How to Password Protect Multiple Excel Files at Once

Excel can encrypt a workbook with a password so that anyone opening the file must enter the password first. This is useful for payroll reports, financial records, customer lists, and other files that should not be opened freely. However, Excel's built-in Encrypt with Password command protects only one workbook at a time. Applying the same password manually becomes inefficient when a folder contains dozens or hundreds of files.

This tutorial shows two ways to password protect multiple Excel files at once. Use VBA when the files are stored in one folder, or use Kutools for Excel to encrypt selected files, folders, subfolders, and OneDrive files through one dialog box.

• Password protect all Excel files in one folder with VBA
• Password protect multiple Excel files with Kutools for Excel
• Which method should you use?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Password protect all Excel files in one folder with VBA

If all the workbooks are stored in the same folder, VBA can open each supported Excel file, save it again with the same password, and then close it. The code below processes .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm, and .xlsb files while keeping their original formats.

For example, a Payroll Reports folder may contain January Payroll.xlsx, February Payroll.xlsx, March Payroll.xlsm, and Payroll Summary.xlsb. The macro can apply one password to all four files in a single run.

1. Open a blank workbook.
2. Press Alt + F11 to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
3. Click Insert > Module.
4. Paste the following VBA code into the module:

   Sub ProtectAll()
   'Updated by Extendoffice
       Dim xWorkBook As Workbook
       Dim xFileDialog As FileDialog
       Dim xPassword As Variant
       Dim xFolderPath As String
       Dim xFileName As String
       Dim xFullPath As String
       Dim xExtension As String
       Dim xSuccessCount As Long
       Dim xFailedCount As Long
   
       On Error GoTo CleanUp
   
       Set xFileDialog = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
       With xFileDialog
           .AllowMultiSelect = False
           .Title = "Select the folder containing the Excel files"
           If .Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
           xFolderPath = .SelectedItems(1) & "\"
       End With
   
       xPassword = Application.InputBox( _
           Prompt:="Enter the password to apply to all files", _
           Title:="Password Protect Excel Files", _
           Type:=2)
   
       If VarType(xPassword) = vbBoolean Then Exit Sub
   
       If Len(CStr(xPassword)) = 0 Then
           MsgBox "The password cannot be blank.", _
                  vbInformation, "Password Protect Excel Files"
           Exit Sub
       End If
   
       Application.ScreenUpdating = False
       Application.DisplayAlerts = False
   
       xFileName = Dir(xFolderPath & "*.*")
   
       Do While xFileName <> ""
           xExtension = LCase$(Mid$(xFileName, InStrRev(xFileName, ".") + 1))
   
           Select Case xExtension
               Case "xls", "xlsx", "xlsm", "xlsb"
                   xFullPath = xFolderPath & xFileName
   
                   If StrComp(xFullPath, ThisWorkbook.FullName, vbTextCompare) <> 0 Then
                       Set xWorkBook = Nothing
                       Err.Clear
                       On Error Resume Next
   
                       Set xWorkBook = Workbooks.Open( _
                           Filename:=xFullPath, _
                           UpdateLinks:=0, _
                           ReadOnly:=False)
   
                       If Err.Number <> 0 Or xWorkBook Is Nothing Then
                           xFailedCount = xFailedCount + 1
                           Err.Clear
                       Else
                           xWorkBook.SaveAs _
                               Filename:=xFullPath, _
                               FileFormat:=xWorkBook.FileFormat, _
                               Password:=CStr(xPassword)
   
                           If Err.Number <> 0 Then
                               xFailedCount = xFailedCount + 1
                               Err.Clear
                           Else
                               xSuccessCount = xSuccessCount + 1
                           End If
   
                           xWorkBook.Close SaveChanges:=False
                       End If
   
                       On Error GoTo CleanUp
                   End If
           End Select
   
           xFileName = Dir
       Loop
   
   CleanUp:
       Application.DisplayAlerts = True
       Application.ScreenUpdating = True
   
       MsgBox xSuccessCount & " file(s) protected successfully." & vbCrLf & _
              xFailedCount & " file(s) could not be protected.", _
              vbInformation, "Process Complete"
   End Sub

5. Press F5 while the pointer is inside the code, or close the editor and run ProtectAll from Developer > Macros.
6. In the folder picker, select the folder containing the Excel files, and click OK.
7. Enter the password that you want to apply to every file, and click OK.

   

8. Wait for the completion message. It shows how many files were protected and how many could not be processed.

   

Open one of the processed files to test the result. Excel now asks for the password before opening the workbook.

Password protect multiple Excel files with Kutools for Excel

For files stored in different folders, subfolders, or OneDrive, use the Encrypt Workbooks feature in Kutools for Excel. It lets you collect the required workbooks in one window, review the list, and apply the same password to all selected files without VBA.

1. Close the workbooks that you want to protect.
2. In a separate workbook, click Kutools Plus > Encrypt Workbooks > Encrypt Workbooks.
3. Click Add, and choose one of the following options:
   • File(s): Add selected files from your computer.
   • Folder: Add files from a local folder.
   • OneDrive File(s): Add selected OneDrive files.
   • OneDrive Folder: Add files from a OneDrive folder.
4. Enter the password in the Use the following password box.
5. Click OK to encrypt the workbooks.

   

   ⚠️ Workbooks with Sensitivity Labels:

   If a workbook requires a Sensitivity Label, click OK when prompted, and then select the appropriate label. Kutools applies the password after the label is confirmed.

6. Check the number of workbooks encrypted successfully, and click OK.

   

7. Choose whether to save the current workbook configuration as a scenario. To reuse the same file selection later, click Yes, enter a scenario name, and click OK. Otherwise, click No.

   

Tips

• To include files from nested folders, select Include subfolders when adding folders.
• Clear the checkbox beside any workbook that you do not want to encrypt, or remove it from the list.
• Click the Workbook Name or Workbook Path column heading to sort the list.
• The OneDrive File(s) and OneDrive Folder options are supported in Excel 2013 and later versions.
• Use Passwords Manager to insert a password saved in Kutools Password Manager.
• Use the scenario commands to open, save, rename, delete, or organize saved scenarios.
• Keep the password in a secure location. A forgotten password may make the encrypted workbooks inaccessible.

Which method should you use?

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Use VBA when you need to apply one password to the supported Excel files in a single folder. It is suitable for an occasional batch and reports files that could not be processed. For files spread across different folders, nested folders, or OneDrive, Kutools Encrypt Workbooks provides a more flexible point-and-click workflow and can save the selection as a reusable scenario.