LanguageMENC
Microsoft Windows Mobile encrypted data
File type: Encoded and encrypted file
menc file extension is used for encrypted files on Windows Mobile devices. The purpose of these files is to lock some files only to certain device. That means, that you may be able to open menc files on your device, but not on someone else. To access the original files, you first have to turn off the encryption in your device..
What is menc file?
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: December 5, 2023
File extension menc is probably best known for its use in old Windows Mobile devices, specifically with Storage Card Encryption.
MENC file format is used for encrypted files. The purpose of the the file format is to indicate, which files you cant open in other devices, unless they match the original decryption key.
Encrypted menc files will be displayed as [filename].[extension].[GUID].menc, where [GUID] is the encryption key that determines whether the files can be decrypted on the device where the storage card is inserted.
Altering the GUID on the menc file may cause problems with the decryption.
On Windows Mobile device, files stored on disk or storage flash card with a menc extension, let the encryption filter quickly know, which files are encrypted and if they match the key on the device.
If you put the storage card in a desktop card reader, or put it in another device, you will see that the files have a menc file extension. The point of the extension is that you can't read those files, so the extension makes it harder for you to try to load those files into an application that won't be able to read them anyway. There is also possibility to associate a lock icon with the extension to add an additional hint.
If the encryption filter on the device is able to read and decrypt the files, it hides the menc extension so the file looks like normal.
How to open menc file?
The .menc files can be opened only in Microsoft Windows Mobile device, where the *.menc file was created, because these files have unique encryption key, that has every Microsoft Windows Mobile device.
How to convert menc file?
The *.menc file is encrypted and it is impossible to convert it to another format. It must be decrypted on it's appropriate Windows Mobile device or phone. After that the *.menc file will be hidden and you can work with original file type.
