Windows 10: is it safe to run win 10 with encryption disabled

I purchased a WD 2 TB HD

A moderator on this MS sight suggested I use a third-party utility to perform the backup (AOMEI)

IT WAS DOING THE BACKUP BUT IT WAS BACKING UP THE ENTIRE DRIVE NOT JUST THE partitions in use. and when I did the follow-up incremental backups after a few times the external drive would not have enough space. so AOMEI suggested I turn of the encryption.

when I did this it all worked fine.

Question is it safe to run win 10 with encryption turned off. turning it on and off takes a long time.

I am backing up HD to an image file.

:)

 

Enable or Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders in Local Group Policy Editor

How to Enable or Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders in Windows


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 app that doesn't possess the appropriate file encryption key cannot open any encrypted files and folders. Encryption is the strongest protection that Windows provides to help you keep your individual files and folders secure.

Encrypting File System (EFS) is only available in the following editions of Windows:

• Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise
• Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise
• Windows 8 Pro and Enterpise
• Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable to automatically encrypt files that are moved to an EFS encrypted folder for all users in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

*Warning You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable automatically encrypt files that are moved to an EFS encrypted folder.

*note This setting applies only to files moved (not copied) within the same volume/partition the encrypted folder is on. When files are moved to other volumes, or if you create a new file in an encrypted folder, File Explorer encrypts those files automatically.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Enable or Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: Enable or Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Move file to EFS encrypted folder













OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders in Local Group Policy Editor

*note The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 7/8/10 Pro, Windows 7/8/10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System




3. In the right pane of System in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Do not automatically encrypt files moved to encrypted folders policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Enable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

*note Not Configured is the default setting.

6. To Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)




7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.







OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders using a REG file

*note The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

NoEncryptOnMove DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable


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


2. To Enable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders
*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.

Enable_automatically_encrypt_files_moved_to_EFS_encrypted_folders.reg





3. To Disable Automatically Encrypt Files Moved to EFS Encrypted Folders
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_automatically_encrypt_files_moved_to_EFS_encrypted_folders.reg




4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

7. Restart the explorer process to apply.

8. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Enable or Disable NTFS File Encryption in Windows
• How to Decrypt Files and Folders Encrypted with EFS in Windows 10
• How to Encrypt Files and Folders with Encrypting File System (EFS) in Windows 10
• How to Find and List All Your EFS Encrypted Files in Windows 10

 

Encryption

Hello Miriam,

For us to be able to isolate your concern why your devices page says it is not encrypted when you've turn on encryption, kindly answer these questions:

• Does this happen before you encrypt the device?
• Which Windows version currently running on your device?
• What troubleshooting steps have you tried so far?

We will be waiting for update.

 

Device Encryption not avaiable

Hello Fraczek,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

We understand your concern in this regard.

• Are you referring to BitLocker Drive Encryption?
• What preventing you from doing this?
• Did you get any error message or code while doing this?

Before you come up with the above information, suggest you to refer the article

Help protect your files using BitLocker Drive Encryption and see if it help you.

Do refer the article
Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption Step-by-Step Guide and check if it help you with the required information.

Keep us posted if you require further assistance.