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SafeViewer

Changelog

Full release history and version notes for SafeViewer — the secure encrypted-file explorer for Windows.

Version 2.0.0

Latest June 2026

The first Microsoft Store release — a complete redesign of SafeViewer as a modern Windows desktop app. The fixed vault gives way to a full encrypted-file explorer, with in-app viewers for images, PDFs, text and Office documents, and authenticated AES-256 encryption throughout.

Added

  • Encrypted-file explorer — browse any drive or folder on your PC; the list shows only encrypted files plus folders for navigation. Location dropdown, clickable breadcrumb, Home / Refresh / Up, list & grid views, search, and colour-coded file icons with a lock badge.
  • Add Files — drag & drop or pick files, encrypt them in the same folder or into the folder you're browsing, with live progress and a completion summary (encrypted / skipped already-encrypted / unsupported / failed).
  • Add Folder — encrypt an entire folder, with an include-subfolders toggle and a summary of files, size and sub-folders.
  • In-memory viewers — images, PDFs, text / code, Excel, Word and PowerPoint, with a single-click preview and a separate maximizable viewer window. Images and PDFs support mouse-wheel zoom and click-drag panning.
  • Right-click actions on files — View, Export un-encrypted… (save a decrypted copy to a chosen location), and Delete.
  • Quick Access — pin folders to Favorites and reopen Recent Files; both persist between sessions.
  • Settings — appearance theme (System / Light / Dark), a “Starts In” folder the explorer opens in after every unlock, and a “Files to encrypt” choice (images & known document types, or all files).
  • Unlock screen improvements — the password box is focused automatically, and an encryption disclaimer explains the no-password-recovery rule and how consistent-password encryption works.
  • About window with product branding, version and an auto-incrementing build number.
  • A crash log — unexpected errors are written to your app-data folder and shown in a dialog instead of terminating the app.

Security

  • Authenticated AES-256 encryption with per-file salt and tamper detection, replacing the original fixed-salt scheme.
  • Decrypted content exists only in memory while you view it — plaintext is never written to disk.
  • SafeViewer will never delete files in protected OS locations (Windows, System32, Program Files), and never deletes your un-encrypted originals.

Changed

  • New encrypted files use the .es260 extension; older .es256 files are still read in place and decrypted automatically.
  • The fixed Documents\SafeViewer vault and the separate import wizard were removed — legacy files are now read directly where they live.
  • Modern light / dark interface that follows the Windows theme; the main window opens larger and shows the app icon in the title bar.

Fixed

  • The explorer now reliably opens in your chosen “Starts In” folder.
  • The Settings window no longer crashes when reopened, and now shows all options without scrolling.
  • Numerous Add Files / Add Folder refinements — clearer button labels, the current-folder path shown, and individual file failures no longer abort the whole run.

Version 1.0

Original release

Initial Release

  • A simple encrypted-file vault for Windows — files stored encrypted in a dedicated Documents\SafeViewer folder.
  • AES-256 encrypted .es256 files, unlocked with a single session password.
  • Import files into the vault and open them for viewing.

Versions

Documentation

User Guide →