Select the file and click . The file path will now appear in the volume path box. Step 4: Initiate the Mount Process
| Feature | Encrypted File (e.g., AES) | HC File (Hash) | |---------|----------------------------|----------------| | Reversible? | Yes, with a key | No (one-way) | | Output size | Variable | Fixed length | | Purpose | Confidentiality | Integrity/authentication | | Recovery method | Decryption | Brute-force / dictionary |
If you’re unsure, try opening the file in a text editor. If it shows garbled, binary data (e.g., š”ü—*–… ), it’s encrypted.
: Open the application and choose any available drive letter (e.g., V: ) from the list.
Move all files out of the mounted drive to a regular, unencrypted folder on your computer. Dismount the volume. Delete the empty .hc container file.
If you are trying to view the internal text/settings of a locked config, you typically need a specialized script. Developers have created Python-based tools like hcdecryptor that attempt to reveal the configuration. Requirements: These tools usually require pycryptodome library. You run them via command line: python3 decrypt.py yourfile.hc The app frequently updates its encryption keys (e.g., hc_reborn_4 ), so older decryptors may not work with newer files. 3. Decrypting Without a Password If you do not have the password for a
A is a VeraCrypt container file—a specialized, encrypted virtual disk volume that acts like a password-protected vault for your sensitive data. The extension ".hc" stands for H ardened C ontainer.
There are several third-party decryption software available that can decrypt HC files. Some popular options include:
: If you get errors about the format, ensure you are using the same or a newer version of VeraCrypt than the one used to create the file.
VeraCrypt does not have a direct "decrypt file" button for container files. To permanently decrypt the contents:
If a specific PIM value was set, check the Use PIM box and type the number. If you did not set a PIM, leave this blank. Click OK .
Decryption requires the original password, keyfiles, or a PIM (Personal Iteration Multiplier) value, depending on how the container was created. Prerequisites Before You Begin To decrypt an .hc file, you will need:
For a visual guide on mounting and managing VeraCrypt volumes, watch this tutorial:
Note: In the context of VeraCrypt, "decrypting" a container usually means mounting it with the correct password, allowing you to read/write files in real-time. The file remains encrypted on your disk until you explicitly choose to remove the encryption. What is a .hc File?