How to use

AxCrypt works as a separate program in it’s own window, but it’s also fully integrated into the Windows Explorer – the part of Windows where you browse your folders and files. Here is a quick video tutorial on how to use the basic functions of AxCrypt 2.0.

  1. Start by selecting one or more files or folders that you’d like to operate on.
  2. Right-click to bring up the AxCrypt menu.
  3. To open files for viewing or editing, simply double-click them.

Some operations are not applied to specific files or folders, but you still need to right-click something to bring up the AxCrypt menu. You may always right-click files and folders in Windows Explorer, bringing up the context menu. This is where AxCrypt is normally invoked, from its own sub-menu.

The context menu is named after the intention to vary the options depending on the context where it’s shown, AxCrypt follows this convention thus varying the available options depending on the context. If you’re not seeing an operation, it’s likely because it’s not meaningful in that context, for example you will not see the decrypt option when right-clicking a file that is not encrypted since that would not make sense.

The AxCrypt menu

Invoke the context menu from the Windows Explorer by selecting one or more files or folders and do right-click | AxCrypt.

To start the full program in it’s own window, you can do right-click | AxCrypt | Advanced. If AxCrypt has already been started, it can be found in the system tray.

The Start menu

There are also some operations available from the program Start-menu, under the AxCrypt heading.

Why do I not see the AxCrypt menu when I right-click?

AxCrypt is intended to show a menu named AxCrypt, with subsequent menu choices such as ‘Encrypt’ and ‘Decrypt’ when you right-click a file. This is called a ‘Context Menu’ in Windows. If you don’t see this menu, your first options should be to uninstall AxCrypt, and then re-install. Always being sure to really reboot when asked to. Don’t take any shortcuts here!

If it doesn’t work after re-installing, you may have a conflict with some other program causing the AxCrypt menu not to be shown, and possibly others. A tool which has proven useful is ShellExView by Nir Sofer at NirSoft. AxCrypt is not affiliated with NirSoft in any way, and cannot guarantee anything, but the tool has proven useful for other AxCrypt users facing this kind of problem.

A program such as AxCrypt which installs menu choices in the right-click context menu is called a Shell Extension. ShellExView will list all the extensions installed, and give you the option to enable and disable each such extension which may make it easier to find just which if any shell extension is stopping AxCrypt from showing its menu.

Key sharing

By using the key sharing feature you can share your secured files with others. Here is a tutorial on how to use key sharing.

Password management

You can store all your passwords and codes online in a secure manner using the password management feature. See the video below for instructions on how to use the password manager.

Want more ideas on how to use AxCrypt? Check out our Usage tips  page.