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Password Protect Archive Contents

In order to password protect files, you must specify the password AFTER opening or creating an archive, but BEFORE adding any files. In the main PicoZip window, password protected files are shown with a tiny lock icon ( ) in front of the file name.

Password Protecting Files In A New Archive

If you are creating a new archive, and want to password protect the files added, do the following steps:

1. Create a new archive.

2. In the Add dialog box, click on the Password button and enter a password in the Password dialog box. If Mask Password is checked, you need to enter the password again under Verify Password. Click the OK button after entering the password.

3. Proceed to select the files to add to your archive, then click the Add button.

4. Done. All files you added in Step 3 are password protected.

Password Protecting Files Being Added To An Existing Archive

To password protect files being added to an existing archive, do the following:

1. Open the archive in PicoZip.

2. Choose Password Protect from the Actions menu and enter a password in the Password dialog box. If Mask Password is checked, you need to enter the password again under Verify Password. Click the OK button after entering the password.

3. Now, you can proceed to add files to your archive in your usual manner. All files added will be password protected. Note: Once you close the archive, you will need to repeat steps 1-3 again if you want to password protect files being added.

Removing the Password

You can remove the password by opening the Password dialog box and deleting the password, then click OK. All files added AFTER doing this will not be password protected. Please note that this does NOT remove the password from files in the archive that has already been password protected earlier.

You can use the Mask Password option in the Password dialog box to hide your password while it is being typed. This prevents any other people around you who might be looking from finding out your password. Please note that if you check this option, you need to enter your password twice to prevent any typing mistakes.

When using features like Extract, Check Out, Test, etc. that requires extracting files from a password protected archive, you will be automatically prompted for the password.

Please note that the encryption used in PicoZip is only meant to protect your archives from casual users. PicoZip cannot use a stronger encryption method because doing so would make the archives incompatible with other archive utilities.