I recently discovered the cipher command on Windows 10 command line and have been trying to use it to encrypt a directory or an absolute path. However, I keep receiving the error “Request not supported” when trying to execute the command “cipher /e [directory name]” or “cipher /e [absolute path].”
I am running Microsoft Windows 10 Home, have executed the command as an administrator in both ‘cmd’ and ‘powershell,’ and the disk’s file system is NTFS. I have also given all users access to the ‘Security’ attribute on the targeted folder (which is currently empty for testing purposes).
Can someone provide a suggestion or solution for why I am encountering this error?
Am I missing something important?
3 Answers
Introduction
The cipher command is a built-in feature in Windows that allows users to encrypt or decrypt files and folders. This feature is particularly useful for those who want to keep their sensitive data secure and away from unauthorized access. However, some users have reported encountering the error “Request not supported” when trying to execute the cipher /e command on a folder. In this blog post, we will explore the possible reasons for this error and provide solutions to fix it.
Reasons for the Error “Request not supported”
There could be various reasons why the cipher /e command on a folder is resulting in the error “Request not supported.” Below are some of the possible reasons:
1. Not running the command as an administrator
One of the most common reasons for this error is not running the command as an administrator. When you run the command prompt or PowerShell without administrative privileges, you will not be able to access some of the system features, including the cipher command. Therefore, it is essential to run the command prompt or PowerShell as an administrator before executing the cipher command.
2. Not using the correct syntax
Another reason why you may encounter this error is using the wrong syntax for the cipher /e command. The correct syntax for the command is cipher /e [directory name] or cipher /e [absolute path]. If you do not include the directory name or absolute path, the command will not execute correctly, resulting in the “Request not supported” error.
3. Not using the correct file system
The cipher command only works with the NTFS file system. If your folder is on a different file system, such as FAT32 or exFAT, the cipher command will not work correctly, resulting in the “Request not supported” error.
4. The folder is compressed or encrypted
If the folder you are trying to encrypt is already compressed or encrypted, the cipher command will not work. You need to decompress or decrypt the folder first before using the cipher command.
Solutions to Fix the Error “Request not supported”
Now that we have identified some of the possible reasons for the error “Request not supported,” let’s explore some solutions to fix the issue.
1. Run the command as an administrator
As mentioned earlier, running the command prompt or PowerShell as an administrator is essential to access some of the system features, including the cipher command. To run the command prompt or PowerShell as an administrator, follow these steps:
Step 1: Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
Step 2: From the menu that appears, select either “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin).”
Step 3: If prompted, click “Yes” to allow the app to make changes to your device.
Step 4: Execute the cipher command with the correct syntax.
2. Use the correct syntax
To encrypt a folder using the cipher command, you need to use the correct syntax. The correct syntax for the command is cipher /e [directory name] or cipher /e [absolute path]. Make sure you include the directory name or absolute path when executing the command.
3. Convert the file system to NTFS
If your folder is on a file system other than NTFS, you need to convert it to NTFS to use the cipher command. To convert the file system to NTFS, follow these steps:
Step 1: Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
Step 2: From the menu that appears, select “Windows PowerShell (Admin).”
Step 3: If prompted, click “Yes” to allow the app to make changes to your device.
Step 4: In the PowerShell window, type “convert [drive letter]: /fs:ntfs” and press Enter.
Step 5: Wait for the process to complete.
Step 6: Execute the cipher command with the correct syntax.
4. Decompress or decrypt the folder
If the folder you are trying to encrypt is already compressed or encrypted, you need to decompress or decrypt it first before using the cipher command. To decompress or decrypt the folder, follow these steps:
Step 1: Right-click on the folder you want to decompress or decrypt.
Step 2: Select “Properties.”
Step 3: In the “Properties” window, click on the “Advanced” button.
Step 4: Uncheck the box next to “Compress contents to save disk space” or “Encrypt contents to secure data” and click “OK.”
Step 5: Wait for the process to complete.
Step 6: Execute the cipher command with the correct syntax.
Conclusion
The cipher command is a powerful tool that allows users to encrypt or decrypt files and folders in Windows. However, if you encounter the error “Request not supported” when trying to execute the cipher /e command on a folder, it can be frustrating. In this blog post, we have explored some of the possible reasons for this error and provided solutions to fix it. By following the solutions outlined in this post, you should be able to use the cipher command successfully without encountering the “Request not supported” error.
The “cipher /e” command is used to encrypt a folder or file using the Encrypting File System (EFS) feature in Windows. However, the error message “Request not supported” suggests that the EFS feature is not enabled on your system. EFS is not available on Windows 10 Home edition, it’s only available on Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise edition.
If your goal is to encrypt a folder or file, you can use third-party software such as VeraCrypt, BitLocker, or AxCrypt to encrypt your files and directories.
cipher /e on a folder outputs Request not supported.
I’m running Microsoft Windows 10 Home
cipher is not supported on Home editions of Windows as it uses the Encrypting File System (EFS).
And:
EFS is available in all versions of Windows except the home
versions (see Supported operating systems below) from Windows 2000
onwards.…
- Windows 2000 Professional, Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter editions
- Windows XP Professional, also in Tablet PC Edition, Media Center Edition and x64 Edition
- Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2, in both x86 and x64 editions
- Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate editions[9]
- Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions
- Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
- Windows 8 and 8.1 Pro and Enterprise editions
- Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019