Encrypto is a file and folder encryption application developed by MacPaw, the software company known for products such as CleanMyMac, The Unarchiver, and other privacy and utility applications. The tool is designed to make encrypting sensitive files straightforward, particularly when users need to share documents or store private information securely.
Encrypto uses AES-256 encryption to protect files and folders. Users can select the data they want to secure, create a password, and generate an encrypted file that can then be stored or shared. MacPaw positions Encrypto as an easy-to-use solution for protecting files before sending them to friends, coworkers, or other recipients.
The application is available for macOS and Windows, making it useful when files need to move between different desktop operating systems. MacPaw originally released Encrypto in 2015 as a free application for both Mac and Windows.
How Encrypto Protects Files
At the center of Encrypto’s security model is AES-256, a widely used symmetric encryption standard. When a file or folder is encrypted, its contents are transformed into an encrypted form that cannot be opened through normal means without the appropriate password.
The basic process is intentionally simple. Users add a file or folder to Encrypto, provide a password, and let the application create the encrypted version. MacPaw describes the application as a lightweight tool that prevents unauthorized people from opening or viewing encrypted files.
This can be useful when files contain information that should not be exposed if they are accidentally accessed by someone else. Examples include financial documents, personal records, business files, photographs, contracts, project materials, and other private information.
However, encryption is only as useful as the protection surrounding the password. Encrypto does not save a backup of the user’s password. MacPaw states that if the password is forgotten, the encrypted files cannot be decrypted or recovered through the application.
AES-256 Encryption
AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard, and AES-256 refers to a version that uses a 256-bit key. It is commonly used in security systems and encryption software.
For Encrypto users, the important point is that the application does not simply rename or hide a file. It actually encrypts the contents, creating a protected version that requires the correct password to access.
MacPaw describes Encrypto as providing 256-bit AES encryption for files and folders. The company promotes this feature as the primary security mechanism for protecting data before it is shared or stored.
Encrypting Files and Folders
One of Encrypto’s practical features is that users can work with both individual files and folders. This means multiple documents or related files can be protected together rather than requiring each item to be encrypted separately.
For example, a user could place several business documents into a folder and use Encrypto to create a protected package. Similarly, personal photographs, tax documents, project files, or other collections of data can be encrypted before being transferred to another location.
MacPaw’s current product information describes the process as essentially drag-and-drop: users place a file into Encrypto, set a password, and create the encrypted version.
Password Hints
Encrypto also includes a password-hint feature. Instead of simply sending the password alongside an encrypted file, users can add a hint intended to help the recipient remember or identify the correct password.
The hint is embedded with the encrypted file, according to MacPaw. This can be useful when the sender and recipient already have some shared context that makes the hint meaningful without directly revealing the password.
A password hint should not contain the actual password or information that makes the password obvious. Its purpose is to help the intended recipient remember the password while keeping the password itself undisclosed.
Sharing Encrypted Files
Encrypto was originally designed with file sharing in mind. After encrypting a file, users can send the resulting file through their preferred communication or file-transfer service.
MacPaw highlights options such as email, Messages, AirDrop, Dropbox, and other file-sharing methods. The encrypted file remains protected even though the transfer method itself may vary.
This makes Encrypto useful for situations where a user needs to send sensitive information over an ordinary file-sharing channel.
For example, someone could encrypt a document before attaching it to an email. The recipient would then need the appropriate Encrypto-compatible process and password to access the contents.
It is also sensible to communicate the password through a separate channel rather than placing both the encrypted file and its password in the same message.
The .crypto File Format
Encrypto creates files using the .crypto file extension. MacPaw’s FAQ states that .crypto files can currently be opened with Encrypto.
This is an important distinction from ordinary archive formats such as ZIP. A .crypto file is specifically associated with Encrypto’s encryption system rather than being a generic compressed archive that can be opened by many different applications.
Because of this, recipients who receive an Encrypto file need access to compatible Encrypto software to decrypt it.
