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24 August 2018  Amanda J. Brook  Senior Product Manager
 

Summary
Want to provide better protection to data in external hard drive? Best way is to encrypt them which means password protected. This passage will introduce 2 practical methods including Bitlocker and a professional data protector.



Nowadays, information security is a crucial part we need to pay attention to. And external hard drive and portable storage device have become an important role when we need to store the data and take it everywhere. If these devices get stolen, others can access to your information.
One way you can protect the data in external storage devices by password encryption. Then you can make sure the person with the right encryption key can make the data readable. Here we introduce some methods which can help you password protect the external hard drive in Windows 10.
Encrypt External Hard Drive in Windows 10

Method 1: Using Bitlocker

Bitlocker Drive Encryption is only available on Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise. If you use other version of Windows 10, please move to Method 2.

Things to Know before Diving into Bitlocker

  • For best result of using Bitlocker, your computer must be equipped with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip which enables your devices to support advanced security features.
  • You can use the Bitlocker without a TPM chip by using software-based encryption, but it requires some extra steps for additional authentication.
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Steps about How to Use Bitlocker to Encrypt External Hard Drive

Step 1: Insert the target external hard drive, click “Start” and then type “Bitlocker”.
Step 2: Select the target external hard drive and then click “Turn on Bitlocker”.
Step 3: On the “Choose How You Want To Unlock This Drive” window, please select “Use a Password to Unlock This Drive”.
Use a Password to Unlock This Drive
Step 4: Choose where you want to save the recovery key in case you forget your password.
Once you click start encrypting, Bitlocker will start to work on securing your external hard drive. When plugging the drive into another computer, password required window will pop up. You need to know that it is not only limited to Windows 10, but also in other Windows even Windows XP.
unlock the drive with Bitlocker
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Using Professional Data Protection Software

Some customer may not have Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise, or just think using Bitlocker is too difficult to use? Is it possible to password protect data in external hard drive? Of course. With Renee File Protector, you can easily achieve the protection in a few steps and protect the data even your external hard disk gets connected to other computers.

Get Overall Protection to Privacy Data with Renee File Protector

Password protects folder and files in external memory device like USB disk, memory card, etc.

Password protect network folders to ensure corret users get access to correct shared folder.

Supports to hide, lock folders/files/parititon in local disk.

Erase data you select forever without trace. Protect your personal data!

Compatiable with Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP

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people have download Renee File Protector to get overall protection.

How to Encrypt External Hard Drive with Renee File Protector

The first time you use Renee File Protector, you will be required to set your master password and the email address which can help you recover the password when you forget it.
set master password for renee file protector

Step 1:  Launch Renee File Protector and click “Lock File” in “External Disk”. Then connect your external hard disk to computer.

select lock function

Step 2: Click “Lock Folder” on the right side and select the target folder in external hard drive.

select target folder

Step 3: Set password for the target folder in external disk. 

After selecting the folder(s), you need to set the password. Renee File Protector provides 2 password modes for external hard disk:
  1. Use the password of Renee File Protector: If users select this password mode, the unlock password of the target locked folder will be the same with the login password of Renee File Protector.
  2. Independent password: If users type the password in the “Password” item, the unlock password of the target locked folder will be the one that users set. User can set different password for different folder if using this mode.
  3. New version of Renee File Protector provides “Guest Password” which can authorize users to check the files but can not unlock.
set password for the folder

Step 4: After encrypting folders in external memory device. 

After lock, a new file named “(original name of the folder).exe” will be created in the same place where the original folder was. Then the original folder will be deleted automatically.

Notice: Please do not delete or move the exe file. Any delete or move action may make you lose the way to regain access to the locked folder.

enter the folder
If you want to access the password protected folder and edit the files inside, please click this .exe file and then enter the related password in the pop up window.
enter the folder

How to Unlock the Folder Permanently in External Hard Drive

Unlock in Other Computer (Without Renee File Protector)

Step 1: Double click the “EXE” file and then enter the password you set in the pop up window.

After lock, it will create a new file named “(original name of the folder).exe”. Then the original folder will be deleted automatically. If you want to unlock folder permanently, please click this .exe file and then enter the password you set before in the pop up window.
enter the folder

Step 2: If you want to unlock the folder permanently, please click “Unlock” in the floating window and confirm the operation after unlock.

unlock the folder-without-Renee File Protector

Unlock with Renee File Protector

If you have install Renee File Protector in the target computer, you can also unlock the folder with Renee File Protector.
①. Click “Lock File” in “External Disk”.

②. Select the target folder(s).

③. Click “Unlock” button.

④. Enter the password you set.

unlock with Renee File Protector
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Not so clear about the operation? Get more from the video!
Still annoying about how to encrypt data in the external hard drive? Now using Renee File Protector can solve this problem at once!
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