How to put a password on a directory or a specific folder on the server?

Question

Apache HTTP Server

The tags may have been incorrectly indicated, I don’t know what specifically to attribute this question to.
I shoveled the entire Internet, everywhere there is only one way - through the htaccess and htpasswd files. I tried, it didn't work. He did not see the passwords that I enter in the file for access.
And I wanted to know what other ways there are to close a specific directory or folder on the server from access? For example, there will be a folder with files that are automatically downloaded via a direct link. How to avoid it? Any examples, methods, articles.
Thanks

Answer 1

They found everything correctly, only they did it wrong, apparently. Create a new question with your configs and someone will definitely help you

Answer 2

Google is full of information about Htpasswd , do it on the generator, check the rewrite module if apache .... look for those!