How To Easily Encrypt Files and Folders with Encrypted File Service or EFS in Windows 8

Posted by Unknown Monday, January 30, 2012

How To Easily Encrypt Files and Folders with Encrypted File Service or EFS in Windows 8? Did you know Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 include an easy to use and very secure encryption service that allows you to encrypt files and folders with just a few clicks? It’s called the Encrypted File Service or EFS.

EFS is a built-in Encryption service which is built into Windows since the days of Windows XP. Once a file is encrypted using EFS, it can only be accessed by the Windows login that encrypted the file. Although other users on the same computer might be able to see your files, they will be unable to open them – including Administrators. Very handy if you want to keep certain files or folders private – and because EFS is built-in seamlessly to Windows, you won’t even notice it most of the time.

Let’s review now how to enable it. Although the screenshots and steps below are taken from Windows 8, the steps are the same for Windows 7 and Windows XP.

Right-Click the Folder or File you wish to encrypt and click Properties.

From the General Tab, click Advanced.

Check the box Encrypt contents to secure data and click OK.

Click OK.

If you’re encrypting a folder, Windows will ask if you want to encrypt just the single folder or all subfolders and files in the folder.

Click the radio button that works for you and click OK.

By default, after encrypting a file or folder with Windows EFS, it will turn green as shown below.

Because I chose to encrypt all subfolders and files, notice how they are also encrypted (green) as well.

We also recommend using EFS to encrypt sensitive data to protect you against the theft or sale of your PC. Because the encrypting key is associated to your Windows account and password, your data will be safe even if the data is ripped or your password hard reset.

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