Saving Encrypted Files Locally
Encrypto does not require users to send encrypted files to someone else. It can also be used to protect files that are simply being stored locally.
MacPaw specifically presents local storage as one of the application’s use cases. A user can encrypt a file and save the resulting protected version to disk rather than sharing it.
This can be useful for people who want an additional layer of protection around sensitive files stored on a computer or external storage device.
Encryption can be particularly valuable for information that would cause privacy or security problems if another person gained access to the storage location.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
One of Encrypto’s notable characteristics is its support for both macOS and Windows. This makes it possible to exchange encrypted files between users who are working on different desktop platforms.
MacPaw’s product page currently lists Encrypto for macOS and Windows. The Mac version supports macOS 10.13 and later, while MacPaw’s website lists Windows support beginning with Windows XP.
The application’s cross-platform approach was part of its original design as well. When Encrypto launched in 2015, MacPaw emphasized that users could encrypt and exchange files between Mac and Windows computers.
Ease of Use
Encrypto is designed around a relatively simple workflow rather than a complex collection of security controls.
A typical process involves:
- Selecting a file or folder.
- Adding it to Encrypto.
- Creating a password.
- Optionally adding a password hint.
- Encrypting the data.
- Saving or sharing the resulting encrypted file.
- Providing the password to the intended recipient through an appropriate channel.
This straightforward approach makes the tool accessible to people who may not have extensive knowledge of encryption technology.
The application’s simplicity is also reflected in its positioning by MacPaw, which describes Encrypto as a lightweight and easy-to-use encryption application.
Encrypto’s Development
MacPaw announced Encrypto in May 2015. At launch, the company described it as a free application for encrypting files with AES-256 before sending them to friends or coworkers. The original release supported both Mac and Windows.
The application has continued to receive updates, although the release history differs between platforms. MacPaw’s current product page lists version 1.4.3 for macOS, released August 14, 2024, while its Windows listing shows version 1.0.1 from May 24, 2018.
MacPaw has also made the underlying ENCryptor engine open source. The company’s GitHub repository describes ENCryptor as the encryption engine powering the Encrypto application and includes functionality for encryption, decryption, password checking, hints, and .crypto files. The repository was archived in September 2024.
Who Can Use Encrypto?
Encrypto can be useful for a range of personal and professional situations.
Individuals may use it to protect personal documents, photographs, financial records, scanned paperwork, or other private files.
Professionals can use file encryption when sharing confidential documents with coworkers, clients, contractors, or other recipients. Businesses may also find it useful when sending information that should not be exposed through an ordinary unencrypted attachment.
It can also be helpful when transferring files between Mac and Windows computers, particularly when the recipient needs a straightforward way to access protected data.
The main requirement is that users must manage passwords carefully. Because MacPaw does not keep a password backup, losing the password can mean permanently losing access to the encrypted data.
Is Encrypto a Complete Cybersecurity Solution?
Encrypto should be understood as a file encryption tool, not a complete cybersecurity or privacy platform.
Its purpose is to protect the contents of selected files and folders. It does not replace antivirus software, firewalls, secure account practices, operating-system security, backups, or broader organizational security measures.
Similarly, encrypting a file does not automatically make every part of a file-sharing process secure. Users still need to consider where files are stored, how they are transferred, who receives the password, and whether sensitive information remains elsewhere in an unencrypted form.
For particularly important information, maintaining secure backups is also essential.
Conclusion
Encrypto by MacPaw provides a simple way to add password-based AES-256 encryption to files and folders. Its combination of drag-and-drop operation, password protection, password hints, .crypto files, local storage options, and Mac-Windows compatibility makes it focused on a specific task: protecting files before they are stored or shared.
The application is free and remains available for macOS and Windows, with MacPaw continuing to provide product documentation and support.
For users who need straightforward file-level encryption without navigating a complicated security interface, Encrypto offers a focused approach. At the same time, users should remember that the security of encrypted data depends heavily on responsible password management. Since Encrypto does not retain or recover forgotten passwords, keeping passwords secure and accessible to authorized users is an essential part of using the software.