How to encrypt a folder on an Apple Mac using Disk Utility

We store all kinds of data on our website Powerful Macs, but some of them are private and particularly sensitive. If you share your Mac with multiple people — family, friends, or roommates — it’s always a good idea to secure your private folders that you don’t want others to see. If you are wondering how to encrypt or password protect a folder on Mac, the built-in macOS Disk Tool can help you with that, without having to install or purchase any third-party app.

How to encrypt any folder with Disk Utility on Mac

  • Select the folder on your Mac that you want to encrypt. If you have some files that you want to encrypt, you can create a new folder and put those files in that folder, then encrypt it. This method will only work with folders, not individual files.
  • go to the launcher and open a file else folder, then open it disk utility. If you can’t find it, you can also use it Highlighted search to determine its location. just click order + space And type disk utility – It should appear right at the top.

macOS launchpad tweak tool

  • Once disk utility open, go to a file menu, then select image from folderAnd the under New image. You can also use the shortcut Transformation + order + n to open itself.

macOS Disk Utility image from folder

  • You will now have to select the folder you want to encrypt or password protect. Once you have selected the folder, press Choose.

Choose disk utility folder

  • You will then be asked to choose a name for the encrypted disk image. By default, it will have the folder name but you can change it to whatever you want. You can also change the location of the disk image. By default, the location will be set to the folder location.

Disk utility new image from folder options

  • After that, you will have to choose from 128-bit AES encryption or 256-bit AES encryption. For home users, 128-bit AES encryption is more than enough. Once you select one of the two options, macOS will ask you to select a password. Choose a password, and be sure to remember it, as you won’t be able to access your folder without it. you can use Password Assistant To select a strong random password by clicking a key next to the icon Confirms area.

Disk Utility New Image Password

  • Among the picture format options, select reading and writing. Once you have selected all the relevant options, tap Memorizes. Disk Utility will then display a progress bar.

Utility disk image new progress

  • Once the encryption is complete and the disk image is created, just press he did. You can then go to the location you chose to save the disk image. There you will see a .dmg file which is a password protected file containing the items of your folder.

Your original folder with all files will still exist in unencrypted form. So once you verify that the encrypted disk image is OK, delete the folder. If you don’t know how to access the encrypted disk image, read on for instructions.


How to access an encrypted folder

  • To access the encrypted disk image you created, go to the . format disk image file discoverer It will have a .dmg extension. Double-click on the file to open it, and macOS will prompt you to enter the password.

Mac encrypted folder finder

  • After entering the password, just click yesand a new location named Disk Image will appear on the left side of the file discoverer.
  • Click on this location and the contents of your folder will appear in discoverer Window. You can now access the file as well as add or remove files if you want.

The contents of the encrypted folder Mac

  • Once you are done accessing the files, tap Directed by next to the site name. This will close your disk image.

Don’t forget to check out our sister website PocketNow guide at Best Mac accessories users. Also, if you’re in the market for a new laptop, we have guides to the best laptops in general, as well as the best 15-inch laptops on the market right now.

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