Windows 10: Unable to share files that have multiple EFS certificates on Windows 10

If you can’t share files that have multiple Encrypting File System (EFS) certificates in Windows 10, then this post may be able to help you. […]

This article Unable to share files that have multiple EFS certificates on Windows 10 first appeared on TheWindowsClub.com.

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Cannot Access Encrypted Files After Successfully Importing Encrypting File System (EFS) Certificate

I encrypted a folder and its contents on my Windows 10 system. I then successfully backed-up (export) my EFS certificate to a thumb drive and successfully imported the EFS certificate to a Windows 7 system. I confirmed the EFS certificate did in fact install
on the Windows 7 system and is located in my Personal | Certificates folder.

However, when I attempt to test the certificate by coping several of the encrypted files from my Windows 10 system to a USB drive and then attempting to open the files on my Windows 7 system, the file will not open. Windows as added a .PFILE file extension
to each of the documents. It's my understanding the .PFILE indicates a protected file; which would be correct.

I can open the files on the USB drive without any issues on my Windows 10 system. So, I'm confused why I can't open them on my Windows 7 system since I received successful confirmations on my both the export and import of the EFS certificate.

Any suggestions?

 

EFS Certificate issue!!!!


I had the same issue. I'd encrypted some files using EFS. I did a clean install of Windows 10, forgot to migrate the previous certificate (it doesn't do this by default) almost resigned to the fact that all my encrypted migrated files where locked forever. All I'd done was import the WRONG certificate, one of three I had backed-up on an external drive (.pfx). Check the "thumbprint" (details/properties tab) of the files you EFS encrypted and can't open, against all Certificates you've created (saved externally or imported to your Personal store in Cert Mgr, must have passwords too) - hopefully you'll find a match. Good luck.

 

Create a EFS certificate

Hello my name is Bradford and I'm an Independent Advisor for the Microsoft Community and I will try to resolve your problem with manually creating an EFS.

Below, is a tutorial on how to create a new EFSDRA Certificate so that you can recover the files from the encrypted drive and how to then use that certificate to recover data.

I apologize that this process is rather complex but the Microsoft tutorial is rather detailed:

Tutorial Link :

Please let me know if this helps