Password Protect ZIP
Password protect a ZIP archive online for free with AES-256 encryption. Combine and encrypt files in your browser, no uploads, fully private.
About This Tool
Combine your files into a single ZIP archive that can only be opened with a password. Uses AES-256, the same encryption standard used to protect sensitive data worldwide, so your files are genuinely secure, not just hidden. Useful for sharing sensitive documents by email or cloud storage without exposing their contents to anyone who doesn't have the password.
How To Use
- Drop your files into the upload zone or click to select them.
- Type the password you want to protect the archive with.
- Click "Protect" and your encrypted archive is built in your browser.
- Download the password-protected .zip file.
How It Works
Each file is added to a new ZIP archive and encrypted using AES-256, a 256-bit key encryption standard, before being written into the archive. This is a genuinely strong encryption method, not the older and much weaker ZipCrypto scheme built into the original ZIP specification, which can be cracked quickly with modern tools.
The password you enter is used to derive the encryption key. Anyone opening the archive, in any ZIP tool that supports AES encryption (which includes most modern archive managers), will be prompted for that same password before they can see or extract any file inside.
Encryption happens entirely inside a Web Worker on your device using the zip.js library. Your files and your password are never uploaded or transmitted anywhere; the encrypted archive is built and handed straight to your browser's download mechanism.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong is this encryption?
AES-256, the encryption standard used by governments and security-conscious organizations worldwide. The real-world strength depends on your password: a short or common password can still be guessed even with strong encryption.
Will any ZIP tool be able to open this?
Most modern archive managers (7-Zip, WinZip, macOS Archive Utility, most Linux tools) support AES-encrypted ZIP files. Very old or basic ZIP tools that only support the original ZipCrypto scheme may not.
Can you recover my password later?
No. Your password is never stored or transmitted; it only exists in your browser during processing. If you forget it, the archive cannot be recovered, so keep it somewhere safe.
Can I remove the password later?
Yes. Use our Remove ZIP Password tool with the same password to save an unprotected copy of the archive.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The archive is created and encrypted entirely in your browser. Your files and password never leave your device.