How to Install and Use SanDisk Security Software

About SanDisk Security

SanDisk Security allows password protection of external drives that support 256-bit AES hardware encryption from unauthorized use or access. The computer must be able to run .exe files.

SanDisk Security features the ability to:

• Create a password to keep others from accessing the files on the drive
• Change the password
• Remove password protection
• Unlock drive

• SanDisk Security uses the set password to lock and unlock the drive.
• All of the data will be lost if the password is forgotten.
  Tech Support cannot recover and password.
  THE DRIVE WILL NEED TO BE ERASED BEFORE IT CAN BE USED AGAIN.
  
  Need more help?
  Answer ID 49662: Steps to Resolve SanDisk Security Invalid or Forgotten Password

Supported Drives

• SanDisk Extreme Portable V2
• SanDisk Extreme Pro V2
• SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE SSD
• Drives not listed are not supported.
• SanDisk iXpand and USB Flash drives are not supported

Supported Operating Systems

Windows

• Windows 11
• Windows 10 32-bit & 64-bit

macOS

• macOS 14 Sonoma
• macOS 13 Ventura
• macOS 12 Monterey

Download and Install on Windows

Download and install SanDisk Security on Windows.

1. Download SanDisk Security.
   
   SanDisk Security for Windows


2. Go to Downloads folder and find SanDiskSecurity_WIN.zip.
   Right-click SanDiskSecurity_WIN.zip.
   Select Extract All.
   Click Extract.
   Double-click into the SanDiskSecurity_WIN folder.
   Double-click SanDiskSecuritySetup.exe.


3. Read the EULA (End User License Agreement).
   Check the box.
   Click Install.
    

   



4. Click Finish.
    

   

Start SanDisk Security

1. Connect a supported drive to the computer.
   
   
   • SanDisk Extreme Portable V2
   • SanDisk Extreme Pro V2
   • SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE SSD
   • Drives not listed are not supported.
   • SanDisk iXpand and USB Flash drives are not supported


2. Enter SanDisk Security in the search bar.


3. Double-click SanDisk Security.

Download and Install on macOS

Download and install SanDisk Security on macOS.

1. Download SanDisk Security.
   
   SanDisk Security for macOS

IMPORTANT:


Rosetta 2 needs to be installed on Macs with Apple silicon to use with SanDisk Security.

Need more help?
Answer ID 51540: Steps to Install Rosetta App for SanDisk Security

2. Go to Downloads folder and find SanDiskSecurity_MACOS.zip.
   Double-click SanDiskSecurity_MACOS.zip to unzip.
   Double-click SanDiskSecurity_Installer_for_Mac.dmg file.


3. Double-click SanDisk Security Installer.
    

   



4. Click Open.
    

   



5. Read the EULA (End User License Agreement).
   Check the box.
   Click Install.
    

   



6. Enter an admin username and password.
   Click OK.
    

   



7. Click Finish.
    

   



8. Open Finder.
   Select Applications.
   Double-click SanDisk Security to open.
    

Start SanDisk Security

1. Connect a supported drive to the computer.
   
   
   • SanDisk Extreme Portable V2
   • SanDisk Extreme Pro V2
   • SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE SSD
   • Drives not listed are not supported.
   • SanDisk iXpand and USB Flash drives are not supported


2. Enter SanDisk Security in the Spotlight search bar.


3. Double-click SanDisk Security.

Set a Password

Set a password and protect the data on the drive.

Critical: SanDisk Security uses the set password to lock and unlock the drive. All of the data will be lost if the password is forgotten. Tech Support cannot recover and password. THE DRIVE WILL NEED TO BE ERASED BEFORE IT CAN BE USED AGAIN. Need more help? Answer ID 49662: Steps to Resolve SanDisk Security Invalid or Forgotten Password

1. Connect a drive.


2. Open SanDisk Security.


3. Enter a password.
   The password can have a maximum of 25 characters.
   Verify Password by entering the same password again.
   Enter a Password Hint that will help remember the password if forgotten.
   Check the box next to Enable Auto Lock.
   The drive will auto-unlock when connected to a computer with the same local user name.
   Click Set Password.
    

   



4. Click Close.
    

   



5. Click Close and exit SanDisk Security.
   
   IMPORTANT:
   • The Remove password option is selected by default in this screen.
   • Entering the password on this screen will Remove the password that was just created.
   • Click Close and exit SanDisk Security to keep password protection on. 

   



6. Safe Eject and remove the drive.
   
   Need more help?
   Answer ID 21880: Steps to Safe Eject and Remove USB Flash and External Drives on Windows or macOS


7. Connect the drive to the computer again.

Auto-Unlock Drive Details (Enable and Disable)

SanDisk Security allow the drive to auto-unlock for this computer when a password is set.
Auto-unlock DOES NOT occur for any other user account on the computer which enabled the feature (unless that user also enabled auto-unlock, for that drive, on that computer).

Auto-unlock conditions may vary based on the drive make and model.

• Drives may lock during reboot or sign-off due to their connection to the operating system USB suspend process.
• Drives may remain unlocked when the USB process is suspended.
  Safe Eject and remove the drive to ensure the drive is locked and secure.
  
