[[!meta title="Using VeraCrypt encrypted volumes"]]

Difference between file containers and partitions

<h3>File containers</h3>

<div class="text">
<p>A file container is a single big file inside which you can store
several files encrypted, a bit like a ZIP file.</p>
</div>
</div>

<h3>Partitions or drives</h3>

<div class="text">
<p>Usually, drives (USB sticks and hard disks) have a single partition of their
entire size. This way, you can encrypt a whole USB stick, for example.
But, drives can also be split into several partitions.
</div>
</div>

Unlocking parameters

Using a file container

Unlocking a file container without keyfiles

Enter the parameters to unlock the volume. For more information, see the [[Unlocking parameters|veracrypt#parameters]] section above.

Click **Unlock**.

Unlocking a file container with keyfiles

Choose **[[!img lib/open-menu.png alt="" class=symbolic link="no"]]&nbsp;▸ Attach Disk Image&hellip;** from the top navigation bar.

Navigate to the folder containing the file container that you want to open.

An authentication dialog appears.

[[!img authentication.png link="no" class="screenshot" alt="Authentication required"]]

Open your *VeraCrypt* volumes from the **Places** menu.

Using a partition or drive

<h2 id="partition-external">Unlocking a partition on an external storage device</h2>

Plug in the USB stick or hard disk that you want to unlock.