How FileLocker Works

How FileLocker Password Protection Works

FileLocker lets you password protect files and folders online while keeping the file-processing work in your browser. The workflow is simple: choose what you want to protect, create a password, encrypt the data, and save the resulting .vault file.

1. 1Select a file or folderWhen you click "Upload" or drag a file into FileLocker, we do not send it to a server. Instead, your web browser asks for permission to read the selected file locally on your device.
2. 2Create a passwordThe password you enter is used by FileLocker to derive the cryptographic key used by its encryption process. The protected data cannot be decrypted through FileLocker without the correct password.
3. 3Encrypt and build the .vault fileFileLocker processes your file chunk-by-chunk and writes the scrambled data into a new .vault file. Because this happens directly on your device, this approach can reduce memory pressure compared with loading the entire file at once. Practical limits still depend on your browser, device resources, and available storage.
4. Save the protected fileYour browser will prompt you to save the resulting protected file. You can then email it, upload it to cloud storage, or put it on a USB drive. Anyone opening the protected file will need the correct password to decrypt it.