Because most versions of Windows do not include a method of password protecting your files and folders, this page provides steps for encrypting files and folders instead. To password protect your files and folders in Windows, you need to use a third-party program.
- Proencryptor 1 7 7 – Encrypt Your Files Folder Recovery Software
- Proencryptor 1 7 7 – Encrypt Your Files Folder Folders
Before password protecting any document, you may want to create a backup of the non-password protected files and folder in case you forget the password in the future.
Jun 05, 2018 Note: To encrypt your files and folders, you need to be comfortable navigating your OS, e.g. Know how to access the Control Panel. How to encrypt files and folders in Windows 10, 8, or 7 EFS. To encrypt a file or folder: In Windows Explorer, right-click on the file or folder you wish to encrypt. From the context-menu, select Properties. Mar 14, 2018 ProEncryptor is a professional encryption software, support AES256 and AES512 algorithm, according to the need of higher security, we specially made optimization. What's new in ProEncryptor Version 1.7.7.
Microsoft Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10 users
Unfortunately, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 do not provide any features for password protecting files or folders. You need to use a third-party software program to accomplish this.
If you want to encrypt a file or folder, this can be done by following these steps:
- Select the file or folder you want to encrypt.
- Right-click the file or folder and select Properties.
- On the General tab, click the Advanced button.
- Check the box for the 'Encrypt contents to secure data' option, then click OK on both windows.
If the 'Encrypt contents to secure data' option is not selectable or available, you likely have a Home edition of Windows, which does not support this feature. It is also possible that the hard drive where the files are located is not formatted as NTFS, which is required.
Microsoft Windows XP Professional users
The steps below for encrypting the files on Windows XP Professional apply to users who are using a computer that has two or more accounts. If you are using a single account, see the other security solutions section.
- Select the file or folder you want to encrypt.
- Right-click the file or folder and click Properties.
- On the General tab, click the Advanced button.
- Check 'Encrypt contents to secure data' option.
- Click Apply and then OK.
You won't be prompted to enter a password when encrypting a folder in Windows XP Professional. However, other user accounts on your computer will not have access to files contained in the encrypted folder.
Encrypt contents to secure data is grayed out
Flow chart diagram. If you are using the Home edition of Microsoft Windows XP, see the Windows XP Home steps.
Show 'Encrypt' on the context menu
The newest version of TweakUI also enables you to show the Encrypt option in the context menu. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Open TweakUI.
- In the TweakUI window, select Explorer.
- In the right side of the window under Settings, locate Show 'Encrypt' on the context menu and check the box. This option should be below Prefix 'shortcut to' on new shortcuts and above Show 'View workgroup computers' in NetPlaces.
Microsoft Windows XP Home users
- Select the file or folder you want to encrypt.
- Right-click the file or folder and click Properties.
- Click the Sharing tab.
- Check the box Make this folder private.
- Click Apply and then OK.
Make this folder private is grayed out
For this option to work on Microsoft Windows XP Home edition, you must meet the below requirements.
- The hard drive must be formatted in NTFS and not FAT32 file system.
- The folder you are attempting to encrypt is your folder. For example, if your name is Bob, you must encrypt the following folder, or a folder within it:
C:Documents and SettingsBob
You cannot encrypt any folders outside of this folder. If you want to encrypt folders outside of this folder, see the other security solutions section below.
Other security solutions for protecting your files and folders in Windows
File and folders not frequently used - An easy way to password protect files is to create an archive of the files using a compression tool. When the archive is created, you can encrypt the contents by specifying a password.
Windows ME and Windows XP users - Windows ME and Windows XP comes with a compression utility. This utility can also be used to compress and password protect files.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users - Windows Vista and Windows 7 also include a compression utility. However, password protection for the compressed files is not possible without the use of a third-party software program.
TipUsers can still view a list of the files within a compressed file. 128gb external hard disk. http://ybzdpk.xtgem.com/Blog/__xtblog_entry/19239662-pubg-pc-requirements-for-laptop#xt_blog. If you want both your file names and contents to be hidden, move all the files into a single folder and password protect that folder.
File and folders frequently used or accessed
If you need to password protect or encrypt data you frequently use, you need to install a third-party program that allows you to protect your files and folders. Below are some free and commercial solutions.
- 7-Zip - A free file and folder zipping utility, which also includes the ability to password protect zipped files and folders.
- AxCrypt - An excellent free encryption utility that enables users to encrypt all files within a folder and not allow those files to be viewed unless a passphrase (password) is known.
- Folder Guard - A commercial version of a password protection software that enables you to password protect files, folders, and other Windows resources.
- Protected Folder - For a small fee, it's an excellent software program that enables you to password protect folders.
Things to remember when encrypting or password protecting files and folders
- There is no such thing as a 100% protected file. There are many tools, utilities, and instructions for how to break encryption and passwords on files. However, the protection methods listed above will protect your files from the majority of users who may encounter them. If you are working with really sensitive data, we suggest a commercial product for protecting your files and data.
- Even though a file or folder may be password protected, it still can be deleted (unless the program supports the ability to protect files from being deleted). Always remember to backup all your files, even those protected by passwords.
- If you forget the password, unless you're willing to spend the time attempting to break it or pay someone, all the protected data is lost. Thus, it's important to back up a copy of the non-password protected files or folders, just in case.
Additional information
- See the encrypt and password definitions for further information and related links.
