Aug 23, 2023 • Filed to: Recover Files • Proven solutions
Files are encrypted to conceal vital information from certain people. Only people who have the passcode can access these files. However, when these files get lost from your system, you may be wondering if it is possible to restore the encrypted files.
In this article, we will be telling you whether or not deleted encrypted files can be recovered.
We now come to the big question.
Can deleted encrypted files be restored?
Yes! Any encrypted file you may have deleted or lost can be recovered. We will be using the rest of this article to show you just how you can recover encrypted files that have been deleted.
Before we move on to showing you how you can recover lost encrypted files, here's a quick tip for you.
To encrypt any file in Windows 10/8/7, take the following steps. Note that any unencrypted file you place in an encrypted folder will automatically be encrypted with the encryption on the folder.
The steps to encrypt the file include;
Step 1. Locate the file you want to encrypt and right-click the file.
Step 2. Click on "Properties." A dialogue box will pop up. Click on the "Advanced..." button. A new dialogue box will pop-up.
Step 3. On the new dialogue box, click on the little box next to "Encrypt content to secure data." Press "Ok" after this.
Step 4. Continue clicking "Ok" until an encryption warning box pops up.
Step 5. Lastly, click on " the file only," then press "Ok" to finish encryption.
Now that you have seen how to encrypt a file in Windows 10/8/7 let's continue to our main focus for the article.
There are four methods you can use. They include.
Step 1. Check for your backups in Google Drive, OneDrive, or Hard Drives.
Step 2. Use a file recovery software
Step 3. System Restore
Step 4. Use a decryption tool
The first method you can use to recover your lost encrypted files is to check for backups where you originally backed-up the files. You can only use this method if you had previously backed-up the files either in Google Drive, OneDrive, or Hard Drive.
For this reason, you must ensure to back up your files so that you can quickly recover them if they get missing.
To recover your files from Google Drive, simply login to your Google Drive account, find the lost file's copy, and download it into your computer.
For hard drives, connect the hard drive to your computer and import the file from there into your computer.
Another viable option is to use a Data Recovery Software to scan your computer and recover your lost encrypted files. If you don't have backups for your files, you can use this method to retrieve them.
Though there are several data recovery tools you can use, we recommend you use Wondershare Recoverit. It is super easy to use and helps you recover your deleted encrypted files quickly.
Wondershare Recoverit can recover many file types and is available for both Windows and Mac users.
It takes just three steps to restore your lost encrypted files completely.
Step 1. Launch Recoverit and Select a Location
Launch Recoverit on your computer, then select drive under the "Device" tab. Alternatively, you can select an option under the "Select Location" tab.
After the selection, click on the "Start" button to proceed to the next step.
Step 2. Scan selected location
When you click on the start button, Recoverit will carry out a general scan of the selected location to catch your deleted files. If your encrypted file is not seen through the general scan, click the "Advanced Scan" button. Recoverit will then conduct an in-depth search of the selected location to bring out all your deleted files.
You can filter the search results using the panel on the right of the screen. Here, you can specify the file type, size, date modified, etc. It helps narrow the search to what you are looking for.
You can use the "Stop" button on the screen when you see your lost encrypted files before the search is completed to stop the search and restore your deleted encrypted files.
Step 3. Preview and Recover
In this last step, you can recover the deleted encrypted file straightaway, or you can preview the file first to be sure it is the one you are looking for.
To preview the file, click on the "Preview" button on the right panel.
To recover and save the file, click on the "Recover" button, then choose a different location to save the file. Do not save it in the former location where it was lost.
Running a system restore on your computer can help recover your deleted encrypted files. However, the procedure varies with different operating systems. We'll be showing how you can perform this on Windows 10.
The steps are as follows;
Step 1. Click on the "Start" button and head to Update & Security > Recovery.
2. Next, click on "Advanced start-up" and then click on "Troubleshoot," then Advanced Options, then System Restore.
3. After this, click "Next" and select a system point that will recover your encrypted files.
4. Lastly, click on "Next." Wait for a while until your Windows system is restored.
This should restore your deleted encrypted files.
There is a chance you can recover your lost encrypted files using a decryption tool. Using an excellent decryption tool can help you unlock and recover your lost encrypted files.
Some of the excellent decryption tools include GIBON Ransomware Decryption Tool, Quick Heal Ransomware Decryption Tool, and many others.
Once you have installed the decryption tool, use it to scan your system for the lost encrypted files. You can then save the recovered files.
You can recover any lost encrypted file just like we have shown you in this article. All the four methods we have mentioned in this article can help you recover your deleted encrypted files. If one doesn't work, try the other.
Remember always to be careful with your files. Also, ensure to protect your system with good security software.
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Eleanor Reed
staff Editor