Noos Folder Protector

Noos Folder Protector is an easy-to-use application designed to protect your privacy by locking folders with a password. This way, all containing files are secured and it's not possible for someone else to access your private information without your permission.

Lock and unlock folders with a password

Installing this tool doesn't take long. However, it depends on .NET Framework to work properly, so you have to make sure that this built-in Windows feature is turned on. For older Windows versions, though, it's necessary to manually download and install it.
At startup, you're prompted by a small window that asks you to input the access password. This is required every time you launch Noos Folder Protector to lock and unlock folders. The default password is blank, so you can reach the main app window without having to write anything in this box (just confirm it).

Folders can only be unlocked from the main app window

When it comes to the interface, the application is simplistic. To lock a password, you just have to click "Lock" and use the popup folder browser to indicate a directory. Locked folders change their icons into a yellow locker in Windows Explorer, so you can easily tell which ones are protected and unprotected.
To unlock a directory, you can repeat this procedure after clicking "Unlock". Worth noting is that it's not possible to unlock folders by double-clicking them in Windows Explorer to open Noos Folder Protector as the associated application. In fact, double-clicking the items doesn't produce any effect, so you have to separately deploy the software utility for folder unlock.

Set and change the password from a hidden menu

The password can set as well as changed from the right-click menu that can be opened from the locker button in the main window (left click doesn't work). You can also check out keyboard shortcuts for quickly locking and unlocking folders, but this only applies while Noos Folder Protector's window is active; it doesn't work while minimizing the window to the taskbar and navigating the computer using Windows Explorer, for instance.

Easy-to-use folder locker with room for improvements

Folders were swiftly locked and unlocked in our evaluation while the tool remained light on system resources usage. However, the text and buttons in the window are very small, without the possibility of increasing their size. Also, finding your way to the password changing option is not that intuitive.
The program can be uninstalled by anyone without having to enter the password. However, any locked folders will remain locked. They are not automatically unlocked or deleted by the tool, so can you easily regain access by reinstalling Noos Folder Protector.