How to fix Error 495 on Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: Error 495 – “The specified operation is not supported while encryption is enabled on the target object”

Why This Error Happens

This error occurs when a file operation (such as moving, renaming, deleting, or modifying attributes) is attempted on a file or folder that has Encrypting File System (EFS) enabled, but the specific operation conflicts with how EFS manages encrypted data streams. It commonly happens when copying encrypted files to a filesystem that doesn’t support EFS (such as FAT32 or exFAT), or when a third-party backup/sync tool tries to perform low-level operations on encrypted objects that bypass the Windows EFS API. Corrupted EFS certificates or an inconsistent encryption state on the file (interrupted encryption/decryption process) can also trigger this error.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

  1. Check the file system of the target location
    Right-click the destination drive → Properties → confirm it’s NTFS. EFS only works on NTFS; if you’re copying to FAT32/exFAT (e.g., a USB drive), reformat the drive to NTFS or choose an NTFS-formatted destination.

  2. Decrypt the file/folder before performing the operation

  • Right-click the file/folder → Properties → Advanced → uncheck “Encrypt contents to secure data” → OK → Apply.
  • Alternatively, use Command Prompt (Admin):

    cipher /d "C:\Path\To\File_or_Folder"

    Retry the original operation (move, rename, delete) after decryption.
  1. Repair the EFS certificate store
    Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
   cipher /r:C:\EFSBackup

This exports a fresh EFS recovery certificate. If your existing certificate is corrupted, reimport a valid one via certmgr.msc → Personal → Certificates.

  1. Run System File Checker to fix underlying corruption
   sfc /scannow

Follow with:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart Windows 11 and retry the failed operation.

  1. Update or bypass third-party backup/antivirus software
    If a backup tool or AV product is initiating the operation, update it to the latest version or temporarily disable it to confirm it’s the source of the conflict.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • Verify the fix: After decrypting or moving to NTFS, right-click the file → Properties → Advanced, and confirm the encryption checkbox is unchecked or the operation completes without Error 495.
  • Alternative: If encryption must be preserved, use robocopy with the /EFSRAW flag to correctly transfer encrypted files without triggering the unsupported operation:
  robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /EFSRAW