WinZip
Use WinZip to zip a file or folder of files and add an AES 256-bit encryption password or decrypt a file (Version 22 shown)
Zip and add an Encryption password to a single file. Pages 2 – 4 Zip and add an Encryption password to a folder of files. Pages 4 – 7 Decrypt a file or folder of files using a password. Pages 8 – 9
A helpful hint when using WinZip is to enable file name extensions so that you can easily see which files are encrypted by viewing the file extension.
To enable file name extension open File Explorer. You can find File Explorer under the Start Button > Windows System > File Explorer.
Next choose the View tab, select Details and finally select the File name extensions check box. You will now see file name extensions.
Zip and add an Encryption password to a single file
1. Navigate to the folder that contains the file that you need to zip and encrypt. Once you locate the file right-click on it and select WinZip > Add/Move to Zip file…
2. WinZip will be launched and you will see the Add/Move Files window. You will see the file name that you are about to Zip and Encrypt along with the destination which is the same location as the file you are encrypting. This is fine because the zipped file will have the .zip extension.
Make the following selection the choose Add.
3. Acknowledge the WinZip Caution by clicking on OK. Optionally you can turn this off.
4. The Encrypt window will open.
Make the following entry then choose OK.
Enter password:/Re-enter password (for confirmation): Enter a password (twice or uncheck Hide the password). Please note the password because you will need to provide it to the recipient of this zipped and encrypted file so that can open it.
6. Navigate to the folder where the zipped and encrypted file was created and you should now see a second version of your file with the .zip extension.
7. You can verify the zip file is encrypted by checking to see if it prompts you for a password when you try to open it. Double click the zip file and when it is displayed in WinZip double click it again. You can now test the password or just click the X to close the password prompt.
Zip and add an Encryption password to a folder of files
1. Navigate to the folder that you need to zip and encrypt. This folder can contain one or more files. Once you locate the folder right-click on it and select WinZip > Add/Move to Zip file…
2. WinZip will be launched and you will see the Add/Move Files window. You will see the folder name that you are about to Zip and Encrypt along with the destination which is the same location as the folder you are encrypting. This is fine because the zipped file will have the .zip extension.
Make the following selection the choose Add.
3. Acknowledge the WinZip Caution by clicking on OK. Optionally you can turn this off.
4. The Encrypt window will open.
Make the following entry then choose OK.
Enter password:/Re-enter password (for confirmation): Enter a password (twice or uncheck Hide the password). Please note the password because you will need to provide it to the recipient of this zipped and encrypted file so that can open it.
6. Navigate to the folder where the zipped and encrypted folder was created and you should now see a second version of your folder with the .zip extension.
At this point this is considered an encrypted file that is actually a folder of files.
7. You can verify the zip folder is encrypted by checking to see if it prompts you for a password when you try to open it. Double click the zip folder and when it is displayed in WinZip double click it again. Note: WinZip encrypts each file separately so you will first see your folder then when you open that you will see each encrypted file. Double click on any of those files and you can now test the
password or just click the X to close the password prompt then close the WinZip window.
Decrypt a file or folder of files using a password
1. Using File Explorer, navigate to the folder where you downloaded the zipped and encrypted file from MFT. You should see a filename with a .zip extension.
The first file below is a single zipped and password protected file. The second file is a zipped and password protected folder of files.
2. To decrypt a single zipped and password protected file, right-click on the zip file and select WinZip > Unzip to here.
The single file will be decrypted and be placed it into the same folder as the zip file.
Enter the decryption password and select OK.
3. To decrypt a zipped and password protected folder of files, right-click on the zip file and select WinZip > Unzip to here.
All the files will be decrypted and placed into a new folder using the name of the zip file in the same folder as the zip file.
Enter the decryption password and select OK.
You will now see a new folder with the same name as the Zip file.