Are your files automatically getting encrypted when stored on your Windows 10 computer? This post explains in detail how to remove encryption in Windows 10, 8, or 7. And you can learn how to decrypt a file and change encrypted files to normal files, like unencrypt PDF and Excel. Besides, you can use a professional virus attack data recovery tool to recover ransomware encrypted files.
Quick Navigation for Solutions to Remove File Encryption:
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Remove Encrypt Contents | Right-click encrypted file/folder > 'Properties' > 'Advanced' > 'Encrypt Contents to Secure Data'.Full steps |
Remove Encryption from PDF | Open encrypted PDF in Adobe Acrobat > 'Advanced' > 'Security' > 'Remove Security'.Full steps |
Remove Encryption from Excel | Open encrypted Excel > 'Review' > 'Unprotected Sheet' > Enter password.Full steps |
Restore Ransomware Encrypted File | Launch EaseUS file recovery software > Scan device > Restore lost files deleted by ransomware.Full steps |
How to Decrypt a File
'My files located on the desktop are automatically getting encrypted after moving to any other locations, and the color of the file name changes to green. By clicking the file Property, in the Advanced Settings, the option Encrypt contents to secure data is automatically checked without asking my permission. How to remove encryption in Windows and how to decrypt a file?'
Overview of File Encryption
Windows Encrypting File System (EFS) is one of the basic file/folder encryption technology that enables files to be transparently encrypted to protect confidential data from attackers with physical access to the computer. When files are encrypted in this way, the file name will show green color instead of the normal black text. Except for EFS, Windows comes with another encryption feature, named BitLocker, also can guard important data by encoding logical drives.
Once you enable encryption function for your drives, new or existing files, and folders will be automatically encrypted on the drive with a certificate and private key. If you copy unencrypted files to a folder with encrypted property, they will also be automatically encrypted. This makes it impossible for unauthorized users to access and edit the data.
How to Remove Encrypt Contents to Secure Data
You can remove file system encryption by unchecking the 'Encrypt Contents to Secure Data' feature. Yes, this only works for the file system, not for a specific file. If you want to decrypt files, the certificate or password is indispensable. To recover encrypted files without password, check the topic article.
1. Find the file or folder you wish to encrypt.
2. Right-click the file/folder and click 'Properties.' Then, click the 'Advanced.' button on the General screen.
3. Check the box 'Encrypt Contents to Secure Data' under the Compress or Encrypt attributes section, then click the 'OK' button.
4. Continuing clicking the 'OK' button. An encryption warning box will pop up.
5. Check the 'Encrypt the File Only' box to encrypt the individual file, then click 'OK' to finish.
How to Decrypt a File in Windows 10/8/7
Read this part and see how to decrypt PDF and Excel files. If your encrypted files are lost, you can recover deleted data first, and use the ways below to decode.
How to Remove Encryption from a PDF File
PDF is one of the most reliable file formats used by the users to present and exchange documents. Nowadays, security is the main concern for all the users, so many users choose to encrypt there PDF documents applying passwords to them. However, when others need to read the PDF, you need to remove the encryption. Follow the following steps to decrypt a PDF file in Adobe Acrobat. And the premise is you must know the password.
1. Open Adobe Acrobat on your computer.
2. Open the protected PDF file and type the password when prompted.
3. Click 'Advanced' at the top of the Acrobat window. Select 'Security' and then click 'Remove Security.'
4. Click 'OK' to confirm the action and remove the encryption. Then, press 'Ctrl+S' to save the unencrypted PDF file.
How to Remove Encryption from Excel
Remove the encryption from Excel worksheet and Excel document is different. Check the way respectively.
Decrypt an Excel Worksheet
1. Click the 'Review' tab on the too bar. Then, choose 'Unprotect Sheet'. You will be prompted for a password.
2. Enter the password and click 'OK'. Now, you have removed the password from an Excel worksheet, and you can start editing.
Unencrypt an Excel Document
1. Open the Excel document you want to remove encryption.
2. Click 'File' > 'Info' > 'Protect Workbook.' In the drop-down menu, click 'Encrypt with Password'. The password entry box arises.
3. Delete the password in the box, leaving the box empty. Click 'OK' to remove the password from the document. Then, click 'Save' before exiting the document.
How to Remove Encryption from Ransomware Infected Files
In addition to actively encrypting your files, your files can also be encrypted permissively by a ransomware virus. In this case, we suggest that you don't pay the ransom and use a data recovery software to recover the deleted original files by ransomware. In this way, you can remove the encryption.
Proencryptor 1 7 7 – Encrypt Your Files Folder Recovery Software
You need to understand that most of the computer virus encrypts files in three steps, like the screenshot below. First, make an entire copy of all the files; second, delete all original files; third, encrypt the copy. That's why you see encrypted files as soon as your computer were virus-infected.
To recover ransomware encrypted files, you can use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. This powerful file recovery software allows you to recover data from virus attack, accidental deletion, hard drive formatting, partition loss, recycle bin emptying, and more.
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Select the disk partition or storage device where you lost files and click the 'Scan' button. Netspot 2 10 952 – wireless survey tool setup.
Step 2. This program will quickly start a scanning process to find lost files. When the process accomplishes, you can double-click files to have a preview before selection.
Step 3. Choose the files you want. Then click the 'Recover' button to get them back. You should save the data to another safe spot in your PC/storage device, not where they lost.
Proencryptor 1 7 7 – Encrypt Your Files Folder Folders
After data recovery, continue taking time to remove the virus with antivirus software to make sure your computer is clean. We highly suggest that you back up your important files regularly to avoid unexpected data loss. You can do it manually or automatically by using a Windows schedule backup software.