Keep documents, photos, and project files in a password-protected virtual drive. Open your locker to work normally, then close it to protect its contents.
Choose a task to create an encrypted .gpd locker, open it as a private drive, close it after work, or maintain a complete container backup. Separate tutorials cover portable protection, hidden files, disguised folders, and password wallets.
The .gpd file is the encrypted container stored on the host drive. Opening it with the correct password makes its private storage available in Windows; closing the locker ends that mounted access while retaining the container and its data.
The screenshots show Private Disk 11.6.0 workspaces. The creation wizard and password-edit dialog are not pictured; follow the fields and confirmations presented by the installed version.
Open GiliSoft Private Disk on Windows, choose Encrypt Files, and select Create Locker. Use this command to create a new container rather than trying to open a missing locker entry.
If a previously used locker is missing, locate its existing .gpd file through troubleshooting. Do not create a replacement at the old path and overwrite recoverable data.
In the creation wizard, choose a recognizable locker name and the location for its .gpd container. Record the full path and use a new file location so an existing container or its backup is not overwritten.
Choose the maximum size required for your files and leave sufficient free space on the host drive. Review the capacity and storage location before continuing; the container and the opened private drive are different parts of the same locker workflow.
Create and confirm the locker password, retain it securely, and complete the wizard. Open the new locker, save and read a sample file in the private drive, then close it and confirm the Closed status before adding important data.
Follow Open an Existing .gpd Locker, Work with Files, and Close a Locker for those independent tasks. Keep a verified separate backup before moving the only copy of important files into private storage.
Connect the drive that stores the locker and find the current .gpd file. If it was moved or renamed, use the current location rather than relying on an old list entry.
Choose Encrypt Files, use Open Locker, and select the required container or locker entry as prompted. Enter its correct password.
Open the private storage location presented by Windows and verify the expected files. A list row marked Closed or Locker not found is not confirmation that access has opened.
The Encrypt Files screenshot shows where the locker controls are located. Renaming the container extension or entering a different project password does not unlock it.
Use Open Locker with its password and identify the private drive presented by Windows. Confirm that it belongs to the intended container.
Copy documents, photos, or project folders into the opened private storage. Open and edit them with the usual Windows applications, and choose a destination inside that private drive when saving.
Reopen a sample saved file to check it, then close documents and applications using the drive. Complete Close a Locker rather than leaving the mounted storage open.
Files copied outside the private drive become separate copies; closing the locker does not encrypt those outside copies. Likewise, adding a file to the locker does not automatically remove its original source file.
Finish edits and transfers, then close documents, media players, editors, and File Explorer windows accessing the locker.
Return to Encrypt Files, select the intended locker, and choose Close Locker. If closing fails, check for applications still using the private drive rather than forcing storage removal.
Verify that the private drive is no longer available for normal access and that the locker is marked Closed. Keep the .gpd container; closing it does not delete its contents.
Closing File Explorer alone does not necessarily close the locker. On removable storage, wait for writes to finish and use Windows safe removal before unplugging the device.
Save changes, close every application using the private drive, and confirm Closed. Keep a verified separate copy before changing the container location.
Move the complete container file to the intended drive or folder. Allow the operation to finish, keep its filename distinct from backups, and do not copy only the old program-list entry or a shortcut.
Use Encrypt Files > Open Locker to select the moved container, enter its password, and verify representative files. Close it again before unplugging removable storage.
If the old row reports Locker not found, locate and open the moved container; do not treat that stale path as proof its files were deleted.
Save documents and complete Close a Locker. Confirm the container is closed before making its backup.
Copy the complete .gpd file to a separate reliable drive or backup location. Keep a dated copy and wait for copying or cloud synchronization to finish; do not treat live simultaneous editing as a backup workflow.
Open a test copy from the backup through Private Disk, verify the password and representative files, then close it. Avoid modifying the sole backup during verification, and keep the password associated with that particular backup version.
