How to Add Encrypt and Decrypt to Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Information
This will allow you to add Encrypt and Decrypt to the context menu so that you can encrypt or decrypt a file or folder by simply right clicking on the item and selecting Encrypt or Decrypt.
Note
Encrypting folders and files is a way to protect them from unwanted access. Encrypting a file or folder will prevent other user accounts from being able to open it. Encrypting File System (EFS) is a feature of Windows that you can use to store information on your hard disk in an encrypted format. Encryption is the strongest protection that Windows provides to help you keep your information secure.
Encrypting File System (EFS) is only available in the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, and Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise editions.
Tip
If this is the first time that you have encrypted a file or folder on your computer, then you will also see this in your notification area to let you know that you should
Back up your file encryption key.
EXAMPLE: Context Menu after Adding Encrypt and Decrypt
NOTE: Only one will appear in the context menu at a time depending on if the file or folder is currently encrypted or not.
OPTION ONE
Using a REG File Download
1. To Add Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.
Add_Encrypt-Decrypt.reg
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Remove Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.
3. Save the
.reg file to your
Desktop.
4. Double click/tap on the downloaded
.reg file to merge it.
5. Click/tap on the
Run,
Yes (UAC),
Yes, and then
OK when prompted.
6. When done, you can now delete the downloaded
.reg file if you would like to.
OPTION TWO
Manually Using the Registry Editor
1. Press the
Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, the type
regedit, and press
Enter.
2. If prompted by
UAC, then click/tap on
Yes.
3. In regedit, go to: (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
4. To Add Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu
A) In the right pane of
Advanced, right click on an empty space, and click on
New and
DWORD (32-bit) Value and type
EncryptionContextMenu and press
Enter. (see screenshot below)
B) In the right pane, double click/tap on EncryptionContextMenu to modify it. (see screenshot above)
C) Type
1 and click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
D) Go to step 6.
5. To Remove Encrypt and Decrypt
A) In the right pane of Advanced, right click on EncryptionContextMenu and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below step 4)
B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm deletion.
6. Close regedit.
That's it,
Shawn