Cannot Preview Encrypted Files in File Explorer

If there are any settings that can change this behaviour they are probably here somewhere:

In Local Group Policy Editor: (Maybe slightly different because I'm translating form my portuguese Windows to English)
Computer Settings -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Public keys Policy

You are probably using EFS encryption.

So you can view the preview of images and some other stuff but not form PDFs? Maybe you don't have the right software installed that can generate that preview maybe installing Acrobat Reador or something would solve the problem.

Would unencrypting the files while you are working on them and reencrypt them when you are finished be a solution?
You could create a batch file to automate the process of unencrypting and reencrypting.

Thanks, again, thomaseg1.

Now I understand what you meant. I can turn the encryption on and off through the attributes. I have Acrobat Standard and *could* open them and resave them, but they need to stay encrypted...not to mention there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of them, so resaving each one would be a bear!

The issue, though, is that I cannot preview in File Explorer. I can open them just fine, but it saves sooo much time and resources to be able to do a quick and simple preview than to wait for each file to open. I could preview these files on earlier versions of Windows, so I find it impossible to believe that I cannot view them on Windows 10.

Thank you very much for your input, nevertheless, as it did help to troubleshoot. Based on experimenting with the alternatives and replacements in the link you sent and having the same results as the default Windows 10 File Explorer, I keep going back to this having to do with some sort of security setting.

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ricardobohner said:

If there are any settings that can change this behaviour they are probably here somewhere:

In Local Group Policy Editor: (Maybe slightly different because I'm translating form my portuguese Windows to English)
Computer Settings -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Public keys Policy

You are probably using EFS encryption.

So you can view the preview of images and some other stuff but not form PDFs? Maybe you don't have the right software installed that can generate that preview maybe installing Acrobat Reador or something would solve the problem.

Would unencrypting the files while you are working on them and reencrypt them when you are finished be a solution?
You could create a batch file to automate the process of unencrypting and reencrypting.

Thank you, Ricardo.

I have spent lots of time looking at the group policies, but I will look some more.

Yes, after more digging, it looks like I am using EFS encryption.

In File Explorer, I cannot view any encrypted pdfs or txt files, but I can view images. I was able to view some pdfs in XYplorer but not other pdfs. I have Acrobat Standard and can view unencrypted files with zero issues, so having the right software installed to generate previews is not the issue. Remember, though, this also happens with encrypted txt files.

Unencrypting and reencrypting the files would take much more time than simply opening the files. I need to be able to preview those files quickly. It takes just seconds to preview a file to grab a piece of information, but if I have to wait a minute or two for the file to open, it becomes very cumbersome. If it was just a few previews here and there, I might just surrender and open the file. However, when I am doing this several times a day, it adds up to a colossal waste of time and can equal hours of lost production. If I cannot get this working, I guess I will have to go back to using Vista?

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I found a usable workaround!

In XYplorer, if I change the view to Thumbnails (does not matter if it is Thumbnail #1, #2, or #3), when I left click once on the thumbnail, it opens a popup with my file displayed. It is large enough so I can see the bits of information I need. If I then left click again, the popup disappears, and I can move to the next file to preview.

This could actually prove to be more useful because if I left click once and Alt+Tab to the other program I am using, the popup stays on top. When I left click again, the popup disappears and takes me back to XYplorer.

This still does not answer the question of why I cannot preview the files in File Explorer, but at least my productivity can get back on track and I can stop digging for an answer. That does not mean I am not still searching for an answer, however, so I will wait to mark this as solved in case someone comes along with a real solution.

Also, I would like to take some time to test the workaround a little more to make sure it is going to serve me well before spending the $39.95 (or even the $79.95 for lifetime upgrades). I will post again as I try this out some more. In the mean time, perhaps this workaround can help someone else who might be losing productivity?

There is probably a way to show preview of Encrypted files in File Explorer since it was possible in Vista. We just don't know how jet :)

Thanks, Ricardo. I guess it will take some time to figure it out, but I know someone will uncover the answer.

I finally got XYplorer to preview every encrypted file, but I do not know which setting(s) were the magic trick, since it appears to just have started spontaneously working. If I can figure out those settings, I will post them here so others can benefit.

I made some tests on Windows 8.1 and from there I can see the preview of txt and Images. I also tried PDF and it shows no preview available (but I guess this is why I don't have a program that generates previews installed like acrobat reader or something, they open by reader by default).

My conclusion so far on this is that in one of the Windows 10 versions updates they must have implemented more restricted rules related to encrypted files.

I started a thread asking for a solution at technet I guess this is where the microsoft gurus are: Link

Wow, Ricardo! Thank you for all the testing you have done and for posting at TechNet asking for a solution! I appreciate it more than words can express.

Right click the encrypted file, go down to File ownership/Personal...

Thanks, Edwin. I tried that already. When I click it, it turns off the encryption. Is this the expected behavior, or am I doing something wrong.

DiamondGirl said:

Thanks, Edwin. I tried that already. When I click it, it turns off the encryption. Is this the expected behavior, or am I doing something wrong.

No, that's the way it's supposed to work.

Edwin said:

No, that's the way it's supposed to work.

Okay, thanks, but I do not want to turn off the encryption. I want to be able to preview the encrypted files the way I could in earlier versions of Windows.