Encryption protects confidentiality, not against drive failure or accidental deletion. When using cloud storage, synchronize the closed container and avoid opening or changing the same locker on several PCs at once.
Confirm the current password opens the intended locker, save all work, close it, and retain a complete independent backup before editing its protection.
Select the intended locker in Encrypt Files and review the password-change options offered through Edit Locker. Supply the current credential and the new password as the installed dialog requires. If no password-change option is offered, create a separate locker with the new password and copy the required content into it instead.
Close the changed or replacement locker, reopen it with the new password, and verify its files. Update the secure password record and retain the verified backup until the replacement is confirmed.
The main screenshot identifies Edit Locker, but does not show a password-change dialog. Changing one container does not change older backups or copies, which retain the password used when they were made. A password edit is not a forgotten-password reset.
Choose separate locker names and .gpd paths for personal documents, client work, or archives. Keep a record of which project belongs to each container.
Use Create Locker for each new container, choose its capacity, and set its password. Open each one and verify a sample file before adding the project data.
Record each container location, password, and backup version securely. Check the selected locker and private drive before copying files, changing a password, or closing a session.
Close and back up the existing .gpd locker. Choose a new container path and sufficient free host-drive space for the larger private disk.
Use Create Locker with the required larger capacity and password. This creates a new destination; do not assume that moving or renaming the old container expands its capacity.
Open the required lockers and copy the files into the new private drive using the Windows file workflow. Compare representative files and folders, close the new locker, and reopen it to verify the result before removing any old copy.
This is a migration workflow, not a claim that every version supports resizing a locker in place. Keep the original and its backup until the new container is verified.
To carry an ordinary .gpd file, close the locker and copy the complete container to the USB or external drive; open it with Private Disk on the Windows PC where it will be used. For portable packaging, open Protect USB and choose Protect USB Drive.
Follow the installed wizard to select the intended locker and destination device. Review its output and password requirements and let the operation finish. Keep original containers and key records separate from the delivery.
Open the resulting locker or portable output using its required password and workflow. Verify the files, close the private storage, wait for writes to finish, and safely remove the USB drive. Do not assume that copying a raw .gpd file is the same as creating a portable executable.
See use a portable Private Disk on USB for the portable-storage scenario.
Open Protect USB and choose Protect CD & DVD. Keep a closed backup of the source locker before preparing the disc.
Follow the installed wizard for the locker and optical-media target. Complete the protection and writing process, and retain the password and any playback or opening instructions required by that output.
Use the actual disc and target Windows computer to check that the protected contents can be opened with the intended credential. Keep the source container and backup rather than relying on one delivered disc as the only copy.
The Protect USB screenshot shows the optical-media entry. Copying an ordinary folder onto a disc is not this protected-locker workflow.
Go to Protect USB and choose Protect Attachment. Select the files intended for that delivery through the displayed workflow.
Follow the protection and compression prompts offered by the installed version, choose the output location, and retain the password securely. Attach the generated protected output rather than the unprotected source files.
Test the resulting file with the application or opening method required by its output format. Send the password separately from the attachment and check the recipient's mail-service attachment rules.
See the attachment protection entry. This protects the generated attachment, not the email subject, message body, or every copy of the original files.
Choose the Hidden Files workspace and select Hide Files/Folder.
Choose the files or folders through the displayed selection workflow. Review the resulting list and status before leaving the workspace.
Verify ordinary Windows browsing no longer presents the intended items as before, and keep their paths recorded. Restore them through UnHide when needed.
Hiding changes visibility during ordinary browsing. Use an encrypted locker when the files need encryption, and do not delete hidden source paths just because they are not visible in File Explorer.
Open Private Disk and choose Hidden Files. Find the entry for the item whose visibility should be restored.
Select the intended file or folder, then choose UnHide when it is enabled. Do not assume removing an unrelated list entry restores all hidden content.
