Encrypt new files automatically with watch folders

A watch folder is an inbox: every new file that lands in it — a scan, a download, a photo from your phone — is encrypted automatically once it's finished being written.

The Watch Folders window
  1. Turn watching on
  2. Folders Clavis watches
  3. Add a folder — new files in it are encrypted automatically
  4. Encrypt what's already in it
  5. Save to start watching

How it behaves

  • A file is encrypted once it has been unchanged for the number of seconds you set (10 by default), so half-copied files are never touched.
  • Files already in the folder are left alone — press Encrypt existing files… to do those too.
  • Edits to existing files, and files you decrypt with Clavis, are left alone.
  • Watching pauses after 15 minutes without activity and when the vault locks; new files wait until you unlock. Tick Keep vault unlocked while watching to keep going (your password then stays in memory while Clavis runs; sleep and locking Windows still lock the vault).
  • Closing the window with × keeps Clavis — and watching — running in the tray.
Use it for inbox folders, not for folders where you're actively working on documents — a file you're still editing would be encrypted as soon as you stop for a few seconds.

Shortcut: right-click a folder in File Explorer → Clavis → Add to Watch Folder.

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