# Error “EFS-encrypted files may be unusable once restored”

**You may see a warning of this form in the backup job logs:**

`EFS-encrypted files may be unusable once restored, unless you also backup the EFS encryption keys from this PC.`<br>

To disable this warning, please ensure you have backed up the EFS encryption keys, and then enable the 'I confirm EFS keys are exported' option in the Protected Item settings.

<figure><img src="https://2026595258-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSvHh4wgiJn6bl81UXqVT%2Fuploads%2F3SSOCPU2c8Wo3q2Thr9f%2Fdismiss_efs_warnings.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b48277da-1d13-472f-bf96-d182f46f455a" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

EFS is a Windows feature that allows you to encrypt individual files on disk. The backup job was successful, but if you restore the data to a new PC, the files might not be readable because the EFS encryption keys are tied to the Windows user account. In effect, the backup might not be restorable in a practical sense.

For more information, please see the full article on [EFS in the Documentation](https://docs.eazybackup.com/documentation/confirm-efs-keys-are-exported-windows-efs) section.

{% content-ref url="../documentation/confirm-efs-keys-are-exported-windows-efs" %}
[confirm-efs-keys-are-exported-windows-efs](https://docs.eazybackup.com/documentation/confirm-efs-keys-are-exported-windows-efs)
{% endcontent-ref %}

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