  Need more help?
  • Answer ID 21880: Steps to Safe Eject and Remove USB Flash and External Drives on Windows or macOS
  • Answer ID 20555: WD Security Password Protected Drive Auto Unlock Not Working
  • Answer ID 7502: Password Protected Unlock Prompt Not Displayed for a WD My Book
  • Answer ID 51239: Steps to Remove WD Unlocker

Change Password is needed to Turn ON and OFF auto-lock.
The same password can be used again.

Turn On Auto-UnLock

1. Connect a drive.


2. Open SanDisk Security.


3. Select Change Password.
   Enter the correct Current Password.
   Enter a New Password.
   Verify the New Password.
   Enter a New Password Hint.
   Check the box Enable auto unlock for this computer (user: XYZ)
   Click Update Security Settings.
    

   

Turn Off Auto-UnLock

1. Connect a drive.


2. Open SanDisk Security.


3. Select Disable auto unlock for this computer (user: XYZ)
    

   

4. Enter he correct Password.
   Click Update Security Settings.
    

   



5. Click Close.
    

   



6. Click Close.
    

   

Unlock With SanDisk Security Software

Use SanDisk Security Software to unlock the drive.

Critical: SanDisk Security uses the set password to lock and unlock the drive. All of the data will be lost if the password is forgotten. Tech Support cannot recover and password. THE DRIVE WILL NEED TO BE ERASED BEFORE IT CAN BE USED AGAIN. Need more help? Answer ID 49662: Steps to Resolve SanDisk Security Invalid or Forgotten Password

1. Connect a drive.


2. Open SanDisk Security.


3. Select a drive to unlock.


4. Enter the correct password.
   Click Unlock Drive.
   
   

   Click Password Hit if the password cannot be remembered and was setup when the password was set.

   
    

   

Unlock Without SanDisk Security Software (SanDisk Unlocker)

SanDisk Drive Unlocker (Virtual CD (VCD) can be used to unlock a drive when SanDisk Security Software is not installed.

Critical: SanDisk Security uses the set password to lock and unlock the drive. All of the data will be lost if the password is forgotten. Tech Support cannot recover and password. THE DRIVE WILL NEED TO BE ERASED BEFORE IT CAN BE USED AGAIN. Need more help? Answer ID 49662: Steps to Resolve SanDisk Security Invalid or Forgotten Password

1. Connect the drive.


2. Open Windows Explorer or macOS Finder.
   Double-click SanDisk Unlocker.
   Couble-click SanDisk Drive Unlock.
    

   Windows	macOS



3. Click Yes on Windows.
   Click OK on macOS.
    

   Windows	macOS



4. Enter the correct password.
   Click Unlock Drive.
   
   

   Click Password Hit if the password cannot be remembered and was setup when the password was set.

   
    

   



5. Click Close.
    

   

• Answer ID 20555: WD Security Password Protected Drive Auto Unlock Not Working
• Answer ID 7502: Password Protected Unlock Prompt Not Displayed for a WD My Book
• Answer ID 51239: Steps to Remove WD Unlocker

Change Password

Change the password on a protected drive.

1. Connect a drive.


2. Open SanDisk Security.


3. Enter the correct password.
   

   Click Password Hit if the password cannot be remembered and was setup when the password was set.

   
   Click Unlock Drive.

   



4. Select Change Password.
   
   

   Critical: The Remove password option is selected by default in this screen. Entering the password on this screen will Remove the password that was just created. Select Change Password.

   



5. Enter the Current Password.
   

   Click Password Hit if the password cannot be remembered and was setup when the password was set.

   
   Enter a New Password.
   Verify the New Password.
   Enter a New Password Hint.
    

6. Click Update Security Settings.
   
   

   Critical: SanDisk Security uses the set password to lock and unlock the drive. All of the data will be lost if the password is forgotten. Tech Support cannot recover and password. THE DRIVE WILL NEED TO BE ERASED BEFORE IT CAN BE USED AGAIN. Need more help? Answer ID 49662: Steps to Resolve SanDisk Security Invalid or Forgotten Password

   
    

   



7. Click Close.
    

   



8. Click Close and exit SanDisk Security.
   
   IMPORTANT:
   • The Remove password option is selected by default in this screen.
   • Entering the password on this screen will Remove the password that was just created.
   • Click Close and exit SanDisk Security to keep password protection on. 

   



9. Safe Eject and remove the drive.
   
   Need more help?
   Answer ID 21880: Steps to Safe Eject and Remove USB Flash and External Drives on Windows or macOS


10. Connect the drive to the computer again.

Remove Password

Remove password protection from a drive.

1. Connect a drive.


2. Open SanDisk Security.


3. Select Remove Password.
   Enter the Correct Password.
   

   Click Password Hit if the password cannot be remembered and was setup when the password was set.



4. Click Update Security Settings.
   
   

   Critical: SanDisk Security uses the set password to lock and unlock the drive. All of the data will be lost if the password is forgotten. Tech Support cannot recover and password. THE DRIVE WILL NEED TO BE ERASED BEFORE IT CAN BE USED AGAIN. Need more help? Answer ID 49662: Steps to Resolve SanDisk Security Invalid or Forgotten Password

   



5. Click Close.
    

   



6. Click Close.