Show Encrypted NTFS Files in Color: A Windows 11 Guide

How to Turn On or Off Colored Encrypted or Compressed Files in 🪟 Windows 11

This is a single view setting in Folder Options. It changes the text color of encrypted files so they stand out, and you can switch it off the same way if you prefer a plain view. No restart or sign-out is needed. The change applies as soon as you click OK.

1. Open File Explorer 📁 by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar 🖥️, or press Windows key + E on your keyboard. A File Explorer 📁 window opens.
2. Click the three dots (•••) on the top menu bar. On some Windows 11 builds this button shows a tooltip reading See more. A dropdown menu appears.
3. Select Options from the dropdown. The Folder Options window opens.
4. Click the View tab at the top of the Folder Options window. You will see a list of settings under Advanced settings.
5. Scroll down the Advanced settings list until you find “Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.” Check the box next to it. If the box is already checked, the setting is on and you don’t need to change anything.
6. Click OK to save your changes and close the window. File Explorer 📁 refreshes, and any encrypted files in the current folder now show in color.

This reference screenshot displays the target checkbox:

File Explorer 📁 renders encrypted files in green and compressed files in blue. Specific system themes, such as high contrast themes, might alter these exact shades. This setting only turns the colors on or off. It does not let you choose different colors.

• The folder must be on an NTFS drive. Drives formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, such as many USB sticks, can't hold EFS-encrypted files.
• The files must actually be encrypted. A password-protected ZIP file or a file protected with BitLocker is not EFS-encrypted, so it won't turn green.
• If your PC runs Windows 11 Home, you can't create EFS-encrypted files, so there will be nothing green to see.

To go back to the standard view, repeat the steps above. Open the same Folder Options window, go to the View tab, clear the checkbox, and click OK. Filenames return to the normal text color straight away.

Summary

• The color makes it easy to spot encrypted or compressed files without opening their properties.
• You can turn it off at any time if you prefer a plain, all-one-color look.
• It helps you keep track of which files are encrypted or compressed on your PC.

Showing encrypted NTFS files in color lets you see which items on your computer are protected or compressed without checking each one. The setting stays active until you turn it off, so File Explorer keeps giving you a visual guide to your protected data.