Encrypt Decrypt any file or folder from right click context menu in Windows 7

Important: This procedure is only valid for the Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.

You can add Encrypt or Decrypt option in Windows 7 right click context menu. Thus any file or folder can be Encrypted or Decrypted on single click. Here is how you can add the Encrypt or Decrypt option in right click context menu in Microsoft Windows 7.

Normally, in the Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7 and Vista, the encryption of files and folders using EFS encryption needs to be activated from the Properties of each file or folder to activate the encryption box.

Encryption is a method to enhance the security of a message or file by scrambling the contents so that only people with the appropriate encryption key to unscramble it can read them. For example, if you buy a product on a Web site, the information necessary for the transaction (such as your address, phone number and credit card number) are usually encrypted for security purposes. Use encryption when you want a high level of protection for your information.

The EFS (Encryption File System) is a Windows feature that lets you store information on your hard disk in an encrypted format. Encryption is the most enhanced protection provided by Windows to help you secure your information.

Here is a procedure to add this option directly from the context menu.

Note: Create a restore point in Microsoft Windows 7 before you proceed.

Launch Windows Registry Editor:

Click Start. Type “regedit” (without quotation marks) in the search field and hit Enter from keyboard. A security prompt will appear, just accept it:

Windows Registry Editor will open, Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > Advanced.

When the Advanced key is highlighted, right-click on an empty space in the right pane, select New, then click to create a new 32 bit DWORD Value:

The screenshot shows all the above mentioned steps, kindly click it to zoom:

Rename the new 32bit DWORD value as EncryptionContextMenu and set the data value as 1 :

Click OK and then close the registry Editor.

Now in the Windows 7 explorer ,can encrypt or decrypt any file or folder on a simple right-click:

After encryption, the system will report that a backup of the encryption key has been done (another message will subsequently appear after saving the key on the removable media).

The encrypted folder’s font will appear in green (if the Show folders and encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color is checked in Folder Options under View tab, default is enabled):