AxCrypt is a free and easy to use open source strong file encryption for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2K/XP, integrated with Windows Explorer. Encrypt, compress, decrypt, wipe, view and edit with a few mouse clicks. Cryptographic primitives are AES-128 and SHA-1.

Encrypted files have a ".axx" extension added to their names, and are shown with a new icon.

To encrypt a file, right-click it in Windows Explorer, select 'AxCrypt > Encrypt' and enter a pass phrase plus the path to an optional strong key file.

To edit or view an encrypted file - just double-click it.

To decrypt, right-click and select 'AxCrypt > Decrypt' instead, and enter the correct pass phrase plus the path to the correct key file, if used.

To encrypt to a self-decrypting .exe program, right-click and select 'AxCrypt > Encrypt Copy to .exe' . You can send these files to anyone, they do not need to have AxCrypt installed.

AxDecrypt, a stand-alone, install-free, decrypt-only version is also included.