Locate your text file, right-click it, and select 7-Zip > Add to Archive.

put in your password in both “Enter Password” and “Reenter Password” fields.

Here’s how it works.

Laptop running Windows

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

You thenpassword-protect this ZIP file, which results in locking your zipped text file.

Download and install this free tool on your PC, thenrestart your PC.

You’ll see an “Add to Archive” window.

Select 7-Zip > Add to Archive.

Then, enter the same password in the “Reenter Password” field.

Note that your original text file is still present in the same folder.

You’ll want to delete it so that other users can’t access it.

Enter password in the "Encryption" section and click "OK."

Thispermanently deletes your text filefrom your PC.

To open your ZIP with 7-Zip, locate your archive in File Explorer.

Right-hit the archive, and in the menu that opens, choose 7-Zip > Open Archive.

A password-protected ZIP file in File Explorer.

The 7-Zip window will display your text file.

Double-poke the file to open it.

The app will ask you to type your password.

Select 7-Zip > Open Archive.

And that’s all.

To do that, right-click your archive and choose 7-Zip > Extract Here.

you’re free to now delete the archive if you no longer need it.

Open the text file.

Related:How to Hide Files and Folders on Every Operating System

Type password in “Enter Password” and click “OK."

Select 7-Zip > Extract Here.

Type password in “Enter Password” and select “OK."