How To Password Protect WD External Hard Drive - 2023 GUIDE

Securing your important data by saving them to a portable external hard drive will not ensure that the data is protected from a third party or unauthorized access. Because anyone can access the data on an external hard drive by plugging it into their device, But wait, you can protect your external hard drive, like your smartphone, Mac, or PC, by setting up a password on it. To do so, you have to ensure that your drive supports the password protection feature. Not all external hard drives have password protection, but some do, including a few WD external hard drives.

Are you using a WD external hard drive, and does it support password protection? Great! You can lock your drive with a password in no time. If you're interested in learning "How To Password Protect WD External Hard Drive", read on, and we'll walk you through the simple steps of securing your WD external hard drive with a password.

How Do I Encrypt An External Hard Drive? Basic Tip

Putting a lock on your WD external hard drive is straightforward with the WD Security software. This free software is provided by WD for both Windows and Mac operating systems (just check to make sure your version is supported), and you can download it directly from WD's official Software and Driver Download page.

If you're using a WD Book Essential drive, you might be familiar with the WD SmartWare software. Most of you might think that this is a backup software that only allows you to back up important files. It is not true. In addition to backup, it also provides password protection. So, if you're using a WD Book Essential drive, you can use the WD SmartWare software to protect it.

Wondering how to get started? Take it easy. We are here to help you with everything from downloading to installing the software and configuring the password. So, are you reading? Let's get started without further ado.

Password Protection with WD Security

First, let's see how to put a lock on your external hard drive with the WD Security software. Then we can see the same using the WD SmartWare software. Alright?

First Things First

• First, install the WD Security software. This software is provided within the WD Drive Utilities. However, if it is provided, you can download it separately from the WD support page.
• Download the WD Security software from WD Software & Download's official support page.
• Ensure that you download the software version that is compatible with your computer's operating system.
• If you have finished downloading the software, the next step is to install it.
• Doing so is a piece of cake. Want to know how? Here we go:
• Double-click on the downloaded installer file.
• If we are right, the "Welcome to WD Security" screen must have opened.
• Click the checkbox beside "I have read and agree..." and install.
• If prompted, enter your computer's password in the given field.

And there you go! You have installed the WD Security software on your computer. Now, let's see how to put lock on external hard drive using this software.

Locking the Drive

• Connect your WD drive to your computer, where you have already installed the WD Security software.
• Check if your computer recognizes the drive, and you can see it in the Disk Utility or This PC window.
• If yes, proceed with the next step.
• Open the WD Security software and let it recognize your connected external hard drive.
• You will be taken to the "Set Security" screen.
• Enter the password of your choice and verify it.
• To make sure you don't forget your password, add a helpful hint.
• Plus, enabling the "Enable auto unlock for this computer" feature can make accessing your drive even easier.
• Finally, hit the "Set Password" button, and you're all set!

Making external hard disk password protected has never been so easy. With the WD Security software, you can secure your WD external hard drive in just a few clicks.

Is the drive password protected?

Do you want to double-check and confirm that the drive is password protected? Then, you can do it with a few clicks. Continue reading to learn more about accessing a password-protected WD external hard drive on Windows. If you're using a Mac, contact us. Our technical expert will provide you with real-time assistance in performing it.

WD SmartWare

Like WD Security, the WD SmartWare software also enables you to keep a password for your external hard drive. In this section, you will read more about it.

• We believe that you have connected your WD drive to the computer and installed the WD SmartWare software. If not, no problem! You can do it now. Then, proceed with the instructions below.
• Open the SmartWare software. Go to the Settings tab.
• Click on the "Set Up Drive" button.
• This will open the drive settings screen. Here, click on the security button.
• Now, the Set Security section will show up with fields.
• Create a unique password and enter it in the "Create a password" field.
• To save it to your drive, you must first validate the password you entered.
• So, verify the password by re-entering it in the "Verify password" field.
• There will be a "Password hint" field. You can enter a useful text or letter that has the password in it.
• This will help you remember your password if you forget it.
• Finally, click "Continue."

This is how to encrypt an external hard drive with WD SmartWare. It is that simple, right?

Attention!

Are you using the WD My Passport drive and looking to set up password protection on it? Then we've got your back. Check out this article to learn more.

Password Protected WD EHD Ready to Go!

Setting up password protection on a WD external hard drive is a breeze! In just a few short minutes, you can have the peace of mind of knowing your data is secure. All you need is a few minutes to spare and some basic experience working with the software. Trust us; it's super easy.

And if you need any extra help or have any doubts, don't hesitate to reach out. Our friendly support team is always ready and happy to assist you. Just give us a call, and we'll guide you through the process step-by-step. So, go ahead and secure your data now!