Cipher displays or changes file encryption on NTFS volumes

Cipher
Display or change the file encryption on the NTFS Volume. If it is used without parameters, the cipher will display the encryption status of the current folder and Its contained files.

Syntax
Cipher [{/E |/d}] [/s: dir] [/A] [/I] [/F] [/q] [/h] [/K] [/u [/n] [pathname [...] | [/R: pathnamewithoutextension] | [/W: pathname]

parameter
/E
encrypt the specified folder. After the folder is marked, the files added to the folder are encrypted.
/d
decrypts the specified folder. After the folder is marked, the files added to the folder are encrypted.
/S: Dir
perform the selected operation in the specified folder and all its subfolders.
/A
perform file and directory operations.
/I
the specified operation continues even if an error occurs. By default, cipher stops when an error occurs.
/F
encrypts or decrypts all specified objects. By default, cipher skips encrypted or decrypted files.
/q
only basic information is reported.
/h
displays files with hidden or system properties. By default, these files are not encrypted or decrypted.
/k
Create new file encryption for users running cipher. If this option is used, cipher ignores all other options.
/u
Update the encryption key of the user file or restore the proxy key to the current file in all encrypted files on the local drive (if the key has changed ). This option is only used with/n.
/n
prevent key updates. Use this option to find all encrypted files on the local drive. This option is only used with/U.
pathname
specifies a style, file, or folder.
/R: pathnamewithoutextension
generate a new recovery Proxy Certificate and private key, and write them to the file (the file name is specified in pathnamewithoutextension ). If this option is used, cipher ignores all other options.
/W: pathname
delete unused data on the volume. Pathname indicates any directory on the required volume. If this option is used, cipher ignores all other options.
/?
display help at the command prompt.
comment
Use/W
/W to delete part of the data of the volume that can be accessed and the data is not allocated to a file or directory. Because it does not lock the drive, other Programs can obtain the space on the drive. The cipher cannot be deleted. This option takes a long time to complete writing operations in most of the space of the hard disk volume and is only used when necessary.

Encrypt or decrypt files
To prevent the encrypted file from being decrypted when it is modified, we recommend that you encrypt the file together with the folder in which it is stored.

Use read-only files and folders
Cipher cannot encrypt the file marked as read-only.

Use Multiple folder names
You can use multiple folder names and wildcards.

Use multiple parameters
Each parameter must be separated by at least one space.

Example
To use cipher to encrypt the may sub-folder in the monthlyreports folder, type:

Cipher/e monthlyreports \ may

To Encrypt January in the monthlyreports folder to the December Sub-folder and the manufacturing sub-folder in the month sub-folder, type:

Cipher/e/S: monthlyreports

If you only want to add the marketing.xls file in the May sub-folder, type:

Cipher/E/A monthlyreports \ may \ marketing.xls

To encrypt the marketing.xls file named maintenance.doc and manufacturing subfolders in the May folder, type:

Cipher/E/A monthlyreports \ may \ MA *

To determine whether may is encrypted, type:

Cipher monthlyreports \ may

To determine which files in the May folder are encrypted, type:

Cipher monthlyreports \ may \*

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