How to Lock Notepad Text Files with Password in Windows

Much like in real life, what we must remember momentarily or for a considerable goes into notepad. In Windows, notepad is a crucial productive component and may be used by users to record and keep sensitive information, but there is no direct way to safeguard that information.  Password-protecting notepad files is essential, especially when storing confidential or personal information. In this article, we will learn how to lock Notepad Text files with a password in Windows, aka notepad with password.

How does Windows File Encryption Work?

The Windows file encryption is a more straightforward encryption method in Windows only available to the Professional, Enterprise, or Educational versions of Windows. The encrypted files or folders can only be accessed by users who encrypt the files or have access to the encryption keys. Users on other accounts on the same PC won’t be able to access the files without the encryption keys. Windows file and folder encryption is only available on drives formatted with the NTFS file system.

How to Lock Notepad Text Files with Password in Windows

Windows does not have a direct built way to password protect notepad, but we can work around locking Notepad text files with a password in Windows, which will be discussed in this section. Here’s all that’s covered:

1. Using Windows File Encryption To Lock Notepad Text Files
2. Restricting User Permission To Lock Notepad Text Files
3. Using Third-Party Apps To Lock Notepad Text Files

Let’s start looking at each of these methods in detail without further ado.

1] Using Windows File Encryption To Lock Notepad Text Files

Windows’s Windows file encryption or EFS works only on NTFS formatted drives. The EFS prevents users other than the ones who have encrypted the files from accessing them on the computer. Whenever an unauthorized user tries to access the file, they will be asked to provide a decryption key or to contact the user. Here’s how to use Windows file encryption to lock Notepad text files:

• Firstly, create or move the notepad text file to a drive formatted with the NTFS file system.
• Now, right-click the file or the folder containing the files and open properties from the context menu.
• In the General tab of the properties window, click on Advanced.
• In the Advanced settings, enable Encrypt contents to secure data option, and click on Apply to save the settings.
• You will now receive a popup to save the encryption key. You can save and share the encryption key to allow other users to access the file.

Note: It is always better to use a local file then using online notepad with password.

2] Restricting User Permission To Lock Notepad Text Files

As a PC administrator, you can prevent other users from accessing a particular file or folder by restricting user access to the file or folder properties. Here’s how to limit user permission to lock Notepad text files in Windows with a notepad password:

• Open Windows file explorer and navigate to the notepad text file you wish to restrict other users from accessing.
• Now, right-click the file and open Properties.
• In the properties window, head over to the security tab. In the security tab, click the Edit button.
• Now, you will see the list of users on the PC, select any user, and deny all their permissions.
• Click apply to save the changes.

3] Using Third-Party Apps To Lock Notepad Text Files

Using the inbuilt workaround methods to lock notepad text files in Windows may come in handy, but it will only sometimes be the most reliable and efficient. Numerous third-party apps allow users to lock files and folders in Windows. You can use them for easy and dependable to password protected notepad and any other file.

Conclusion:

Windows is widely used and one of the most user-centered operating systems. With a very active community of enthusiasts, new features are introduced frequently. It won’t be long before you’ll also be able to password-protect individual files. Till then, you can use the methods in this article to lock Notepad text files in Windows. We hope you found the article to be helpful. Please make sure that you share it with everyone.

Are Bitlocker and Windows File Encryption the Same?

Bitlocker and Windows File encryption are not the same. For starters, Bitlocker can only be used on entire drives and not on files and folders, while Windows File Encryption can be used on a file and folder is available. Bitlocker uses TPM, while WFE uses Ciphertext. Also, the WFE only applies to a particular user, while Bitlocker is applied systemwide.

How do I hide and unhide files and folders?

To hide and unhide files and folders in Windows, you can use File Explorer, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. In File Explorer, you can right-click the file or folder, select Properties, and check or uncheck the Hidden box.