How to Encrypt a File

You can restrict access to files on your computer by encrypting them. When another user logs onto your computer with a different account they will not able to access the encrypted files on your account.

To encrypt a file:

1. Click Start, click My Documents and then navigate to the folder containing the file to be encrypted.
2. Select the file you wish to encrypt.
3. Right-click the file and then click Properties.
   
   
4. On the General tab, click Advanced.
   
   
5. Under Compress or Encrypt attributes, select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box. Notice that you cannot encrypt and compress a file.
   
   
6. Click OK.
7. In the Properties window, click Apply.
   
   
8. In the Encryption Warning window, click Encrypt the file and the parent folder. The remaining files in the parent folder will not be encrypted. However, any files added to this folder in the future will automatically be encrypted.
   
   
9. Click OK.
10. In the Properties window, click OK again. The encrypted file and folder now appear in a different color in Windows Explorer and any files added to this folder will now be automatically encrypted.