Applies ToWindows 11 Windows 10
Шифрование — это процесс преобразования данных в код для предотвращения несанкционированного доступа. В Windows этого можно добиться с помощью встроенных средств, которые позволяют шифровать файлы и папки, гарантируя, что доступ к содержимому могут получить только пользователи с правильным ключом расшифровки.
Примечание: Шифрование файлов недоступно в выпуске Home windows.
Чтобы зашифровать файл или папку, выполните следующее:
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Щелкните правой кнопкой мыши файл или папку и выберите пункт Свойства.
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Выберите Дополнительно…
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Установите флажок Шифрование содержимого для защиты данных проверка
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Нажмите кнопку ОК , чтобы закрыть окно, нажмите кнопку Применить, а затем нажмите кнопку ОК.
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Нужны дополнительные параметры?
Изучите преимущества подписки, просмотрите учебные курсы, узнайте, как защитить свое устройство и т. д.
Encrypting sensitive folders is a simple way to provide additional security and privacy for important files stored on your Windows 10 computer. The encryption process encrypts data so that it can only be accessed by entering a password or key. This prevents unauthorized access, even if the encrypted folder is shared or your device is misplaced or stolen. In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the process of encrypting folders with BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Table of Contents
Depending on what you are looking to encrypt, there are different folder encryption software that can be used. Windows 10 offers two built-in tools for this purpose, namely, EFS and Bitlocker. EFS stands for Encrypting File System and is used to encrypt individual files and folders whereas Bitlocker is used to encrypt entire volumes. Apart from these native tools, there are also a plethora of third-party encryption applications available on the internet which offer additional features.
Method 1: Use Encrypting File System on Windows Enterprise & Pro
More often than not, users are only looking to protect certain files from their privacy-invading siblings or envious colleagues who have access to their computer. If that is indeed the case, making separate user accounts is the first step followed by denying access to your personal files to other users. This can be achieved by using the EFS feature which encrypts data on NTFS drives on a per-user basis.
- In layman’s terms, only the user account that encrypted the files will be able to access them. And, all other accounts will be prohibited from interacting with the encrypted file.
- You simply need to log in from that user account to access the files and need not enter the encryption password again.
- Although, be sure to set a strong password for your user account as that is the only thing that stands between others accessing your encrypted files and folders.
Note: EFS is only available on Enterprise and Professional versions of Windows.
Follow the steps listed below to encrypt a folder in Windows 10 using EFS.
Step I: Encrypt File/Folder using EFS
1. Press Windows key + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer
2. Right-click on file you would like to encrypt from other users and choose Properties from the ensuing menu, as shown.
3. On the General tab, click on the Advanced… button as highlighted below.
4. Finally, check the box for Encrypt contents to secure data option under the Compress or Encrypt attributes section.
5. Click on OK to save the modification.
6. If you are encrypting a single file, an encryption warning dialog box will pop up. Choose any one of the given options and click on OK.
- Encrypt the file and its parent folder (recommended)
- Encrypt the file only
7. Click on Apply in the Properties window to apply the changes.
8. This will open a window prompting to you choose an option for encryption. Choose your preferred option and click OK to continue:
- Apply changes to this folder only
- Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files
Note: The window may freeze a little while during the encryption process.
9. Click on OK to exit the folder properties window. The encrypted file will be marked with a tiny padlock at the top-right corner of the file’s thumbnail, as shown highlighted.
Step II: Set & Save Encryption Key
10. Once the file/folder has been successfully encrypted, a notification requesting you to backup the encryption certificate and key will appear at the bottom right corner of your screen. Open this notification and select Back up now (recommended) option to continue.
Note: You can also choose other options but we recommend you to back it up immediately to prevent any kind of data loss in case you forget your user account password and cannot access the encrypted file in the future.
11. Follow on-screen instructions in the Certificate Export Wizard. Type the Password and Confirm password & click Next.
12. Click on the Browse… button to choose the exact location where the encryption key should be saved and set an appropriate name for the same.
