microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys
Add Secure Archive Utility for Password-Protected File Compression
- Dominant language
- C
- Stars
- 139k
- Forks
- 8.6k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
### Description of the new feature / enhancement
Windows currently allows users to create standard ZIP archives through File Explorer, but it does not support creating password-protected or encrypted archives natively. Users who want to securely store or share sensitive documents must rely on third-party tools such as 7-Zip or WinRAR.
I propose adding a Secure Archive utility to PowerToys that allows users to create encrypted archives directly from the Windows context menu. This would provide a lightweight, secure, and convenient method for protecting files without requiring additional external tools.
The feature could integrate into the File Explorer context menu under PowerToys and provide a simple password prompt before creating the archive. Encryption could use modern standards such as AES-256 to ensure strong protection.
### Scenario when this would be used?
This feature would be useful in several common scenarios:
- Users who want to securely store sensitive documents (financial records, personal files, credentials backups, etc.).
- Users who need to share confidential files via email or cloud storage and want to protect them with a password.
- Users who prefer a native Windows workflow instead of installing and maintaining additional compression software.
- Organizations where installing third-party tools may be restricted but PowerToys is allowed.
Example workflow:
1. User selects files or folders in File Explorer.
2. Right-click → PowerToys → Create Secure Archive.
3. A dialog appears asking for a password.
4. PowerToys creates an encrypted archive that requires the password to open.
Right Click
└─ PowerToys
├─ Create Secure Archive
└─ Extract Secure Archive
### Supporting information
- Windows built-in compression currently lacks password protection capabilities.
- Secure archiving is a very common workflow already handled by third-party tools.
- Integrating this capability into PowerToys would align with its goal of enhancing Windows productivity with lightweight utilities.
- The feature could be implemented using existing compression libraries combined with Windows cryptographic APIs.
Contributor guide
Research direction
No files, tests, or entry points are identified in the proposal, so first locate the PowerToys component responsible for File Explorer context-menu utilities and review its existing archive or cryptography integrations. Done would require an agreed design that supports creating and extracting password-protected archives from the described workflow with modern encryption.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- c
- Domain
- desktop, operating-systems, security
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100