Windows 7: Encrypted Files - Find All on the Local Hard Drives

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to create a list of all encrypted files on all NTFS local drives in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

This will create a Encrypted-Files.txt file on your desktop that includes the full path of each encrypted file found in it.

1. Open a command prompt in Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8, and do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Use the cipher /u /h Command
NOTE: This option is used to find all the encrypted files on the local drives, and will update the user's file encryption key or recovery keys of the encrypted files to use the current keys if changed since encrypted.

A) In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 4 below.
NOTE: Added /H to include hidden encrypted files.

cipher /u /h > %UserProfile%\Desktop\Encrypted-Files.txt

3. To Use the cipher /u /n /h Command
NOTE: This option is used to find all the encrypted files on the local drives, and will not update the encyption keys.

A) In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 4 below.
NOTE: Added /H to include hidden encrypted files.

cipher /U /N /H > %UserProfile%\Desktop\Encrypted-Files.txt

4. When finished, close the command prompt.

5. You will now have a Encrypted-Files.txt file on your desktop with a list of all encrypted files on your system.