13. Click on Next to finalize it.
That’s it, you have successfully encrypted the file from other user accounts and also saved a recovery key for safety.
Note: It is recommended to copy the recovery key and the encryption certificate to external media or upload it to cloud storage.
To decrypt the file in the future, follow steps 1-4 to open Advanced Attributes Window of the file. Simply, uncheck Encrypt contents to secure data option, as depicted below.
Also Read: Fix Encrypt Contents To Secure Data Grayed Out In Windows 10
Method 2: Use Third-party Encryption Programs on Windows Home Edition
As mentioned earlier, EFS is not available on Home edition of Windows. You can use third-party folder encryption software. Several antivirus programs also provide encryption features. All these programs follow different encryption techniques and provide varying levels of security. So before installing any of them, visit their official websites and read out the specifications.
Note: We will be demonstrating how to encrypt a file using 7-zip. However, the procedure remains similar for other applications as well.
Step I: Encrypt File/Folder using 7-Zip
1. Download & install 7-zip on your computer first.
2. Right-click on the file you would like to encrypt. Choose 7-Zip > Add to archive… option, as depicted.
3. In the Archive: field, enter an appropriate name for the encrypted file.
4. Click Archive format drop-down list and choose zip, as shown.
5. On the right-hand side, choose AES-256 in Encryption method: drop-down list.
6. Type the password under Enter password and Reenter the password fields respectively.
Note: Tick the box next to Show Password to check the password entered.
7. Click on OK to create the encrypted file.
Note: The encryption process may take a couple of minutes to finish depending on the size of the file and the password-protected .zip file will appear in the same location as the original file.
Step II: Extract Contents of Encrypted File
The zip file can be opened by anyone. In order to extract its contents and to view them, you will be required to enter the password set earlier.
Hence, this is how you can encrypt a folder using folder encryption software.
Also Read: 25 Best Encryption Software For Windows
How to Encrypt Word Documents
If you are looking to protect sensitive information contained inside a Microsoft Word file, you can encrypt the document from within the application itself. A very important point to remember about Word document encryption is that it works on per-PC basis. This means that if you send the file to someone else, it won’t remain password protected. Here’s how to do so:
1. Hit Windows key, type Word, and click Open, as shown.
2. Click on File on the top-left corner.
3. Then, click Open and navigate to the document location and Open it.
4. Again, go to the File menu and click on the Info tab.
5. Here, click on Protect Document. From the drop-down list, choose Encrypt with Password option, as illustrated below.
6. In the Encrypt Document pop-up, type the desired Password and click OK.
Note: Just like always, the password will be case-sensitive.
7. Again in Confirm Password prompt, re-enter the password to confirm it and hit Enter key to finish document encryption.
The following message will be displayed: A password is required to open this document.
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Hope the above methods helped you to understand how to encrypt a folder Windows 10 using in-built or third-party folder encryption software. We would also like to remind you that all types of encryption can be cracked albeit with brute force, lots of effort, and requires expertise. So be extremely careful of who you are sharing your files with. Keep visiting our page for more cool tips & tricks and leave your comments below.
It’s safe to assume that you will, at some point, be hacked. However, if you’re using Microsoft’s popular operating system, there is a way to encrypt files and folders in Windows 10 – rendering it useless to anyone that does get hold of it.
By using encryption, users can convert their sensitive data into a code of jumbled numbers, which can lower the risk of infiltration, theft and subsequent fraud.
Windows 10’s built in encryption tool is relatively easy to use and. once configured, will place a lock symbol on the file or folder — signifying that a password is required to access its contents.
Disclaimer
There are a few points to remember here. Firstly, an encrypted file can lose its encryption when transmitted via a network or email. You need to extract the contents of a compressed file or folder before you encrypt it. The tool doesn’t necessarily protect files from being deleted and you should always backup encrypted data and store it offline.
