How to Add Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu in Vista
INFO: This will add
Encrypt and
Decrypt to the context menu (right click). It will allow you to encrypt or decrypt a file or folder by simply right clicking the item and selecting
Encrypt or
Decrypt. You will no longer have to go through the Advanced Properties of the file or folder to do it. The
Encrypt feature is only available in the
Vista Business,
Ultimate, and
Enterprise versions.
NOTE: If the file or folder is not already encrypted, you will see Encrypt when you right click. If the file or folder is already encrypted, then you will see Decrypt when you right click.
CAUTION: If you add encrypted files to a
compressed (zipped) folder, the files will be unencrypted (decrypted) when extracted, which might result in unintentional disclosure of personal or sensitive information. For that reason, you should avoid compressing encrypted files. If you create a
shortcut from the encrypted file, it will not be encrypted until you do it.
RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Expand the Context (Shortcuts) Menu in Vista
2. How to Customize the Context Menu for the Start Menu in Vista
3. How to Customize the Send To Context Menu in Vista
4. How to Customize the Recycle Bin Context Menu in Vista
5. How to Add COPY TO FOLDER and MOVE TO FOLDER to the Context Menu in Vista
6. How to Encrypt or Decrypt a Folder or File in Vista
7. How to Add and Remove a New Menu Item in Vista
8. How to Add Take Ownership to the Context Menu in Vista
9. How to Restore the Search Context Menu Item after Installing the Vista SP1
10. How to Add Flip 3D to the Context Menu in Vista
11. How to Restore or Remove New from the Context Menu in Vista
12. How to Enable or Disable the Context Menu in Vista
13. How to Remove or Show Drive Letters in the Vista Send To Context Menu
14. How to Add View and Print File Directory to the Context Menu in Vista
15. How to Add or Remove Copy as Path from the Vista Context Menu
16. How to Add or Remove Send To from the Vista Context Menu
17. How to Add or Remove Turn Aero On or Off from the Vista Context Menu
18. How to Add System Properties to Computer Context Menu in Vista
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 encrypted or not.
Encrypt.jpgDecrypt.jpg
OPTION ONE:
Through a Download:
1. To Add Encrypt and Decrypt -
A)
Add_Encrypt-Decrypt.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2. To Remove Encrypt and Decrypt -
A)
Remove_Encrypt-Decrypt.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3. Click on
Save, and save the
.reg file to the
Desktop.
4. Right click the
.reg (On Desktop) file and click
Merge.
5. Click on the
Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on
Continue (UAC),
Yes, and then
OK when prompted.
7. Delete the
.reg file (On Desktop).
OPTION TWO:
The Manual Way:
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type
regedit and press
Enter.
3. Click
Continue button for UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
5. In the right pane, right click on a empty space and click
New and click
DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Advanced_Key.jpg
6. Type
EncryptionContextMenu and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
7. Right click
EncryptionContextMenu and click
Modify.
EncryptionContextMenu.jpg
8. To Add Encrypt and Decrypt -
A) Type
1 and click
OK. (See screenshot below)
9. To Remove Encrypt and Decrypt -
A) Type
0 (number zero) and click
OK.
Modify.jpg
10. Close regedit.
That's it,
Shawn