How to Password Protect a Zip File on Mac

Step 1: Compress the Files

When you want to password protect a zip file on Mac, the first step is to compress the files you want to include in the zip file. To do this, select the files you want to include in the zip file in Finder, then right-click on them and select “Compress”. This will create a zip file containing the selected files.

Step 2: Enter a Password

Once the zip file has been created, you can password protect it by right-clicking on the file and selecting “Get Info”. This will open up a window with the details of the file. In this window, select the “General” tab and then check the box next to “Locked”. This will lock the file and prompt you to enter a password. Enter a password of your choice and re-enter it for confirmation.

Step 3: Add an Encryption Method

By default, Mac uses a weak encryption method for password protecting zip files. If you want more security for your zip file, you can add an encryption method like AES-256. To do this, select the “Advanced” tab in the Get Info window and then select “AES-256” from the drop-down list. You will then be prompted to enter a password. Make sure you enter the same password as in the previous step.

Step 4: Confirm the Password

Once you have entered the password and the encryption method, you will need to confirm the password. To do this, select the “Confirm Password” button at the bottom of the window. This will prompt you to re-enter the password. Make sure you enter the same password as before and then select “OK”.

Step 5: Save the Zip File

Once you have confirmed the password, the zip file is now password protected. To save the password protected zip file, select “File” from the menu bar, then select “Save”. This will save the password protected zip file in the same location as the original file.

Step 6: Test the Password

Before sending the zip file to anyone, it is important to test the password. To do this, double-click on the zip file and it will prompt you to enter the password. Enter the password you created and if it is correct, the zip file will open. If the password is incorrect, the zip file will not open.

Conclusion

Password protecting a zip file on Mac is simple and easy. All you need to do is compress the files you want to include in the zip file, enter a password, add an encryption method, confirm the password and save the zip file. Once this is done, you can test the password to make sure it is working correctly.