Minggu, 30 September 2018

Some Huawei Mate 10 Pro units start receiving Android Pie

Huawei teased the new EMUI 9.0 last month, and we expected the user interface, based on Android Pie, to arrive with the Huawei Mate 20 in two weeks. Looks like the company can't wait anymore and is already pushing the update to some Huawei Mate 10 Pro units with a stable version of Oreo and model numbers BLA-L09 and BLA-L29 which are sold mostly in Europe. According to our source, EMUI 9.0 brings new gesture setup for multi-task switching between apps and a new improved 2.0 version of GPU Turbo. Since Android Pie promotes digital health and wellbeing with a new feature, available in...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Some Huawei Mate 10 Pro units start receiving Android Pie

Huawei teased the new EMUI 9.0 last month, and we expected the user interface, based on Android Pie, to arrive with the Huawei Mate 20 in two weeks. Looks like the company can't wait anymore and is already pushing the update to some Huawei Mate 10 Pro units with a stable version of Oreo and model numbers BLA-L09 and BLA-L29 which are sold mostly in Europe. According to our source, EMUI 9.0 brings new gesture setup for multi-task switching between apps and a new improved 2.0 version of GPU Turbo. Since Android Pie promotes digital health and wellbeing with a new feature, available in...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Some Huawei Mate 10 Pro units start receiving Android Pie

Huawei teased the new EMUI 9.0 last month, and we expected the user interface, based on Android Pie, to arrive with the Huawei Mate 20 in two weeks. Looks like the company can't wait anymore and is already pushing the update to some Huawei Mate 10 Pro units with a stable version of Oreo and model numbers BLA-L09 and BLA-L29 which are sold mostly in Europe. According to our source, EMUI 9.0 brings new gesture setup for multi-task switching between apps and a new improved 2.0 version of GPU Turbo. Since Android Pie promotes digital health and wellbeing with a new feature, available in...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Sunday debate: Are phones getting too big?

Ro: Smartphones are getting out of hand. Literally. It almost feels like makers these days are shoving the new trends down our throats these days. First, it was the headphone jack. Apple started it and users rioted. That didn't stop the rest of the OEMs from following suit without giving any real excuse. Then it was the notch. Once again Apple started it, people hated it, but Android manufacturers were fast to jump on the bandwagon. The same goes for the custom launchers and the compact flagships - the results from our polls speak for themselves. All of these aren't...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Sunday debate: Are phones getting too big?

Ro: Smartphones are getting out of hand. Literally. It almost feels like makers these days are shoving the new trends down our throats these days. First, it was the headphone jack. Apple started it and users rioted. That didn't stop the rest of the OEMs from following suit without giving any real excuse. Then it was the notch. Once again Apple started it, people hated it, but Android manufacturers were fast to jump on the bandwagon. The same goes for the custom launchers and the compact flagships - the results from our polls speak for themselves. All of these aren't...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Sunday debate: Are phones getting too big?

Ro: Smartphones are getting out of hand. Literally. It almost feels like makers these days are shoving the new trends down our throats these days. First, it was the headphone jack. Apple started it and users rioted. That didn't stop the rest of the OEMs from following suit without giving any real excuse. Then it was the notch. Once again Apple started it, people hated it, but Android manufacturers were fast to jump on the bandwagon. The same goes for the custom launchers and the compact flagships - the results from our polls speak for themselves. All of these aren't...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Week 39 in review: Realme 2 Pro and Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro debut

A couple of phones debuted this week, but you don't have to look further than our top 10 trending chart to know which one was more interesting - the Realme 2 Pro debut is easily the event of week 39. Meanwhile Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Note 6 Pro, which is hardly a great improvement over its predecessor. It does bring the notch trend to the Xiaomi Note lineup, so it has that going for it, we guess. Meanwhile as an announcement-filled October is on our doorstep we are getting all sorts of teasers and leaks. OnePlus 6T, Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL as well as Nokia 7.1 all made headlines. We...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Week 39 in review: Realme 2 Pro and Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro debut

A couple of phones debuted this week, but you don't have to look further than our top 10 trending chart to know which one was more interesting - the Realme 2 Pro debut is easily the event of week 39. Meanwhile Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Note 6 Pro, which is hardly a great improvement over its predecessor. It does bring the notch trend to the Xiaomi Note lineup, so it has that going for it, we guess. Meanwhile as an announcement-filled October is on our doorstep we are getting all sorts of teasers and leaks. OnePlus 6T, Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL as well as Nokia 7.1 all made headlines. We...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Week 39 in review: Realme 2 Pro and Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro debut

