How To Encrypt Files Windows 10

Encrypting File Organisation (EFS) is an encryption service found in Windows ten Pro, Enterprise, and Education. A cousin to BitLocker, which can encrypt entire drives at once, EFS lets yous encrypt individual files and folders.

Encryption is tied to the PC user, so if a dissimilar user is logged in than the user who encrypted the files, those files will remain inaccessible.

EFS encryption isn't every bit secure as other encryption methods, like BitLocker, because the key that unlocks the encryption is saved locally. There's also a chance that data can leak into temporary files since the entire bulldoze is not encrypted.

Still, EFS is a quick and easy style to protect individual files and folders on a PC that's shared amongst several users. Encrypting with EFS doesn't take long — let's take a await at how information technology's washed.

What yous'll demand before yous begin

EFS is only available on Pro, Enterprise, and Education versions of Windows ten. If y'all're using Windows 10 Dwelling, yous're out of luck. You also need to be using a password with your user account, preferably strong and difficult to crack.

In one case you've encrypted a file or folder, Windows will automatically remind you that y'all should create a backup key in instance you run into a problem where yous tin can no longer log into your user business relationship that'due south tied to the encrypted files. This requires some sort of removable media. In our instance, we use a USB thumb drive.

How to enable EFS on Windows ten

Take a file or folder in mind for encryption? Here's how to enable EFS.

Launch File Explorer from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
Right-click a file or binder.
Click Properties.
Click Advanced.
Click the checkbox adjacent to Encrypt contents to secure data.
Click OK.
Click Apply. A window volition pop upwards asking you whether or not you want to only encrypt the selected folder, or the binder, subfolders, and files.
Click either Utilize changes to this folder just or Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files.
Click OK.

Files that you've encrypted with EFS will take a small padlock icon in the acme-right corner of the thumbnail or icon.

How to back upward your EFS encryption key

Afterwards enabling EFS, a small-scale icon volition appear in the system tray in the bottom-correct corner of your screen. This is your reminder to dorsum up your EFS encryption central.