How to Add Passwords on WinZip

WinZip is a file-compression utility for Windows. WinZip normally creates zip files that anyone can open and extract. If you want greater security, you can add passwords to zip files in WinZip. WinZip can encrypt the files inside the password-protected zip file with AES, an encryption standard used by the U.S. government, or weaker Zip 2.0-compatible encryption. Users who try to open or extract files inside the zip file will require the password you provided.

Instructions

1. Click the "Application Menu" button near the top left corner of the WinZip window, and click "Open."

2. Navigate to the archive file you want to password-protect and double-click it.

3. Click the "Tools" tab on the ribbon at the top of the WinZip window.

4. Click the "Encrypt Zip File" button on the ribbon.

5. Type a password into the "Enter Password" and "Re-enter Password" boxes.

6. Click a type of encryption under "Encryption Method." AES is stronger but not supported by as many programs. Zip 2.0-compatible is weaker but supported by more programs.

7. Click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• Select a strong password with a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. A simple password such as "password" won't provide much security, even if used with strong AES encryption.

• You can't recover the contents of the zip file if you forget the password if you selected AES encryption.

• Zip 2.0-compatible encryption is weak and can be broken by a variety of third-party password-recovery tools.

References

• WinZip: How Do You Encrypt Files in a Zip file with WinZip?
• WinZip: About Encryption
• WinZip: Application Menu - WinZip Ribbon
• WinZip: Tools Tab - WinZip Ribbon