---
id: external-drives.can-i-encrypt-just-part-of-an-external-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-encrypt-just-part-of-an-external-drive
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Passwords and encryption"
question: "Can I encrypt just part of an external drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "Encrypt one volume on external drive"
  - "Password protect one partition Mac"
  - "Encrypted and unencrypted volumes on same drive"
  - "private folder on external drive encrypted"
short_answer: "Yes. On an APFS drive each volume can be encrypted separately, so you can keep one volume locked and others open, all sharing the free space. For a handful of private files, an encrypted disk image works like a password-protected folder."
tags: ["encryption", "apfs volume", "disk image"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-add-a-volume-to-an-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-decrypt-an-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-split-one-drive-into-storage-studio-and-other-uses"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Can I encrypt just part of an external drive?

Yes. On an APFS drive, each **volume** can be encrypted on its own. Add a volume in Disk Utility, choose an encrypted format for it (or Control-click it in Finder and choose **Encrypt**), and keep the other volumes unencrypted. All volumes share the drive's free space.

Another option for a few private files is an **encrypted disk image**: in Disk Utility choose **File → New Image → Blank Image** with encryption. It behaves like a password-protected folder you can keep anywhere.

See [how to add a volume](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-add-a-volume-to-an-external-drive).