How to use Cipher command line tool in Windows 11/10

Zip.exe is a built-in command-line tool in the Windows operating organization that can be used to encrypt or decrypt data on NTFS drives. This tool also lets you deeply delete data by overwriting it.

Cipher command line tool

How to utilize Cipher command in Windows

Whenever you create text files and encrypt them till such a time that the encryption procedure is completed, Windows will create a backup of the file, so that in case annihilation was to go wrong during the encryption process, the data would all the same exist recoverable using this file. In one case the encryption process is completed, the backup is deleted. Simply and then once again, this delete backup file can be recovered using information recovery software, until it is overwritten past other data.

When you use this built-in tool, it creates a temporary folder named EFSTMPWP on the arrangement sectionalization. Information technology and so more temporary files in that binder, and writes random information comprising of 0's, i'southward, and other random numbers to those files.

Cipher.exe thus allows you lot not simply to encrypt and decrypt information but as well to deeply delete data. Thus, many use it to delete files permanently besides.

Overwrite deleted data using cipher /west

To overwrite deleted data, one can use the /w switch.

Open up the WinX card on your Windows and select Command Prompt. Type the following and hit Enter:

          cipher /westward:driveletter:\foldername

Here you will accept to specify the Bulldoze letter and the Binder proper name or path.

Cipher can besides be used to display or alter the encryption of folders and files. If information technology is used without parameters, it volition display the encryption state of the current folder and whatever files it contains.

Null.exe switches

/? : Displays aid at the control prompt.

/due east : Encrypts the specified folders. Folders are marked and then that files that are added to the folder later are encrypted too.

/d : Decrypts the specified folders. Folders are marked and then that files that are added to the folder later are encrypted too.

/west : PathName – Removes data on unused portions of a volume. PathName can indicate whatever directory on the desired book.

/south: dir : Performs the selected performance in the specified folder and all subfolders.

/a: Performs the operation for files and directories.

/i: Continues performing the specified performance even after errors occur. Past default,cipher stops when it encounters an error.

/f: Forces the encryption or decryption of all specified objects. By default,null skips files that take been encrypted or decrypted already.

/q: Reports only the about essential information.

/h: Displays files with hidden or organisation attributes. By default, these files are not encrypted or decrypted.

/chiliad: Creates a new file encryption central for the user runningcipher. If you use this option,cipher ignores all of the other options.

/u: Updates the user's file encryption cardinal or recovery agent's key to the current ones in all of the encrypted files on local drives (that is, if the keys take been changed). This option only works with/n.

/n: Prevents keys from being updated. Use this pick to find all of the encrypted files on the local drives. This option just works with/u.

For a full listing of Cipher control line switches and parameters, visit TechNet.

Due to the very nature of the tool, y'all are safe using it to securely delete data, as information technology will never overwrite your active files; it will just overwrite data that has been deleted by you lot.

Microsoft SysInternals also has a powerful tool that lets yous delete files permanently. With the SDelete tool , which you can download for free, you tin can overwrite the contents of free space on your disk to forbid deleted or encrypted files from beingness recovered.

Related: What is the EFSTMPWP folder?

Cipher command line tool