How to Turn On or Off ‘Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS files in Color’ in Windows 10

Setting PCs to show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color simplifies your workflow and makes protected documents easier to distinguish, marking encrypted and compressed file names green and blue, respectively. Alternatively, you could disable it for uniformity and a more professional user interface.

This comprehensive guide explains how to manage displaying compressed NTFS files in color for individual and system-wide deployment, plus related topics.

How to enable or disable showing encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color

Method 1: Enable or disable via folder options (GUI)

The simplest way to add or remove color on NTFS files is by accessing the workstation’s folder options.

1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
2. Click the File tab on the upper left.
3. Select Change folder and search options.
4. Go to the View tab.
5. Under Advanced settings, scroll down to find Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
   1. Check the box to show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
   2. Uncheck the box to remove color from encrypted/compressed files and folder names.
6. Press OK.

Method 2: Enable or disable via Registry Editor

This process can be leveraged by IT support staff to automate processes across several PCs in relevant departments.

⚠️This method involves changing Registry values. Before you proceed, create a system restore backup.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.
3. Using the Registry Editor’s address bar, enter the following directory:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

4. Double-click ShowEncryptCompressedColor to modify its value.
   1. Type 1 to show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
   2. Type 0 to disable NTFS file/folder names in color.
5. Restart the PC to apply changes.

Requirements to show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color

• Windows 10 operating system: Color customization for NTFS files is supported on Windows 10 version 1709 or later.
• Administrator privileges (for registry modifications): Admin rights are needed to change system preferences on a computer. This is especially true with the Registry Editor, which configures low-level settings.
• Familiarity with system settings and configuration tools: Already having experience navigating Windows Explorer settings and the Windows Registry improves the likelihood of smooth customization.

Considerations for enterprise deployment

Keep these pointers in mind before you decide to implement the change across your organization.

Group Policy Preferences

Group Policy Preferences (GPP) is a group of extensions that allow you to see, configure, and deploy particular PC settings, like folder options that show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color, via Group Policy Objects (GPO).

This makes GPP (along with relevant scripts) the ideal tool for distributing folder setting changes across your enterprise.

Prioritize user experience

While it’s a simple quality-of-life change, being able to show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color helps your specialists resolve document-related tickets much faster. With that in mind, you also have to take into consideration what your users need in their day-to-day.

Visual cues are a huge help, especially when it comes to data security. This small but useful customization could benefit cybersecurity teams, your Security Operations Center (SOC), and even the entire IT department. Target these environments first, or remove the colors for UI uniformity.

Test before deploying changes system-wide

Large-scale patches can conflict with preexisting policies, potentially disrupting your operations. Take the smart approach and test your code first to ensure nothing compromises your company’s workflows.

Select a small, representative group of users or computers for testing, create your test GPO, and use item-level targeting. And once you work out the kinks, you’ll be more confident deploying it system-wide

Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color for enhanced awareness

Displaying NTFS files and folders with colors improves file management by distinguishing compressed documents from encrypted ones at a glance. Moreover, the process to enable/disable this option is simple, has minimal overhead, and is easily deployed.

Improving usability can also lead to higher productivity levels since it effectively lets you skip the steps to normally check for compressed/encrypted files on navigation panes. This level of control can also help with employee satisfaction in departments that frequently deal with NTFS files, facilitating everyday tasks.