password, such as "Sorry, wrong password. Try again." Don't leave this field blank, as in some cases, as Google displays the password if the custom error text field is blank.

Step #10: After everything is done, click the settings icon at the top corner and go to "presentation." Where it says "Confirmation message," enter an introductory text such as: "you can access the folder here."

Step #11: Click on the edit option in front of the Confirmation message and provide the Google drive folder link, which needs password protection, and Click on Save.

Step #12: When the confirmation message is updated, you can click on the send button and share the link for your google form.

After this, whenever someone clicks on the Shared Google forms link, they will be asked for a password.

Method #2 – By uploading encrypted files and folders

You can also utilize your PC's built-in encryption feature to encrypt files and then upload them to Cloud Storage. You will need to have removable media like a USB device to take a backup of your data.

See Also: The Best Cloud File Manager: GMobile File Expert Review

Step #1: Select a folder on your PC and then right-click to Choose Properties Option.

Step #2: Right-click the folder you want to encrypt and select Properties from the menu.

Step #3: Go to the advanced option at the bottom of the general tab.

Step #4: In the Advanced Attributes option, select Encrypt contents to secure data under Compress or Encrypt attributes and click ok.

Step #5: Then click on "Apply." Select the "Apply changes to this folder only" option in the "Confirm Attribute Changes screen."

Step #6: It will prompt you to back up your file encryption certificate and key. Select backup now.

Step #7: Provide a password and upload the folder to your google drive.

This is an effective way to password protect a google drive folder.

Method #3 – Encrypting docs files with MS Word

The password feature of Microsoft office can be used to encrypt a document file

Step #1: Open Microsoft office on your PC and navigate to "File.".

Step #2: Choose the "info" tab on the left menu pane.

Step #3: Click on "Protect document" and select "Encrypt with Password" from the drop-down.

Step #4: Enter a password and click "ok."

Step #5: Now upload this password-protected file to google drive.

Conclusion

Google Drive contains all essential data of every individual, organization, etc. It has become mandatory to protect our data at any cost.

Since there is no direct way to password protect your google drive folders or files, some of the methods mentioned above could be helpful for you.

But even then, you must pay special attention to those you share your file links with.