Create a password-protected ZIP
Add files, set a password, download an encrypted ZIP. Everything happens in this browser tab — useful when you can’t install 7-Zip or don’t want to upload private files to a converter site.
Add as many as you like; large files need enough free memory.
Open a password-protected ZIP
Received an encrypted ZIP and can’t open it (for example, Windows says the archive is invalid because it uses AES-256)? Open it here with the password — the files are decrypted in your browser.
Which encryption should I pick?
| AES-256 | ZipCrypto | |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Strong with a long password | Weak — breakable with known-plaintext attacks |
| Windows File Explorer | Cannot open (use 7-Zip, WinRAR, PeaZip) | Opens natively |
| macOS | Archive Utility, Keka, The Unarchiver | Archive Utility, Keka |
| iPhone / Android | Files app (iOS), most ZIP apps | Files app, most ZIP apps |
If the person receiving the file uses Windows and won’t install anything, pick ZipCrypto and treat it as a lock against casual access, not as real protection. For tax documents, IDs, medical or business data, use AES-256 and send the password through a different channel than the file.
How to password-protect a ZIP without uploading
- Click the box above, or drag files onto it.
- Enter a password twice. A passphrase of four or more random words is easier to type and stronger than a short complex password.
- Choose AES-256 or ZipCrypto, then click Create encrypted ZIP. The file downloads immediately.
File names inside a ZIP are not encrypted by the ZIP format — anyone can see the list of names, but not the contents. If names are sensitive, zip the files once without a password, then encrypt that ZIP here.
Other ways to do it
Windows
Windows cannot add a password to a ZIP with built-in tools. Install 7-Zip, right-click the files → 7-Zip → Add to archive, choose ZIP and AES-256, and enter a password.
Mac
In Terminal: zip -er protected.zip folder/ creates a ZipCrypto archive. For AES-256, use Keka or 7zz a -tzip -mem=AES256 -p protected.zip folder/.
Linux
7z a -tzip -mem=AES256 -p protected.zip files/, or zip -er for ZipCrypto.
Questions
Can you recover my password?
No. The password is never stored or sent anywhere. If you lose it, the files cannot be recovered from the encrypted ZIP.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no fixed limit, but the browser keeps the ZIP in memory while building it. A few gigabytes works on most desktop computers; phones are more limited.
Can I open an encrypted ZIP here?
Yes — use Open a password-protected ZIP above. Both AES-256 and ZipCrypto archives are supported; you need the password.