There are a number of ways to encrypt files and folders in Windows 10. For the purpose of this guide, we will be covering the following tools:
- Windows encrypted file system (EFS)
- BitLocker
Encrypt files and folders using Windows encrypted file system
(Image: © Future)
Microsoft’s EFS service offers support for encrypting individual files, folders, and directories in Windows 10 or any other Windows version since XP. To enable EFS encryption, follow these steps:
- Right-click on the file or folder you want to encrypt and select “Properties”.
- In the “General” tab of “Properties,” click on the “Advanced” button.
- In the “Advanced Attributes” dialogue box, under “Compress or Encrypt Attributes” section, checkmark on “Encrypt contents to secure data”.
- Click “OK”.
- Click “Apply”.
- If encrypting a folder, a window will pop up asking you to choose between “Apply change to this folder only” and “Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files.” Select your preference and click “OK” to save the change(s).
How to back up EFS encryption keys
The encryption process is now complete, and Windows will automatically create an encryption key and save it locally to your PC. Files and folders you’ve encrypted with EFS will feature a small padlock icon in the top-right corner of the thumbnail. Only you can access the encrypted files or folders. But there’s more to it.
To avoid file loss if the key gets corrupted, Windows will prompt you to backup the encryption key immediately after encryption. Backup your EFS encryption key with the following steps:
- In the “Backup your file encryption certificate and key” prompt, choose “Backup now”.
- Ensure you have a USB flash drive plugged into your PC.
- Click “Next” to create your encryption certificate.
- Check on “.PFX” file format to export your certificate file and click “Next”.
- Check the “Password” box to enter a new password.
- Navigate to your USB drive.
- Name to your encryption backup file and click “Save”.
- Click “Next”.
- Click “Finish”.
How to decrypt folders encrypted with EFS
Decrypting the encrypted file/folder is just as easy with the following steps:
- Right-click on the file or folder you want to decrypt and select “Properties”.
- In the “General” tab of “Properties,” click on the “Advanced” button.
- In the “Advanced Attributes” dialogue box, under “Compress or Encrypt Attributes” section, uncheck “Encrypt contents to secure data” option.
- Click “OK”.
- Click “Apply”.
Note: The PC owner can access an EFS-encrypted file locally, but the files will remain inaccessible for all other user accounts. You may also use a DVD or portable hard disk to backup your encryption key.
Disclaimer
The next section will cover BitLocker – a full-disk encryption solution that enables you to encrypt an entire hard drive at once. When combined with a PC’s trusted platform module (TPM), BitLocker can provide advanced security features, including hardware-level encryption. Your computer needs a TPM chip version of 1.2 or later to support BitLocker.
To check if your computer has a TPM chip: Press the Windows key + X, click Device Manager, then Security Devices. Look for the ‘Trusted Platform Module’ drop down and open it up to see the version number.
How to set up BitLocker on Windows 10
To set up BitLocker on your Windows 10 PC, using the following steps:
- Press Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the “Power User” menu.
- Go to “Control Panel” > “System and Security” > “BitLocker Drive Encryption”.
- Under the “BitLocker Drive Encryption” section, click on “Turn on BitLocker”.
- Set a password and click “Next”.
Like EFS-based encryption, you now have a few options to save a recovery key to regain access to your files if you lose or forget your password. Here’s is a list of options available:
- Save to your Microsoft account
- Save to a USB flash drive
- Save to a file
- Print the recovery
How to set a BitLocker recovery key on Windows 10
- Select one of the four options above and click “Next».
- Choose how much of the drive you want to encrypt – the entire drive or only the used disk space.
- Choose either new encryption mode (best for fixed drives on your device) or compatible mode (best for detached drives you can remove from your device).
- Click «Next».
- Check the “Run BitLocker system check” option.
- Click “Continue”.
- Restart your computer.
Upon reboot, BitLocker will prompt you to enter your encryption password to unlock the drive. Type the password and press “Enter.” You can verify BitLocker is turned on by looking for a padlock icon on your encrypted drive’s thumbnail.