A couple of phones debuted this week, but you don't have to look further than our top 10 trending chart to know which one was more interesting - the Realme 2 Pro debut is easily the event of week 39. Meanwhile Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Note 6 Pro, which is hardly a great improvement over its predecessor. It does bring the notch trend to the Xiaomi Note lineup, so it has that going for it, we guess. Meanwhile as an announcement-filled October is on our doorstep we are getting all sorts of teasers and leaks. OnePlus 6T, Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL as well as Nokia 7.1 all made headlines. We...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Top 10 trending phones of week 39

These are turbulent times in our top 10 trending chart as we see our fourth leader in as many weeks - the newly announced Realme 2 immediately shooting to the top. Funnily enough the leaders of the past three weeks complete the top four. The Galaxy A7 (2018) steps down to second, ahead of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1. The iPhone XS Max, in fourth, is the only remaining Apple smartphone in the top 10 after the company got a clean sweep of the podium just two weeks ago. The yet to be announced Huawei Mate 20 Pro is already capturing your interest and you made it the fifth most popular...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Top 10 trending phones of week 39

These are turbulent times in our top 10 trending chart as we see our fourth leader in as many weeks - the newly announced Realme 2 immediately shooting to the top. Funnily enough the leaders of the past three weeks complete the top four. The Galaxy A7 (2018) steps down to second, ahead of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1. The iPhone XS Max, in fourth, is the only remaining Apple smartphone in the top 10 after the company got a clean sweep of the podium just two weeks ago. The yet to be announced Huawei Mate 20 Pro is already capturing your interest and you made it the fifth most popular...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Top 10 trending phones of week 39

These are turbulent times in our top 10 trending chart as we see our fourth leader in as many weeks - the newly announced Realme 2 immediately shooting to the top. Funnily enough the leaders of the past three weeks complete the top four. The Galaxy A7 (2018) steps down to second, ahead of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1. The iPhone XS Max, in fourth, is the only remaining Apple smartphone in the top 10 after the company got a clean sweep of the podium just two weeks ago. The yet to be announced Huawei Mate 20 Pro is already capturing your interest and you made it the fifth most popular...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Counterclockwise: Huawei bets on Android early and grows big quickly

Huawei is currently the largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, but it is a very young company - it was only founded in 1987. And it didn't start making phones until 2003, but it already has ambitions to be the largest smartphone maker in the world, just like in conquered the networking hardware field. The first phone to come out of Huawei's handset division was the C300 in 2004. It was a simple feature phone for CDMA networks. Then came the U626, the company's first 3G-enabled phone (the history of China's mobile networks is quite interesting, but here's not the...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Counterclockwise: Huawei bets on Android early and grows big quickly

Huawei is currently the largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, but it is a very young company - it was only founded in 1987. And it didn't start making phones until 2003, but it already has ambitions to be the largest smartphone maker in the world, just like in conquered the networking hardware field. The first phone to come out of Huawei's handset division was the C300 in 2004. It was a simple feature phone for CDMA networks. Then came the U626, the company's first 3G-enabled phone (the history of China's mobile networks is quite interesting, but here's not the...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Counterclockwise: Huawei bets on Android early and grows big quickly

Huawei is currently the largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, but it is a very young company - it was only founded in 1987. And it didn't start making phones until 2003, but it already has ambitions to be the largest smartphone maker in the world, just like in conquered the networking hardware field. The first phone to come out of Huawei's handset division was the C300 in 2004. It was a simple feature phone for CDMA networks. Then came the U626, the company's first 3G-enabled phone (the history of China's mobile networks is quite interesting, but here's not the...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Weekly poll: Realme 2 Pro, love it or hate it?

Realme is going in for the kill - the 2 Pro targets Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus and even Oppo's own phones with what could be described as great specs at an insanely low price. It starts at INR 14,000 ($192/€165) for the 4/64GB model. That buys you a capable Snapdragon 660, 6.3" 1080p+ screen with teardrop notch, a 16+2MP dual rear camera and 16MP selfie cam. The 3,500mAh battery sounds good too. Let's compare that to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro. The screen is similar (though with a chunkier notch), the chipset is the lower-end S636, the camera story is better (larger pixels on the rear...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Weekly poll: Realme 2 Pro, love it or hate it?

