htaccess apache2 authentication for specific directory

@@ Apache version 2.4 and above. @@

Create .htaccess file in /var/www/html directory and add following lines

********************************
AuthType Basic
AuthName "Password Required"
AuthUserFile /var/www/html/webmail/.htpasswd
AuthGroupFile /dev/null
Require user webmail
*******************************


Create another file for storing password and save it as blank file
vim /var/www/html/webmail/.htpasswd


Create & store password
htpasswd -m /var/www/html/webmail/.htpasswd webmail


Now enable a module with below command
a2enmod authz_groupfile

Restart apache2 service



Edit apache.conf file with below lines
AccessFileName .htaccess [remove hash (#) in front of this line]

Change below lines from
**********************************
<Directory /var/www>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride None
        Require all granted
</Directory>
*********************************

to
*********************************
<Directory /var/www/html>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
</Directory>
*********************************


Restart apache2 service and check now. It will prompt you for username and password.