How to encrypt a zip file

Encrypting a zip file on Windows or Mac is generally more complex and less secure compared to encrypting a PDF(nieuw venster) or Excel file(nieuw venster). While Windows and Mac have built-in tools for file encryption, they may not provide the level of protection you need, which means you have to rely on third-party apps.

Many apps can create and encrypt zip files, but only a few are easy to use and provide strong security features, such as AES-256 encryption(nieuw venster) and metadata protection. This article guides you through encrypting zip files using Proton Drive and shows how to add password protection to zip files on Windows.

• Encrypt a zip file with cloud storage
  • How to encrypt a zip file with Proton Drive
• Encrypt a zip file in Windows
• How to encrypt all your data
• FAQ

Encrypt a zip file with cloud storage

Proton Drive is a secure cloud storage app that automatically encrypts all files you upload, including zip archives. So whether you’re encrypting the zip file for safe storage or you want to share it with someone securely, encrypted cloud storage is the easiest and most versatile way to do this for most people.

Proton Drive uses end-to-end encryption(nieuw venster) to protect your files, including metadata, from hackers or surveillance. Plus, you avoid the risk of data loss from offline storage.

You can also encrypt your photos(nieuw venster), documents, and any other kind of file, not just zip files. Additionally, with Docs in Proton Drive(nieuw venster), you can create and edit documents that are encrypted by default.

Here’s how to encrypt a zip file in Proton Drive:

1. Create a free Proton Account(nieuw venster).
2. Go to Proton Drive(nieuw venster).
3. Upload your zip file. It will be automatically encrypted.

After uploading, you can create shareable links(nieuw venster) and password-protect shared files(nieuw venster). When sharing files(nieuw venster), you can create public links, set passwords(nieuw venster) and expiration dates, and revoke access anytime, with all links remaining end-to-end encrypted(nieuw venster).

Even if your local storage is compromised, you’ll be able to access your files from anywhere using the Proton Drive apps for the web, Windows, iPhone, Android, and Mac. The Windows apps can also sync files automatically from any folder. Plus, Proton Drive preserves a version history of your files, which helps to recover lost data or revert to an earlier version.

Encrypt a zip file in Windows

You can use 7-Zip to password-protect zip files using AES-256 encryption. However, this method doesn’t encrypt your metadata. While someone else won’t be able to access the zip file contents due to password protection, they can still see the file names, formats, sizes, and folder structure inside the archive.

Here’s how you can create password-protected zip files with 7-Zip on Windows:

1. Download 7-Zip(nieuw venster) and install it on your computer.
2. Launch 7-Zip File Manager.
3. Select the files and folders you want to compress.

4. Click Add.
5. Set the Archive format to zip and Encryption method to AES-256.
6. Enter a password at Encryption and click OK.

Note: If you choose to create a 7z file instead of zip, you can configure 7-Zip to encrypt file names, which provides better security by obscuring the names of the files within the archive.

Proton offers privacy for more of your data

Encrypting your zip files is a good start to being more private online. The more encrypted services you use, the more you’ll be taking back control of your data. With other cloud storage services like Google Drive(nieuw venster) or Dropbox(nieuw venster), the companies can scan your information.

Proton Drive encrypts your files on your device before they go to the cloud, so we never have access. All our apps are open source(nieuw venster) and independently audited. As a company based in Switzerland(nieuw venster), we follow some of the toughest data protection rules. Plus, we use full-disk encryption(nieuw venster) to keep our servers and your zip files safe and secure at all times.

At Proton, we believe the internet should be private by default, and our mission is to help you protect yourself from surveillance and hackers. That’s why we’ve built an encrypted ecosystem for all your data, including passwords, internet connection(nieuw venster), email, and calendar.

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