Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color in Windows 10

information   Information
The Encrypting File System (EFS) is the built-in encryption tool in Windows used to encrypt files and folders on NTFS drives to protect them from unwanted access. EFS enables transparent encryption and decryption of files for your user account by using advanced, standard cryptographic algorithms. Any individual or program that doesn't possess the appropriate cryptographic key cannot read the encrypted data. Encryption is the strongest protection that Windows provides to help you keep your information secure.

When you encrypt a file or folder with EFS in Windows 10, its icon will have a lock overlay at the top right corner to indicate that it's an EFS encrypted file or folder.

Windows 10 supports compression for individual files and folders on NTFS volumes using NTFS compression. When you compress a file or folder in Windows 10, its icon will have a double blue arrows overlay at the top right corner to indicate that it's a compressed file or folder.

If you like, you can show file name text of encrypted files in green color and compressed NTFS files in blue color.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off showing encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color for your account in Windows 10.

Note   Note
If you encrypt a compressed file or folder, the file or folder will no longer be compressed afterwards.

If you compress an EFS encrypted file or folder, the file or folder will no longer be encrypted afterwards.


CONTENTS:
  • Option One: To Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color using Folder Options
  • Option Two: To Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color using a REG file


EXAMPLE: Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color
Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color in Windows 10-show_encrypted_or_compressed_ntfs_files_in_color-off.jpg Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color in Windows 10-show_encrypted_or_compressed_ntfs_files_in_color-.jpg






OPTION ONE

To Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color using Folder Options


1. Open Folder Options.

2. Click/tap on the View tab, check or uncheck (default) Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color in "Advanced settings" for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color in Windows 10-show_encrypted_or_compressed_ntfs_files_in_color_folder_options.jpg





OPTION TWO

To Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color using a REG file


Note   Note
The .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

ShowEncryptCompressedColor DWORD

0 = Off
1 = On


1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Turn On Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_ON_ShowEncryptCompressedColor.reg

Download


 3. To Turn Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color

NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_OFF_ShowEncryptCompressedColor.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


That's it,
Shawn


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