Hot key

Folder Guard lets you create a hot key, that is, a combination of the keys that you could press at any time to quickly open Folder Guard or toggle the protection on and off. Having a hot key set up is essential if you are going to use Folder Guard in the stealth mode, because it is the only way to run Folder Guard when the protection is enabled in that mode. Even if you are not using the stealth mode of operation, it is still highly recommended to set up a hot key, to have an alternative way of running Folder Guard.

To set up the hot key, run Folder Guard, choose the File - Settings command from its menu, select the hot key page, and enter the desired hot key combination there. Note that when the main window of Folder Guard is on the screen, the hot key is not functioning. However, if you press the hot key combination after you exit Folder Guard, you will be prompted to enter the Master password, and then one of the following screens will appear on the screen:

If the protection is not currently enabled, the following window is displayed:

This window lets you enable the protection that you have previously set up with Folder Guard. You can also choose to run Folder Guard, if you want to change the protection settings. If you press Cancel, the window will be closed leaving the protection disabled. (To enable the Remember the password option on this window, use the Options - Settings command of Folder Guard.)

If the protection is already enabled when you press the hot key combination, the following window is displayed:

You can choose to disable the protection, lock all folders that you might have previously unlocked, or run Folder Guard. If you press Cancel, the window will be closed leaving the protection enabled, as it was before you've pressed the hot key combination.

Note that in order for the hot key to keep operating after you reboot Windows, you must check the Enable protection at Windows startup option. If this option is not checked, then neither the protection, nor the hot key will be active after you restart Windows.