Files are automatically encrypted, how do I remove the encryption?

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How to decrypt a file

"When I move files from my desktop to another location, they automatically get encrypted, and the file name turns green. When I check the file properties and go to advanced settings, the 'Encrypt contents to secure data' option is automatically selected without my consent. How can I remove encryption and decrypt files in Windows?"

Overview of File Encryption

Windows Encrypting File System (EFS) is a fundamental file/folder encryption technology that safeguards files in an encrypted state, preventing attackers from stealing confidential data by physically accessing the computer. When a file is encrypted this way, its filename appears in green, as opposed to the usual black text. In addition to EFS, Windows also offers another encryption feature called BitLocker, which protects critical data by encoding logical drives.

Once disk encryption is enabled, new files or existing ones, along with folders, are automatically encrypted on the disk using the certificate and private key. If you copy unencrypted files to a folder with the encryption attribute, they are also automatically encrypted. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing and modifying the data.

How to remove "Encrypted content to protect data"

You can remove filesystem encryption by unchecking the "Encrypt content to secure data" feature. Yes, this applies to the filesystem and not specific files. If you want to decrypt files, you'll need the certificate or password. To learn how to recover encrypted files without a certificate, check out the dedicated article on the subject.

Step 1: Find the file or folder that you want to encrypt.

Step 2: Right-click on the file/folder and select Properties. Then click the Advanced… button on the General tab.

Step 3: Under the “Compression and Encryption Properties” section, check the box for “Encrypt content to secure data,” and then click OK.

Step 4: Click “OK.” You will see a security warning dialog.

5. To encrypt individual files, select Encrypt Contents Only, and then click OK.

How to Decrypt Files in Windows 10/8/7

Read this part to learn how to decrypt PDF and Excel files. If you lost your encrypted file, try to recover deleted data first, and then use the methods below to decode it.

How to Remove Encryption from a PDF File

PDF is one of the most reliable file formats users employ to present and exchange documents. Nowadays, security is a major concern for all users, and that's why many opt to encrypt their PDFs with a password. However, when someone else needs to read the PDF, you'll have to remove the encryption. Follow these steps to decrypt a PDF in Adobe Acrobat, provided you know the password.

Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat on your computer.

Step 2. Open the protected PDF file and enter the password when prompted.

Step 3: Click on “Advanced” at the top of the Acrobat window. Select “Security,” then click “Remove Security.”

Step 4. Click “OK” to confirm the action and remove the encryption. Then, save your unencrypted PDF file by pressing “Ctrl + S.”

How to Remove Password Protection from an Excel File

After removing the encryption from an Excel worksheet, the document might change. Test each method separately.

Decrypt Excel Worksheet

Step 1: Click on the “Review” tab in the toolbar, and then select “Unprotect Sheet.” You will be prompted to enter a password.

Step 2: After typing in the password, click "OK." You should now be able to edit your Excel spreadsheet without any issues.

Decrypt Excel Document

Step 1: Open the Excel file that you want to remove the password from.

Step 2: Click "File," then "Info," and then "Protect Workbook." In the drop-down menu, click "Encrypt with Password." A dialogue box will appear.

Step 3: Delete the password in the password box, leaving it blank. Click “OK” to remove the password from the document. Be sure to save the document before closing it.

How to decrypt files encrypted by ransomware

Aside from encrypting your files actively, ransomware can also encrypt them passively. In such a case, we recommend not paying the ransom and using the Data Recovery Wizard tool to restore the original files deleted by ransomware. This way, you can get the decryption key.

Most computer viruses that encrypt files work in three steps, as you can see in this screenshot. Step one, they make a complete copy of all your files; step two, they delete the original files; step three, they encrypt the copies. So if your computer gets infected, you'll see your files being encrypted in real time.

How to recover files encrypted by ransomware

All you need is to find a reliable data recovery tool and try the following steps:

Let file recovery software help you: To restore files encrypted by ransomware, you can use the powerful Data Recovery Wizard Pro. This file recovery tool can help you recover data from virus attacks, accidental deletion, formatted hard drives, lost partitions, and emptied Recycle Bins.

Step 1: Select the virus-infected disk to be scanned

Run an antivirus file recovery software on your Windows PC. Select the disk that was affected by the virus to scan for lost or hidden files. Note that:

• If the infected files are on a hard drive that is hidden or deleted due to a virus, it's best to install the software on a different volume or an external USB drive to prevent overwriting data. • If the infected device is an external hard drive, a flash drive, or a memory card, it's fine to install the software on the local disk of your computer.

Step 2: Review all scan results

The "Data Recovery Wizard" will immediately start scanning your virus-infected hard drive for deleted or hidden files. To quickly locate the needed files, you can use the "Filter" or "Group by Type" option to display only images, videos, documents, emails, and so on.

Step 3: Preview and recover the deleted/hidden files

Once the scan is finished, you can preview the files that were found. Select the ones you need and click the “Recover” button. You should save the recovered files to a different secure location on your computer or storage device, not the original spot where they were lost.

After the data recovery, continue to run your antivirus software to remove any viruses and ensure your computer is clean. We strongly recommend that you regularly back up important files to prevent unexpected data loss. You can do this manually or automatically using the Windows Backup and Restore software.