Securing Your Files on Windows 10 with Encryption
Start with a right-click
Locate the file or folder you want to secure. Easy, right? Just right-click on it, and a menu will appear. This is where it all begins — think of it as opening the door to your data’s security settings.
Go into Properties
Select Properties from the menu. A window will open showing details about your item. First, make sure your drive is formatted with NTFS, as EFS only works on NTFS partitions. To check, right-click on the drive in File Explorer > This PC, then select Properties and look for the “File system” type. It’s a bit annoying that Windows doesn’t tell you this upfront, but it’s worth checking.
Open Advanced Settings
Next, click on the Advanced button within that Properties window. It’s not immediately obvious, but this brings up options where you can customise your encryption. If your drive supports EFS (which it should if it’s NTFS), you’ll see an option labelled Encrypt contents to secure data.
Enable encryption
In the Advanced Settings, tick the box next to Encrypt contents to secure data. Think of it as putting a padlock on your files. Once selected, Windows will know to keep your data protected from unauthorised access. Easy as pie, right?
Apply your changes
Click OK to save your settings in the Advanced window. Then, click Apply and OK again in the main Properties window to finalise the encryption. If you’re encrypting a folder, Windows will ask whether you want to encrypt just that folder or all its contents. For complete coverage, choose Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files.
Once done, you should see a small lock icon on your files or folders — indicating they are encrypted and secure. Only users with the right permissions can access them, providing a solid layer of protection for your sensitive info.
Best Practices for File Encryption on Windows 10
Frequently Asked Questions About File Encryption
What does file encryption actually do?
It scrambles your data into a coded format that only someone with the correct key or password can decode. So, even if someone tries to access your files without permission, they’ll hit a wall.
What happens if I lose my encryption key?
If you lose the key, accessing your encrypted files can become nearly impossible. That’s why it’s crucial to keep backups of your keys or create recovery points. You can do this by generating a recovery certificate with:
cipher /saveuser .cer Alternatively, using BitLocker to encrypt the entire drive can give you recovery keys you can store safely somewhere else.
Can I encrypt entire folders?
Yes, you can encrypt folders. When you do, all files and subfolders inside will also be protected, provided you choose to apply the encryption to everything.
Does encryption impact system performance?
There might be a slight slowdown when opening encrypted files, especially during the initial encryption process. However, thanks to hardware acceleration, most users won’t notice much of a difference. The added security, though, is usually worth it.
Is Windows 10’s built-in encryption safe enough?
For everyday use, Windows 10’s encryption offers reliable security. For highly confidential data, consider full disk encryption with BitLocker. Just remember to keep your recovery keys safe and make backups to prevent data loss.
Quick Summary
- Right-click the file or folder you want to encrypt.
- Select Properties.
- Click the Advanced button.
- Tick Encrypt contents to secure data.
- Click Apply and OK to lock in your encryption. If needed, choose options for encrypting subfolders and files.
Final Notes