Realme is going in for the kill - the 2 Pro targets Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus and even Oppo's own phones with what could be described as great specs at an insanely low price. It starts at INR 14,000 ($192/€165) for the 4/64GB model. That buys you a capable Snapdragon 660, 6.3" 1080p+ screen with teardrop notch, a 16+2MP dual rear camera and 16MP selfie cam. The 3,500mAh battery sounds good too. Let's compare that to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro. The screen is similar (though with a chunkier notch), the chipset is the lower-end S636, the camera story is better (larger pixels on the rear...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Weekly poll: Realme 2 Pro, love it or hate it?

Realme is going in for the kill - the 2 Pro targets Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus and even Oppo's own phones with what could be described as great specs at an insanely low price. It starts at INR 14,000 ($192/€165) for the 4/64GB model. That buys you a capable Snapdragon 660, 6.3" 1080p+ screen with teardrop notch, a 16+2MP dual rear camera and 16MP selfie cam. The 3,500mAh battery sounds good too. Let's compare that to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro. The screen is similar (though with a chunkier notch), the chipset is the lower-end S636, the camera story is better (larger pixels on the rear...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Sabtu, 29 September 2018

LG TONE Platinum SE review

Introduction Headsets and audio equipment reviews are hardly a daily occurrence here at GSMArena, but most of us have deep personal interest in the area. That's why the TONE Platinum SE caused quite a lot of excitement here at HQ and I was nominated to share some of that with it. Heads-up this is going to be more of a personal experience review than a benchmark-filled test. First things first, then. We have used and even reviewed LG Tone headsets in the past, like the LG Tone Infinim HBS-900 and the HSB-730 Tone+. And the basic design concept and form factor are pretty much...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

LG TONE Platinum SE review

Introduction Headsets and audio equipment reviews are hardly a daily occurrence here at GSMArena, but most of us have deep personal interest in the area. That's why the TONE Platinum SE caused quite a lot of excitement here at HQ and I was nominated to share some of that with it. Heads-up this is going to be more of a personal experience review than a benchmark-filled test. First things first, then. We have used and even reviewed LG Tone headsets in the past, like the LG Tone Infinim HBS-900 and the HSB-730 Tone+. And the basic design concept and form factor are pretty much...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

LG TONE Platinum SE review

Introduction Headsets and audio equipment reviews are hardly a daily occurrence here at GSMArena, but most of us have deep personal interest in the area. That's why the TONE Platinum SE caused quite a lot of excitement here at HQ and I was nominated to share some of that with it. Heads-up this is going to be more of a personal experience review than a benchmark-filled test. First things first, then. We have used and even reviewed LG Tone headsets in the past, like the LG Tone Infinim HBS-900 and the HSB-730 Tone+. And the basic design concept and form factor are pretty much...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Weekly poll results: Galaxy A7 (2018) and its triple camera get the thumbs up

It seems that Samsung has brought in a winning mid-fielder - the Galaxy A7 (2018) got a 74% approval rating. This is a phone built around its Infinity Display and triple camera and the early response to them is a positive one. As expected, some people wished for more features - a tele camera and a faster chipset were the most commonly requested. We suspect those will be present on the Galaxy S10 instead, so there won't be any in fighting in Samsung's lineup. Plus, this A7 is a €350 phone, so it can get away with those. Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) One warranted criticism was...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Weekly poll results: Galaxy A7 (2018) and its triple camera get the thumbs up

It seems that Samsung has brought in a winning mid-fielder - the Galaxy A7 (2018) got a 74% approval rating. This is a phone built around its Infinity Display and triple camera and the early response to them is a positive one. As expected, some people wished for more features - a tele camera and a faster chipset were the most commonly requested. We suspect those will be present on the Galaxy S10 instead, so there won't be any in fighting in Samsung's lineup. Plus, this A7 is a €350 phone, so it can get away with those. Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) One warranted criticism was...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Weekly poll results: Galaxy A7 (2018) and its triple camera get the thumbs up

It seems that Samsung has brought in a winning mid-fielder - the Galaxy A7 (2018) got a 74% approval rating. This is a phone built around its Infinity Display and triple camera and the early response to them is a positive one. As expected, some people wished for more features - a tele camera and a faster chipset were the most commonly requested. We suspect those will be present on the Galaxy S10 instead, so there won't be any in fighting in Samsung's lineup. Plus, this A7 is a €350 phone, so it can get away with those. Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) One warranted criticism was...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Never mind the ugly notch, the Pixel 3 XL is going to be a big deal

