Axcrypt replacement

System: Windows 10 Home version 22H2
HP laptop

I currently use Axcrypt encryption software (free version). With this app, I can encrypt individual files one at a time, encrypt multiple files at the same time, individual folders, multiple folders and multiple folder structures. I have a "Personal" folder that contains multiple folder structures and many hundreds of files. Currently I have about 350 folders with 1600 files - about 1.2GB.

But Axcrypt has problems:
(1) It is VERY slow when encrypting multiple folders.
(2) There is no feedback. So if I encrypt a folder structure with multiple folders and several hundreds of files, I have no idea where it is in the encryption process and no idea when it is done other than using Windows Task Manager to see when the Axcrypt process is using 0% CPU. This makes for a terrible user interface. Actually there is NO interface!
(3) Once I upgraded Windows 10 to version 22H2, sometimes Axcrypt stops working for no reason and I must reboot. Ugh...

Please suggest alternatives to Axcrypt and why you suggest that particular alternative.

Thank you for your help!!

David

You could consider one of the following:

1) EFS - Encrypting File System. The advantages are what you have already listed, namely that you can encrypt individual files or folders. It's also a part of the OS. You can also set in option in File Explorer to show the encrypted files in a different color so that you can immediately see from the UI what is encrypted.

2) If you don't want to deal with encrypting individual files or folders you could simply encrypt the entire drive using BitLocker. Note that this would require an upgrade to the Pro edition of Windows.

I'm sure there are plenty of other third-party utilities available, I just wanted to point out what options you have in the OS.

hsehestedt said:

You could consider one of the following:

1) EFS - Encrypting File System. The advantages are what you have already listed, namely that you can encrypt individual files or folders. It's also a part of the OS. You can also set in option in File Explorer to show the encrypted files in a different color so that you can immediately see from the UI what is encrypted.

2) If you don't want to deal with encrypting individual files or folders you could simply encrypt the entire drive using BitLocker. Note that this would require an upgrade to the Pro edition of Windows.

I'm sure there are plenty of other third-party utilities available, I just wanted to point out what options you have in the OS.

Unfortunately EFS is nto available with Windows 10 Home.

Heard of Veracrypt?

David042 said:

Unfortunately EFS is nto available with Windows 10 Home.

Sorry about that. I forgot that EFS was also not available on Home.

Code:

I believe Veracrypt, like Truecrypt, creates containers

True, but containers work well if you're dealing with a large number of files/folders (as the OP). You can do without the hassle of encrypting/decrypting individual files on every access. Everyone has a different notion of convenience, I know

Yes, only David042 can know. As an aside, your post count makes my head spin.