How to Password-Protect a Folder on Mac

Are multiple people using your Mac? Do you have sensitive data that you wish to remain private? One easy solution that doesn't require any third-party programs or tools is to create an encrypted disk image through the built-in Disk Utility available on any Mac and then put your sensitive files into a password-protected folder.

The first step in the process is to open the Disk Utility. Then click on 'File' in the Menu bar and select 'New Image,' followed by 'Image from Folder…' Navigate to the folder you wish to protect and choose it. In the 'New Disk' window, you can adjust the parameters of your folder such as the location you wish to save it, its name, encryption type, and image format. To be able to add additional files to the folder at a later date, choose 'Read/Write' in the image format setting.

After completing the encryption type setup, Disk Utility will require a password to be entered for the protected folder. All that is left is to click on the 'Save' button to complete the creation of the password-protected folder.

Going to the location you picked for the new folder, you will find a new .dmg file. If you try to open it, you will be required to enter the chosen password before you can access the contents of the file. You can go back and remove the regular folder containing the unprotected information.