In less than three weeks, on October 9, Google will unveil the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL to the world. I've marked that day on my calendar and I can't wait. Here's why I think the Pixel 3 XL, in particular, will be a big deal (and likely my next phone). Before we start, a few introductory words. I'm an avid Google Pixel fan and former Pixel 2 XL owner. I like the camera, the software experience, the feel and the stereo speakers (in that order) of the Pixel phones. And I've always found they have that special X factor that most other phones lack. The Google Pixel 3 XL will almost certainly...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Never mind the ugly notch, the Pixel 3 XL is going to be a big deal

In less than three weeks, on October 9, Google will unveil the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL to the world. I've marked that day on my calendar and I can't wait. Here's why I think the Pixel 3 XL, in particular, will be a big deal (and likely my next phone). Before we start, a few introductory words. I'm an avid Google Pixel fan and former Pixel 2 XL owner. I like the camera, the software experience, the feel and the stereo speakers (in that order) of the Pixel phones. And I've always found they have that special X factor that most other phones lack. The Google Pixel 3 XL will almost certainly...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Never mind the ugly notch, the Pixel 3 XL is going to be a big deal

In less than three weeks, on October 9, Google will unveil the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL to the world. I've marked that day on my calendar and I can't wait. Here's why I think the Pixel 3 XL, in particular, will be a big deal (and likely my next phone). Before we start, a few introductory words. I'm an avid Google Pixel fan and former Pixel 2 XL owner. I like the camera, the software experience, the feel and the stereo speakers (in that order) of the Pixel phones. And I've always found they have that special X factor that most other phones lack. The Google Pixel 3 XL will almost certainly...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

The 7 Best Risk-Free Cryptocurrency Trading Simulators

Bitcoin Trading Simulators

Did you ride the peaks of the bitcoin wave, or did you wait for the trough to hit the shore? When bitcoin was touching $20,000 per coin, everyone was an expert or potential investor. Prices are now more unpredictable, making it harder for would-be investors to make a profit.

Given cryptocurrencies straddle the median between currency and commodity, there is money to be made—but only if you know what you are doing. Check out these risk-free cryptocurrency market simulators before splashing your cash on the real deal.

1. Bitcoin Mining Profit Calculator

bitcoin mining profit calculator practice trading crypto

The Bitcoin Mining Profit Calculator (BMPC) is a great starting point if you are completely new to bitcoin and cryptocurrency. It’s a lot more than a simple trading simulator since it includes a full introduction to bitcoin too.

The website works like an interactive fiction-come-idle clicker game. BMPC updates with new tabs and explanations as you click different prompts on the screen, thus making different choices. Don’t worry, you won’t miss out on any pertinent information, but it will make you aware of the kind of news that affects bitcoin’s prices as well as the inner workings of the bitcoin community.

BMPC is nothing great to look at and plays like a text adventure, but there’s nothing wrong with that. This is meant to be an educational game rather than an entertaining one.

2. Bitcoin Hero

bitcoin cryptocurrency trading simulators

For those who don’t need a tutorial in what cryptocurrency is and want to jump right in, Bitcoin Hero is excellent. The web app works fine on mobile screens as well, so you can enjoy the game without ever installing it, but there is an Android app.

While it isn’t necessary to install Bitcoin Hero, you’ll want to create an account to track your progress over multiple sessions. You start with $10,000 in your wallet, and you can buy and sell four cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dash. The cryptocurrency prices come straight from the real world, so its akin to the real thing.

3. Altcoin Fantasy

altcoin fantasy dashboard crypto trading practice

Altcoin Fantasy (ACF) steps up where Bitcoin Hero ends. Unlike Bitcoin Hero, Altcoin Fantasy lets you trade against other people, in competition, for a range of real-life prizes. For instance, a prize in a recent ACF contest was $100 worth of Bitcoin!

Competing also earns in-game currency, ACF Points, which you can trade in for real-life prizes, like a CryptoKitty or a 12-month subscription to TradingView. There’s also a daily sign-in bonus and a free spin-wheel for more points!

ACF ramps up the realism by using real-world market from a range of exchanges, differing between competitions. There’s usually a healthy amount of competition too, so you will need to sharpen your crypto market analysis skills to hit the head of the pack. Starting out with $10,000, you have a decent bank account to make a profit from.

Another thing I like about Altcoin Fantasy is its Private Contest mode. You can set up a 14-day contest for you and your buddies to see who has the best crypto-trading chops—and then brag about it when you win, of course. You can even set an entry fee.

