This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off showing encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The NTFS file system volumes support file and folder compression on an individual file basis. The file compression algorithm used by the NTFS file system is Lempel-Ziv compression. This is a lossless compression algorithm, which means that no data is lost when compressing and decompressing the file, as opposed to lossy compression algorithms such as JPEG, where some data is lost each time data compression and decompression occur.
The Encrypted File System, or EFS, provides an additional level of security for files and folders. It provides cryptographic protection of individual files on NTFS file system volumes using a public-key system.
You can turn on to show file name text of encrypted files and folders in green color and compressed files and folders in blue color.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color in Folder Options
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color using REG file
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color in Registry Editor
EXAMPLE: "Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color" turned on and off
1 Open Folder Options.
2 Click/tap on the View tab. (see screenshot below)
3 Check (on) or uncheck (off - default) Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color for what you want.
4 Click/tap on OK.
This option will not work when Administrator protection is turned on.
1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.
2 Turn On Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_ON_ShowEncryptCompressedColor.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ShowEncryptCompressedColor"=dword:000000013 Turn Off Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_OFF_ShowEncryptCompressedColor.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ShowEncryptCompressedColor"=dword:000000004 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 If File Explorer is open, then either refresh (F5) or close and reopen File Explorer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
1 Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
2 Navigate to the key location below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 3)
HKEY_USERS\<SID>\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Substitute <SID> in the key path above with the actual SID for the account you want to apply this to.
For example:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2498639629-3946114050-4100787084-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3 In the right pane of the Advanced key, double click/tap on the ShowEncryptCompressedColor DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below)
4 Enter 0 (off - default) or 1 (on) for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
5 If File Explorer is open, then either refresh (F5) or close and reopen File Explorer to apply.
6 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
