How Can I Password Protect My External Hard Drive?

So yeah, you really would want to go with BitLocker or something like VeraCrypt. Both let you use a single password to unlock everything on the drive. The only other options are password-protecting individual files like Word docs or Excel sheets, which isn't the best approach for your needs. Zipping files with a password is an option too, but it can leave unprotected copies behind, which isn't safe.

You should definitely consider using BitLocker! It’s easy to set up and provides good security. Here’s a quick rundown:
1. Connect your drive and open File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the drive and select "Turn on BitLocker."
3. Choose to unlock it with a password.
4. Create a strong password and save the recovery key somewhere safe—super important!
5. Select whether to encrypt the full drive or just the used space and choose an encryption method, then start the process. You’ll get a notification once it’s done.

If you're on Windows, you've got a built-in option called BitLocker. Just plug in your drive, open File Explorer, right-click the drive, and choose "Turn On BitLocker." This way, the drive gets encrypted, and it doesn't matter what computer you use it on. Just make sure to write down your password somewhere safe, because if you forget it, you're out of luck.

Just to add, VeraCrypt is also a great alternative if you need to read the drive on different operating systems. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but keep in mind it needs to be installed on every computer you want to unlock it with. BitLocker is easier if you're sticking to Windows.

If you don't mind spending a little extra, there are hardware options like Datashur and DiskAshur drives. These require you to enter a PIN right on the drive to access the data, which adds an extra layer of security.