Check the item at its expected Windows path and open representative files. If it is missing, review whether its storage drive or folder has moved before creating replacement files at the same path.
The Hidden Files screenshot shows the UnHide control at the bottom.
Choose Disguise and select Disguise Folder in the workspace.
Use the displayed workflow to select the intended folder and disguise type. Record its original path and review the resulting Disguised Type and Status entry.
View the folder through the normal Windows route and verify the intended appearance. Keep the restoration route available; the disguise changes presentation and is not equivalent to an encrypted .gpd locker.
Open Disguise and identify the intended folder in its list using the recorded path and disguise details.
Select the folder and choose Non-disguise when enabled, following the installed confirmation prompts.
Check the restored folder in Windows and open representative files. Restore its normal presentation before moving or renaming it so the recorded path remains clear.
See the restoration control in the Disguise screenshot.
Open Password Wallets and select Create Wallet. Complete the name, location, and protection prompts presented by the wallet wizard.
Use Open Wallet with the required credential. Add or update private account notes, license keys, or reference information using the fields provided by the installed wallet. Edit Wallet and Copy/Move act on the selected wallet where enabled.
Close the wallet through its provided workflow, keep its password securely, and maintain a separate copy using the wallet's supported file or Copy/Move workflow after active editing has ended. Do not use Delete Wallet as a way to close it.
| What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
| Locker not found | Locate the complete .gpd file, reconnect its storage drive, and open it from its current path. Do not overwrite it with a new empty locker. |
| The locker will not close | Save changes and close applications, file transfers, and Explorer windows using the private drive. Try Close Locker again before moving or unplugging storage. |
| Files saved outside the private drive remain visible | They are separate copies. Closing a locker protects its contents, not every source or exported file elsewhere on the PC. |
| A password no longer opens a backup | Use the credential belonging to that specific container version. A password change to one copy does not update older backups. |
| The container copy or synchronization is incomplete | Close the locker, check free space and the destination's file-size limits, and wait for the full copy before trying to open it elsewhere. |
| The password is forgotten | Use the retained password record. Do not treat Edit Locker or a filename change as a password bypass; ask GiliSoft Support about the specific case if needed. |
Record the program version, container path, storage device, and exact error when asking GiliSoft Support for help. Keep the existing container intact.
Open Private Disk, choose Encrypt Files, use Open Locker to select the actual .gpd container, and enter its password. Check the opened private drive and expected files rather than relying on a stale list entry.
The .gpd file may have moved, been renamed, or be stored on a disconnected drive. Locate the current complete container and reconnect it. Do not overwrite an existing locker by creating an empty replacement at the same path.
A document, application, file transfer, or Explorer window may still be using the private drive. Save and close that activity, then use Close Locker again and confirm the Closed status.
Yes. Close it first, move the complete .gpd container, then select it from its new location through Open Locker. Verify its contents and retain a separate backup during the move.
Close applications using the private storage, close the locker, wait for writes to finish, and use Windows safe removal before disconnecting the device.
Use the secure password record retained for that container. Protected content may be inaccessible without the correct credential; Edit Locker and a filename change are not universal password-reset methods. Keep the container intact and ask GiliSoft Support about the specific case if necessary.
No. Closing ends mounted access to the private drive while the encrypted .gpd container remains in its saved location. Keep that file because it holds the protected data. Closing File Explorer alone may leave the locker open.
No. A change to one container does not rewrite previously made copies. Keep the password associated with each backup version, and verify a new backup after a password change.
No. A copied .gpd file is still a container opened through Private Disk. Protect USB provides a separate portable packaging workflow. Test the resulting output and its password requirements on the intended Windows computer.
No. They change file visibility or folder presentation. Encrypt Files creates an encrypted .gpd locker for the data stored inside its private drive. Files left or copied outside that drive are separate copies.
Create a locker for your files, close it when work is finished, and keep a complete, verified container backup.
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