Choose what stays locked
Keep selected desktop programs off limits when someone else uses your Windows session.
FREE APP LOCK FOR WINDOWS
Lock your apps.
Keep others out.
Stop others from opening the Windows programs you choose. Lock an EXE, then enter your password in Free App Lock to unlock it.
Free to use · Windows 10 & 11 · No online signup
Lock the EXE files you choose
Keep original app files intact
Light and dark themes
SIMPLE TO LOCK. SIMPLE TO UNLOCK.
Your apps, under your control.
Pick a program, lock its EXE and unlock it when you need it.
Set your password
Create one password to manage your locked apps. Keep it somewhere safe.
Choose an app
Close the app, select Add EXE and choose the program you want to lock.
Confirm the lock
Check the file path and lock it. Windows now blocks access to that EXE.
Unlock when needed
Select the app in Free App Lock and enter your password to restore access.
A locked EXE shows a Windows access-denied message. Enter your password in Free App Lock to unlock it. How to unlock an app
KNOW WHAT’S LOCKED
One list.
A clear view of every lock.
See the app name, file path and current lock status together. Select a record to unlock it, or refresh the list to check its state.
- Manage your selected EXE files in one place.
- Verify your password before restoring access.
- Start in light mode, or switch to dark whenever you like.
A straightforward way
to keep chosen apps off limits.
Free local app locking, with the controls you need to get back in.
One password. Your selected apps.
- Choose the original EXE file you want to restrict.
- Unlock it from Free App Lock with your password.
- Keep the lock in place when the manager is closed.
Keep your files and recovery records.
- Leave the EXE’s contents and signature unchanged.
- Export an encrypted recovery kit for your records.
- Check each file’s actual protection state.
For selected local NTFS EXE files and your current Windows account. Check what the lock covers
- Close the app first. Save your work before locking. Free App Lock does not stop programs that are already running.
- Keep your password. Export a current recovery kit and keep its password safe. A kit does not reset a forgotten password.
- Unlock before updating. Restore access before updating, moving or uninstalling the protected app.
QUICK ANSWERS
Before you lock
your first app.
How it works, what it covers and how to unlock.
How do I lock an app?
Create your Free App Lock password, close the app you want to lock, then select Add EXE and choose its executable. Check the path and confirm. The selected file must be on a local NTFS drive.
What happens when someone opens a locked app?
Windows denies access to the selected EXE. To use it again, open Free App Lock, select the entry and enter your password to unlock it. The target app does not display its own password prompt.
Does Free App Lock need to stay open?
No. Windows keeps the selected file restricted after you close Free App Lock. Locking does not stop an app that is already running, so save your work and close it first.
Will locking change my app’s contents?
No. The selected EXE’s contents and embedded digital signature stay unchanged. Free App Lock changes Windows file permissions and keeps a record so you can restore access. Unlock the file before updating, moving or uninstalling the app.
Does the lock cover every copy and every Windows account?
It covers the local EXE you select for the current Windows account. Other copies, other executables, browser versions and other accounts are outside that record. A Windows administrator can change permissions. It does not encrypt your documents or application data.
What if I forget my password?
Keep your password and export a current encrypted recovery kit. The kit preserves permissions records, but still needs the password used when it was exported. It is not a password reset. The handbook explains recovery and safe removal.
Is Free App Lock free?
Yes. The local lock and unlock features are free to download and use. No subscription or online signup is required.
What choices does setup contain?
Setup may present a separate RelevantKnowledge research invitation. You may decline or skip it and still install Free App Lock. If accepted, that separate software may collect browsing and application activity in the background and is removed through its own Windows uninstall entry.
FREE APP LOCK 8.1.0
Keep your chosen apps
off limits. For free.
Download Free App Lock and decide which Windows programs others can open.
Download details
Download Free App Lock
Free to use. No subscription. No online signup.
Setup can include an optional RelevantKnowledge research invitation. Declining or skipping it leaves the main application available. Accepted participation may add separate background data collection and a separate uninstall entry. See your choices.