Password Protect Thumb Drive

[jjk454ss]

I picked up a SanDisk USB Drive to backup a few things. I’d like to password protect the drive, or a folder on it. All I can find is options using a third party app, which is ok except you also need that app to read it.

Am I missing a better option? It doesn’t need to be top notch security, just some basic password protection from someone picking it and plugging it in and accessing the data easily

Cryptomater was one option I saw but looks like I need to pay a subscription to use it

 

[bob_zz123]

I would format the drive as APFS and choose the encrypted option and then you will be asked for a password before being able to access the drive. You can format the drive either on your Mac in Disk Utility or I believe you can do it directly in the Files app on your iOS device now. Down side is that it will only be readable on Apple devices.

 

[Basic75]

What @bob_zz123 wrote, as long as you only use the drive with Apple devices you should use the encryption built into macOS and iOS, and here's how to set it up:

Encrypt and protect a storage device with a password in Disk Utility on Mac

In Disk Utility on your Mac, protect sensitive information on a storage device by requiring users to enter a password to access its files.

support.apple.com

 

[jjk454ss]

Thank you both. I don’t have a Mac so I will have to try to figure out if I can do this all from iOS

 

[NoBoMac]

I will have to try to figure out if I can do this all from iOS

In Files app you can format an external drive.

• Plug in drive
• From Files app, press/hold the drive.
• Erase
• Choose options (if want encrypted, APFS is only option)

And Apple caveats:

Connect external storage devices to iPhone

On iPhone, use files stored on USB storage devices and SD cards.

support.apple.com

Note: An external storage device must have only a single data partition, and it must be formatted as APFS, APFS (encrypted), macOS Extended (HFS+), exFAT (FAT64), FAT32, or FAT.

 

[jjk454ss]

In Files app you can format an external drive.

• Plug in drive
• From Files app, press/hold the drive.
• Erase
• Choose options (if want encrypted, APFS is only option)

View attachment 2477116View attachment 2477117

And Apple caveats:

Connect external storage devices to iPhone

On iPhone, use files stored on USB storage devices and SD cards.

support.apple.com

Awesome. Thank you