4. eToro

eToro crypto trading list

eToro is a social trading app that has captured the imagination of regular investors and professionals alike. You find profitable investors that match your level of risk, and then copy their trades as they execute them. There are thousands of profitable traders and decent money to be made.

However, if you don’t want to risk your money and want to learn before opening your wallet, sign up for an eToro practice account here. Your free account comes with up to $100,000 for trading so you can really go to town with your practice trades.

5. CoinMarketGame

bitcoin cryptocurrency trading simulators

For a full-fledged simulator consisting of all major cryptocurrencies, you can’t do much better than CoinMarketGame. It does all the basics right to deliver an accurate experience of what it’s like to be a trader in this market.

Sign up for an account to receive a $20,000 starting pot. Spend it wisely by building a diverse portfolio, investing in both popular and less-known altcoins with high growth potential. You can check the leaderboard out and see what your competitors are trading, then head back to the markets to see how they maximize their crypto trading profits.

6. Spark Profit

bitcoin cryptocurrency trading simulators

Spark Profit is a crypto prediction game for Android, iOS, and your browser. You use historical crypto data to predict the position of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, as well as several international stock markets.  Spark Profit is basically about taking a long or short position on the future of the market. Your goal is to win points with accurate predictions. If the market touches your profit price, you win points. If it hits your loss point, you lose them. Simple, right?

Your goal is to win points. Estimate and set a profit price that you think the market will hit. Also, set a loss price while you’re at it. If the market touches the profit price, you will win points, but touching the loss price will make you lose points. Simple, right?

Spark Profit is a lot tougher than it sounds, and the much-needed reality check that early investors need. Before you invest a single dollar in cryptocurrencies, play this game and see how well you do. If you end up bankrupt, you’re better off putting your money back in your wallet.

7. Bitmex

bitmex testnet crypto leverage site free account

Think you’re getting the hang of Spark Profit? Why not step up to the next level with a Bitmex Testnet account? Bitmex is one of the most popular crypto exchanges. Here, you take a long or short position on where one of the listed cryptocurrencies will be in a certain time frame. Then, you apply leverage. Leverage can boost your potential profits (or losses) by up to 100 percent.

You will need to grab some Testnet Bitcoin from a faucet (follow the Bitmex tutorial to find out how), but then you can begin trading using the Bitmex Testnet. It’s valuable education before attempting to trade crypto futures!

What’s the Best Bitcoin Beginner’s Tip?

Education. All the way. If you don’t educate yourself before opening your wallet, you’re best off heading to the nearest bathroom and flushing your dollars straight away. Save yourself the time.

Trying out cryptocurrency trading in a mock market is a great first step. Reading articles, blog posts, and more helps, too. But at some point, you’re going to have to take the first step. Start small, and most of all, move slowly.

Read the full article: The 7 Best Risk-Free Cryptocurrency Trading Simulators

The 6 Best Android Gallery Apps Better Than Google Photos

Best Buy accidentally sold a 3rd generation Chromecast to a customer

We all know Reddit is a source of pretty strange stuff. This one we came across isn't exactly strange, but it's a rare one indeed. A customer walked into Best Buy with the intention of buying a second-gen Chromecast but walked out with a still unreleased third generation. The OP (original poster) as redditors like to call it, clarifies that Best Buy must have put out the new device by mistake. When the cashier tried to scan the item, the Chromecast didn't appear in the database, but since the customer already had it in his hand and the price was identical to the second generation...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Best Buy accidentally sold a 3rd generation Chromecast to a customer

We all know Reddit is a source of pretty strange stuff. This one we came across isn't exactly strange, but it's a rare one indeed. A customer walked into Best Buy with the intention of buying a second-gen Chromecast but walked out with a still unreleased third generation. The OP (original poster) as redditors like to call it, clarifies that Best Buy must have put out the new device by mistake. When the cashier tried to scan the item, the Chromecast didn't appear in the database, but since the customer already had it in his hand and the price was identical to the second generation...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

Best Buy accidentally sold a 3rd generation Chromecast to a customer

We all know Reddit is a source of pretty strange stuff. This one we came across isn't exactly strange, but it's a rare one indeed. A customer walked into Best Buy with the intention of buying a second-gen Chromecast but walked out with a still unreleased third generation. The OP (original poster) as redditors like to call it, clarifies that Best Buy must have put out the new device by mistake. When the cashier tried to scan the item, the Chromecast didn't appear in the database, but since the customer already had it in his hand and the price was identical to the second generation...

