Windows includes an advanced security feature called Encrypting File System (EFS). It allows users to store encrypted files and folders to protect them from unnecessary access.

How to Encrypt / Decrypt Files and Folders using Advanced Properties

1. Right-click on the file or folder, and select Properties from the context menu

2. In the Properties dialog, click the Advanced button on the General tab.

Step 3: Click to check the option Encrypt contents to secure data

Decrypt files and folders: Clear the Encrypt contents to secure data check box, and then click OK

Step 4: If prompted, select either Apply changes to this folder only or Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files according to what you want.

How to Encypt / Decrypt Files and Folders using Cipher Command

Step 1: Press Win+X, hit A to open Command Prompt (Admin)

Step 2: Execute one of the following commands as needed

To encrypt a file or foler, type in the following command, then hit Enter

cipher /e “PATH” (Replace PATH with the full address of the file / foler including the extension.)

To encrypt the folder and other files and folders inside it, you will have to use this command,

cipher /e/s:”PATH”

• To decrypt a single file, run the command cipher /d “full path to the file”.
• To decrypt a folder, type the following command: cipher / d “full path to the folder”.
• To decrypt a folder that contains subfolders and files, type: cipher /d / s: “full path to the folder”.