Quick answer: To password-protect a ZIP, add your files, type a password and press Create protected ZIP. AES-256 (the default) is strong encryption that opens with 7-Zip, WinRAR, Keka or The Unarchiver; “Compatible” encryption also opens in Windows File Explorer and macOS but is weak. The ZIP is made on your device, up to 4 GB per file.
Lock files in a ZIP that only opens with your password, then send it by email or link. Choose strong AES-256 encryption or the older kind every computer can open.
Password-protect ZIP at a glance
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit |
|---|---|
| Accepts | Any file |
| Largest file | 2 GB per file, several files at once |
| Where it runs | In your browser: files are never uploaded |
| Works on | Any modern browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Send the result | Download it, or send it free with a link or by email (up to 20 GB) |
How to password-protect ZIP
- Choose the files to protect.
- Type a password twice; long passphrases of four or more words are best.
- Keep AES-256, or choose Compatible if the recipient only has Windows File Explorer or a Mac.
- Press Create protected ZIP, then send the ZIP and tell the recipient the password another way.
AES-256 or Compatible: which to choose
| AES-256 | Compatible (ZipCrypto) | |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Strong: safe with a good password | Weak: can be cracked with free tools |
| Windows File Explorer | Does not open it; use 7-Zip or WinRAR | Opens it |
| Mac (Archive Utility) | Does not open it; use Keka or The Unarchiver | Opens it (double-click, or unzip in Terminal) |
| iPhone / Android | Files apps vary; iZip, RAR or ZArchiver open it | Most apps |
Use AES-256 for anything sensitive, such as contracts, IDs, payroll or medical records. Use Compatible only to keep casual eyes out when the recipient cannot install anything.
What a ZIP password does and does not hide
The contents of every file are encrypted. The file names inside, their sizes and dates are not, in either mode: anyone can list them without the password. If the names themselves are private, rename the files first, or put them in one inner ZIP and protect that.
A ZIP password cannot be reset or recovered: if it is lost, so are the files. Keep a copy of the originals.
Send the password separately
Never put the password in the same email or chat as the ZIP. Send the file by email or with a download link (free up to 20 GB, which can have its own password too), and share the password by text message or phone.
Made on your device
The ZIP is built and encrypted in your browser with zip.js, using the browser's own cryptography (AES-256 in WinZip AE-2 format, with a key derived from your password). Your files and your password are never uploaded. Big sets of files work, up to 4 GB per file, and are faster on a computer.
How this compares
| This tool | Online converters (e.g. ezyZip or CloudConvert) | Desktop apps (e.g. 7-Zip or WinRAR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your file is uploaded | No | Yes, to their servers | No |
| Install or account | None | Account for some features | Install needed |
| Watermark or daily limits | None | Common on free plans | Depends on the app |
Plans of other services change; check their sites. More file tools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a password-protected ZIP?
AES-256 ZIPs open in 7-Zip and WinRAR (Windows), Keka or The Unarchiver (Mac) and in our Unzip tool, which asks for the password. Compatible ZIPs also open in Windows File Explorer and on a Mac by double-clicking.
Why does Windows say the ZIP is invalid or asks for a password it will not accept?
Windows File Explorer does not support AES-encrypted ZIPs. Open it with 7-Zip, or make the ZIP again with Compatible encryption.
Are the file names hidden?
No. ZIP encryption protects the contents, not the file names. Rename sensitive files before zipping.
Is my password sent anywhere?
No. The ZIP is encrypted in your browser; neither the files nor the password leave your device.
Can I remove the password later?
Open the ZIP with the password (for example in our Unzip tool) and zip the files again without one.
Need to send a big file?
Send files up to 20 GB with a download link or by email. Free, no account needed, original quality.
Send large files free