GSMArena.com - Latest articles

How to Password Protect a Folder in Windows

password-protect-folders

Take a second to consider how much sensitive information you have stored on your computer at this moment. Bank information? Family photos? Financial documents?

As secure as your files feel on your PC, they’re also prime targets for malicious intent. Password protecting your sensitive folders is a basic security step. Think of it as a virtual vault, which encrypts whatever files or additional folders you’d need kept safe.

Read on to learn how to create a password-protected folder to keep your precious files protected, and sneaky onlookers at bay.

Method 1: Text-Based Folder Lock

While Windows 10 doesn’t allow users to password protect folders by default, you can use a batch script to lock folders using a password of your choice. If you aren’t familiar with batch scripts, here’s a primer.

Start by navigating to the folder you’d like to lock. I’ll create a new folder to use as a virtual safe named Safe.

Double-click the folder. You’ll be creating your batch file within the directory that’ll store your locked folder. Create an empty text document within your folder by right-clicking an empty space and selecting New > Text Document.

Within this document, copy and paste the following code:

cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Locker
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to Unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%==your_password goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Locker
echo Locker created successfully
goto End
:End

To set your password, change the your_password bit in the line if NOT “%pass%==your_password” goto FAIL to a password of your choice:

Once you’ve added your password, head to File > Save As within your Notepad program. Name it anything you’d like, Locker in my case, but ensure you add a .bat extension to your file. In my case, I will name my file Locker.bat (ensuring I’ve included the extension).

Double-click the BAT file to create your Locker folder. This is the folder that will be locked with your password. You should now have a folder and a file named Locker.

Place all your sensitive documents within this Locker folder. Once you’ve placed your files, double-click your Locker.bat file again. A command prompt will open asking if you want to lock your folder. Input Y and press Enter.

Poof! Your folder should disappear. This is a natural byproduct of your BAT file.

To access your files again, double-click on your Locker.bat file. You will be prompted to enter the password you added when creating the file.

Voila! If you enter your password correctly, your Locker folder will reappear again.

Note: This BAT file can be changed via your PC. That means others who are familiar with this trick may be able to change your password. For the most part, however, this nifty little trick will add a much needed buffer to your most sensitive local documents!

If you’d like to learn more about what BAT files can do, we’ve got you covered.

Method 2: ZIP Folder Lock

While the above trick uses the default Notepad program, you can also both lock and condense your sensitive documents using a popular desktop program named 7-Zip.

Typically used to unzip folders and extract files, 7-Zip also allows users to password protect their folders. To follow this method, first download 7-Zip.

Once 7-Zip is downloaded and installed, click the start menu and type 7zip. Select the 7-Zip File Manager option. Then, locate the file or folder you want to protect, click on it, and click the Add option at the top of the window.

Next, enter your new password in the Encryption section. When you’re done, click OK. Check your folder location and you’ll find a ZIP file named the same as your original folder.

Now that you have your zipped file, delete your original folder (as keeping it would defeat the purpose of password protecting your new ZIP file).

It’s a good idea to create another containing folder for your zipped file, as unzipping it may scatter your files in a directory. In the example below, the Sensitive Documents folder will hold my zipped Safe file.

Right-click your zip file and select 7-Zip > Extract Here. You’ll be prompted to enter your password.

Enter your password and your files will appear in your directory.

That’s it! While this method isn’t exactly timely, since you have to undergo the whole process every time you need to add or view your files, it works perfectly and only uses this trusted software.

Method 3: Hide Files and Folders

Now that you’ve locked your folder, you can also take the additional step of hiding your folder from view.

Right-click a file or folder or your choice and select Properties. Check the Hidden option beside Attributes. Click Apply and then OK.

Your file or folder should now disappear. To view your folder again, click on the View tab of your Windows 10 file manager. Then, select Options > Change folder and search options.

In the following File Options window, click on the View tab. Finally, click on the option labeled Show hidden files, folders, and drives under Hidden files and folders. Click Apply and then OK.

You should now be able to view your file or folder. To revert your file or folder back to hidden, head to your File Options window again and select Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives. That’s it!

Lock Your Windows Folders to Keep Your Data Safe

With the simple methods above, you can choose to implement either one or all three. No matter which you pick, you can rest assured that your previous sensitive documents are safe under an additional layer of protection not enabled by default on your PC.

Sometimes, all it takes is a password lock to prevent theft. That applies to the virtual world as much it does to the real world. And it’s up to you to bulletproof your PC with the best security tools for your computer.

Read the full article: How to Password Protect a Folder in Windows