How to Create a Password Protected Auto-Expanding Folder

In this Episode, How To Create an Auto Expanding Password Protected Folder.

In the previous Episode titled “How To Password Protect a Folder” an Encrypted Password Protected Folder was created from an exiting Folder.

TRANSCRIPT:

If you have not had a chance to watch the previous Episode…I have included a link below and also added a “Click To Watch” option at the end of this Episode.

Previous Episode: How to Password Protect an Existing Folder OS X

Has I have recently discovered, when Encrypting and Password Protecting an Existing Folder, It was not expandable.

For example, if the existing Folder was 100MB and you wanted to say add an additional 100MB file to it, you would get this message: (Show Screenshot of Message)

The Item can’t be copied because there isn’t enough free space.

One option would be to delete some files to accommodate the 100MB file…but these are your secret files… Their must be another way.

You’ll be glad to know there is. Enter the Sparse Bundle Disk.

In theory, a Sparse Bundle Disk is an auto-expanding Folder that grows in size according to the limit you have set and only uses actual hard disk space when files are copied to it. Furthermore; if you find that you need additional space, it can be resized.

DEMO TIME: Creating an auto-expanding Folder.

Let’s Get Started.

I should mention, as we’ll be using the Disk Utility Application, make sure that you have a back-up of your hard disk just incase something goes wrong…like accidentally executing a command by mistake.

So with the familiar Back-Up warning taken care of…Let’s continue.

I’ll just open Finder so that you can note the current Macintosh Hard Disk Space, which in my case is 62.79 Giga Bytes.

Now…Launch Disk Utility

Either select Blank Disk Image… here or directly from the Disk Utility window by clicking on the New Image Icon here.

Choose a name for the image file…I’ll just call it: Black Book 2

Then a Name for the Folder inside the image file…I’ll call mine…Top Secret

Next the Size that you want the Folder to be…I’ll choose 100 MB…remember you can always resize later if need more space.

Leave the Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

For Encryption:  either select 128 or 256 bit as noted…256 more secure but slower…I’ll just choose the recommended.

For the Partition…Leave Default of No partition map

And Finally, for the Image Format, select sparse bundle disk image.

Then press the Create button

You will now then be prompted to enter a password to secure the Top Secret Folder.

I didn’t emphasize this in my previous Episode, keep your Password safe and secure…even if you have 10 back-ups of your image file…it’s useless if  you lose or forget your password…can’t say you haven’t been warned.

Now for the most important part…make sure to uncheck Remember password in my keychain…otherwise it would be pointless creating a private secure Folder.

After pressing the OK button the Secure file named Black Book 2 will be created along with the Top Secret Folder inside it.

In case you haven’t noticed… no actual hard disk space was used, just 2.9 MB for the creation of the Top Secret Folder.

As mentioned earlier, actual hard disk Space is only used when files are added to the Top Secret Folder as I’ll demonstrate here.

The current Macintosh hard disk space is 62.78 GB…as I copy approximately 75 MB to the Top Secret Folder , it decreases…to 62.71 GB

As you can see the Top Secret Folder now has only 24.8 MB available…I’ll just resize it by an additional 100 MB…but before proceeding, the Top Secret Folder has to be Ejected First…as shown.

And that’s all there is to it,  a secure password protected Folder that can be expanded when needed.

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Thanks and Peace.