Need to encrypt Mac files? I found a free app that makes it super easy

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Encrypting files can often be necessary.
• Whether you’re sharing or storing a file, the right app is key.
• Encrypto makes encrypting files on MacOS so easy.

Every so often, I have to encrypt a file on MacOS. It may be a contract containing sensitive information, such as tax or bank data, or any other confidential details. If it’s sensitive, I certainly don’t want prying eyes to see it.

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After trying out several MacOS encryption tools, I recently found an app that makes the process super easy for anyone.

The app is called Encrypto, and it’s free to install from the MacOS App Store

There’s not much to Encrypto; it does one thing, and it does it well. Encrypto uses AES-256 encryption, simplifies the sharing of encrypted files, offers password hints (that can also be shared), sends files via the OSX sharing system, and saves to disk.

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Encrypto is also available for Windows, so you can share those files with your friends/family/coworkers who use Microsoft’s operating system.

Let me show you just how easy Encrypto is to use.

Installing Encrypto

What you’ll need: The only thing you’ll need is a desktop or laptop running the latest version of MacOS — that’s it. Let’s install.

Using Encrypto

As I stated earlier, using Encrypto is very simple. Here’s what you do.

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1. Open Encrypto

Open the Launchpad on your Dock and search for Encrypto. Once the icon appears, click it to launch the app.

2. Add a file to be encrypted

Click the downward-pointing arrow (which will turn into a +) and locate the file you want encrypted, or drag and drop the file from Finder into the Encrypto window.

3. Encrypt the file

With the file added, a password prompt will appear below it. Type an encryption password for the file. Once you’ve done that, click Encrypt, and Encrypto will take just a few seconds to complete the task. 

4. Share or save the file

With the file encrypted, you can either share it or save it to local storage. To save it, click the Save As button. To share it, click the Share drop-down and select the method you prefer for sharing. 

When you send an encrypted file to someone, the recipient will need two things to unencrypt the file: the password and Encrypto installed on their machine. Encrypto is available for MacOS and Windows, so you can share encrypted files with users on either platform.

I suggest sharing the password over the phone. If you share the password via text message or email, do not provide any hint within that message of what the password is for. 

Decrypting the file is as simple as encrypting it. Open Encrypto, click the arrow, locate the encrypted file that was sent to you, and then, when prompted, type the decryption password.

The caveat

After you share or save the encrypted file, you may notice that the original file remains. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t have an option for automatically deleting the original file. Because of this, I suggest either deleting the original file or moving it to a safe location.

However, if you also have F-Vault installed on your system, Encrypto works seamlessly with that app to automatically hide the original file. Without F-Vault, you have to manage that manually.

I also suggest not deleting the original file until you’re certain the encryption worked as expected. Run Encrypto on a few test files to make sure it’s functioning properly. After you get the hang of it, you can then decide — if deleting the original is viable — or not. 

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For me, I’ll encrypt the original file twice, save one on an external drive, and one on an internal drive. After those two files are safe, I’ll delete the original.

Once again: Do not delete those important files unless you’re 100% certain you have the hang of Encrypto and that you have backup copies… just in case.