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How to disable BitLocker on Windows 10
- Open File Explorer.
- Right click the encrypted drive.
- Select «Manage BitLocker».
- Choose to either suspend or disable BitLocker for each encrypted partition.
Disclaimer
BitLocker doesn’t support dynamic disc encryption. Decryption may take a while, depending on the size of your encrypted drive. However, you can continue using your computer during the encryption.
A security system is only as strong as its weakest point, which is why it helps to take small but decisive steps toward data encryption.
BitLocker can protect PCs’ operating systems against offline attacks, and EFS offers additional file-level encryption for security separation between multiple users of the same computer. You can also combine protections by choosing to use EFS to encrypt files on a BitLocker-protected drive.
Unveiling the Secrets of Encrypting Folders in Windows 10
In today’s digital age, protecting your sensitive information has become paramount. With the rise of cyber threats and data breaches, understanding how to encrypt folders in Windows 10 is essential for safeguarding your personal and professional data. This guide will take you through the steps of folder encryption, the benefits of encryption, troubleshooting tips, and much more. Whether you are a novice or an experienced user, this article will equip you with the knowledge you need to keep your files secure.
Why Encrypt Your Folders?
Before diving into the process of folder encryption, it’s important to understand why you should consider it. Here are a few compelling reasons:
- Data Protection: Encrypting folders protects sensitive information from unauthorized access.
- Compliance: Many industries have regulations that require data protection measures.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing your data is secure allows you to work without worrying about potential breaches.
Understanding Encryption in Windows 10
Windows 10 offers built-in encryption features that are easy to use. The primary method is through the Encrypting File System (EFS). This allows users to encrypt individual files and folders, ensuring that only authorized users can access them.
Step-by-Step Guide to Encrypting Folders in Windows 10
Now that we understand the importance of encryption, let’s explore how to encrypt folders in Windows 10 step by step.
Step 1: Choose the Folder You Want to Encrypt
Start by locating the folder you wish to encrypt. Right-click on the folder to bring up the context menu.
Step 2: Access the Properties Menu
From the context menu, select Properties.
Step 3: Advanced Attributes
In the Properties window, click on the Advanced button. This will open the Advanced Attributes dialog.
Step 4: Enable Encryption
Check the box that says Encrypt contents to secure data. Once selected, click OK.
Step 5: Apply Changes
You will be prompted to confirm your changes. You can choose to apply encryption to the folder only or to the folder and all its subfolders and files. Select your preference and click OK again.
Step 6: Backup Your Encryption Key
It’s crucial to back up your encryption key to avoid losing access to your encrypted files. Windows will prompt you to do this. Follow the instructions to save your key securely.
Troubleshooting Common Encryption Issues
While encrypting folders in Windows 10 is generally straightforward, you may encounter some issues. Here are common problems and their solutions:
Issue 1: The Encryption Option is Grayed Out
If the option to encrypt is grayed out, it may be due to the file system not supporting encryption. Ensure you are using NTFS, as EFS does not work with FAT32.
Issue 2: You Can’t Find Your Encryption Key
It’s essential to keep your encryption key safe. If you’ve lost it, unfortunately, there’s no way to recover your files. Always store your backup in a secure location.
Issue 3: Error Messages During Encryption
If you encounter error messages during the encryption process, ensure that you have administrative rights on your computer. Right-click the folder and select Run as administrator to resolve this issue.
Best Practices for Encrypting Folders
To ensure your data remains protected, consider the following best practices:
- Regularly Backup Data: Always maintain backups of your encrypted folders in case of data loss.
- Use Strong Passwords: Ensure that your Windows user account has a strong password to prevent unauthorized access.
- Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system and security software to protect against vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
Encrypting folders in Windows 10 is a vital step in protecting your sensitive information. By following the simple steps outlined above, you can ensure that your data remains secure from prying eyes. Remember to back up your encryption key and adhere to best practices for data security.
