Windows 10: Cannot turn off encryption of desktop folder!

I encrypted a file on my desktop. That enabled encryption on the Desktop folder. Now all files created or copied to my desktop are being encrypted.


The problem is that though I can decrypt individual files, when I uncheck the "Encrypt contents to secure data" property for the Desktopfolder, it tells me it cannot remove encryption from the FOLDER. Specifically, it says: "An error occurred applying attributes to the file: C:\Users\Frank\Desktop. The Specified file could not be decrypted." It will, however decrypt files and subfolders.


When I run "cipher /u /n", it does not tell me Desktop is encrypted,but it is. The name is green the color used for encrypted files and folders, the "Encrypt contents to secure data" property has a check in its box, and like I said, whenever I create of copy a file to the desktop, that file gets automatically encrypted and I have to manually decrypt it.


Please help me turn off encryption of the Desktop folder.


FYI, this is Windows 10, 1909 with all updates applied as of 25-Jan-2020.

:)

 

Encrypting a folder

Hello Bill,

To encrypt a folder in Windows 10 Home, follow these steps:

• Right-click the folder you want to encrypt and click Properties.
• On the General tab, click Advanced.
• Under Compress or Encrypt attributes, click Encrypt contents to secure data.
• Click OK then Apply to save the changes.

We're just here if you need further help.

 

Why all my newly created files and folders Encrypted in Desktop?

Every time I create a new folder or file and save it to my Desktop, a gold padlock icon appears on it. I tried the following steps but no use:

1. Go to C:\Users\User_Name and select Desktop folder, right click on it, select properties, then go to Advanced, unchecked the option "Encrypt the option to secure data". Then it shows one error as

"An error occurred trying to apply attributes to the file:

C:\Users\User_name\Desktop

The specific file could not be decrypted" .

2. Open an administrator command line and run "cipher /u /n" to list all the EFS files.

Then run "cipher /d "path to the file"" to decrypt all the EFS files.

Any other suggestions ?

Regards

 

Can't encrypt or password protect folders?

Hi,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. I understand the inconvenience you faced.
I will certainly help you with this.

The information which you have provided is not enough for us to determine the issue. Please provide us more information.

• Are you logging-in using Administrator User account?
• Is this issue specific to any particular folder or persist in all the folders?

Encrypting File System (EFS) is a feature of Windows that you can use to store information on your hard disk in an encrypted format. Encryption is the strongest protection that Windows provides to help you keep your information secure. I suggest you to try
log-in through other Administrator account and perform the below given steps to encrypt the folder and check if it works:

How to encrypt a file

• Right-click (or tap and hold) a file or folder and select Properties.
• Select the Advanced... button and select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box.
• Select OK to close the Advanced Attributes window, select
  Apply, and then select OK.

Please post back with the results and the information asked, we will be glad to assist you further.

Thank you.