Extract text from LOCKED files
To convert your LOCKED file to another format, you need M-Files or other Encoded software.
To convert other file formats to the "Encrypted Data File" file type, you need software like M-Files or a similar tool.
A .LOCKED file is most commonly associated with Ransomware Encrypted Files, where malicious software encrypts user data (like DOCX, JPG, or XLSX) and appends the extension to restrict access. These files are essentially held hostage using strong encryption algorithms (e.g., AES, RSA), rendering them unreadable without a specific decryption key. Users typically encounter these after a security breach, finding their documents and photos inaccessible. The critical issue here is that you cannot simply "convert" these files back to their original format using standard tools; they require a decryptor or restoration from an offline backup.
A secondary but significant use case (approx. 6%) is the M-Files Journal File. Created by the M-Files document management system, these files record transaction logs and server activity. Unlike the malware variant, these are legitimate system files used for database integrity and auditing.
Finally, some legacy Android "vault" apps or the deprecated Picasa (now Google Photos) ecosystem occasionally used a similar naming convention to "hide" images, sometimes just by renaming the file header or extension.
Best Conversion Targets:
Convert.Guru analyzes your LOCKED file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted PDF, LOC, LOCK, DOCX, JPG, BIN, ZIP, SCREEN, SCN and SFC files.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our LOCKED converter.