For more information on data security, you can visit Microsoft’s Security Blog. If you’re looking for advanced encryption techniques, check out this resource.
By taking the time to encrypt your folders, you are making a significant investment in your digital security.
This article is in the category Guides & Tutorials and created by Windows Portal Team
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Encrypting a certain file or folder is probably the best way to keep it safe, so only you can access that file or folder.
Microsoft’s developers decided to keep the built-in encryption method in Windows 10 similar to the previous method.
Still, it’s good from time to time to go through the file encryption methods available in Windows, but not exclusively.
We have a dedicated guide on how to open encrypted folders on Windows 10 that you can check out.
How can I encrypt folders in Windows 10?
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1. Right-click on the file or folder you want to encrypt and go to Properties.
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2. On the General tab, click Advanced.
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3. Under the Compress and encrypt attributes section, click on Encrypt content to secure data.
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4. Click OK and close the Properties window.
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5. Choose Apply changes to the folder, subfolders, and files or Apply changes to this folder only, depending on your preference.
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6. That’s that, your folder is now encrypted and its text is shown in green color.
1. Encrypt folders in Windows 10 using the built-in tool
Although there are various third-party alternatives available online, your Windows 10 also has a built-in encryption tool that you can use, called EFS (Encrypted File System).
EFS is a very simple encryption tool, and you’ll make your files protected in a couple of minutes, with just a couple of clicks. This is probably the fastest way to encrypt your files and folders in Windows 10 (and any other version of Windows since XP).
But before we show you how to encrypt your files with EFS, we have to warn you that you’ll be able to access the encrypted file only with the login of the account you encrypted the file with.
Other user accounts (if with administrative permissions) won’t be able to access it. Thus, make sure to remember or write down the password somewhere, or your file will stay locked forever.
If the encrypt folder option is greyed out, check out our dedicated article to find solutions to this problem.
2. Use a dedicated encryption tool (recommended)
If you think that Windows’ own encryption tool isn’t good enough for your files, you can try with some third-party encryption software.
Actually, the right third-party tool is an even better choice than EFS, because it offers more options, so you’ll be able to keep your files as safe as possible.
There are a lot of free encrypting tools out there, but the best way is to get premium software. It has many more features and it is a priority when it needs support from developers.
A first recommendation would be WinZip. You’ve probably heard of it since it’s currently the most popular file encryption and compression tool.
As a matter of fact, the program offers more file management options, including sharing, compressing, and backing up files.
The encryption option allows you to zip your files with certified 128 or 256-bit AES encryption, keeping your files safe from unwanted eyes.
Plus, with WinZip, you can create read-only PDFs and add watermarks to deter copying.
Other notable features of WinZip include finding, opening, editing, moving, and sharing the files stored on PCs, networks, or cloud services.
The tool can be fully integrated with Dropbox, G-Suite, or OneDrive.
3. Use Microsoft Office to encrypt files and folders
- Open the Office file you want to encrypt, and go to File.
- Under Info, click on Protect document.
- Choose Encrypt with password.
- Enter your password and press Enter.
- Re-enter your password, and click OK.
Your Office document is now encrypted, and you’ll have to enter a password you set before accessing it.
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How can I back up my encryption key?
- Click on the Back up your encryption key popup.
- Choose Back up now.
- Follow the instructions from the wizard.
- Enter and re-enter your password.
- Choose a place to which you’ll save your certificate and give a name to your encryption backup file.
- Click Next, and Finish.
Usually, Windows will offer you an option to back up your encryption key right after you create it. This can protect files in your drive so you don’t have to disable Recall because you’re worried about the safety of your information.
If you’re looking to encrypt a USB flash, we’ve got a list of the 12 best software solutions that will help you secure your files in no time.
Speaking of encryption, you might be interested in our guide on how to convert ENC files, so don’t miss it.
As you can see, there are a couple of methods to keep your files safe, so it’s completely up to you which one you’ll use. If you have some questions or comments, just reach for the comments section below.
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.