Password protecting a folder

Meaning upon all this settings, the folder wont be protected if someone gain access to your account.

The Encryption is cumbersome (multiple steps to complete and multiple steps to access) and really does not give any protection, as anyone on your computer would still have access. Why hasn't Microsoft addressed this issue. I just want password protections for the entire folder similar to password protecting an MS Office file.

All this does is that it hides that folder from other accounts using the same computer. If you are logged in with your own account, it does absolutely nothing to prevent someone using your computer to access those folders. You probably can make an admin account, hide folders with it and then use another account as your main account. Then it probably asks for admin password, if you want to enter those files.

If the question was: "Can you protect your files with a password from other people using your admin account on your computer?", the answer seems to be, no.

The best option to me seems to be to try the thing I said earlier or then just hide your important files in a way that they are not easily found or just do not let people to use your computer and lock it all times when you are not using it. Windows should have option to password protect files, but it doesn't seem to have it.

1. Open Notepad:
   • Press Win + S, type Notepad, and hit Enter to open.
2. Copy and Paste the Following Code:
   @ECHO OFF if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK if NOT EXIST Private goto MDPrivate :CONFIRM echo Are you sure to lock this 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. goto CONFIRM :LOCK ren Private "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" echo Folder locked goto End :UNLOCK echo Enter password to Unlock Your Secure Folder set/p "pass=>" if NOT %pass%== sbn159 goto FAIL attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Private echo Folder Unlocked successfully goto End :FAIL echo Invalid password goto end :MDPrivate md Private echo Private created successfully goto End :End
3. Set Your Password:
   • Replace YOUR-PASSWORD on line 21 with your preferred password.
4. Save the File as a Batch File:
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + S to open the Save As dialog.
   • Choose All Files from the file type dropdown.
   • Name the file, for example, lock.bat, ensuring it ends with .bat.
   • Click Save.
5. Using the Batch File:
   • To Lock the Folder:
     • Double-click on the lock.bat file.
     • A folder named Private will appear. Move the files you want to lock into this folder.
     • Double-click on lock.bat again and enter Y when prompted to lock the folder. The Private folder will disappear.
   • To Unlock the Folder:
     • Double-click on lock.bat.
     • Enter your password when prompted. The Private folder will reappear.

Important Notes

• Security Limitations:
  • This method only hides files from someone who doesn't know much about batch files.
  • Your password is visible in plain text if someone opens the batch file in Notepad.
  • For stronger security, consider using dedicated encryption software.

what if that [encrypt] if disabled ?