How To Turn On Bitlocker Windows 10

Device encryption helps protect your data and information technology'due south bachelor on a wide range of Windows devices.

Normally when you admission your data it's through Windows and has the usual protections associated with signing into Windows. If somebody wants to bypass those Windows protections, they could open the computer case and remove the physical hard drive. So by adding your difficult drive as a second drive on a machine they control, they may be able to access your data without needing your credentials.

If your drive is encrypted, withal, when they try to use that method to access the drive they'll have to provide the decryption key (which they shouldn't have) in order to access anything on the drive. Without the decryption key the data on the bulldoze will just look like gibberish to them.

Is it bachelor on my device?

BitLocker encryption is available on supported devices running Windows ten or 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education.

On supported devices running Windows 10 or newer BitLocker will automatically be turned on the first time you sign into a personal Microsoft account (such as @outlook.com or @hotmail.com) or your work or school account.

BitLocker is not automatically turned on with local accounts, however you tin can manually plough it on in the Manage BitLocker tool.

To manage BitLocker encryption

Tap Start and in the search box, blazon Manage BitLocker and so select it from the list of results.

The Manage BitLocker settings in Windows.

Note:You lot'll just run across this option if BitLocker is available for your device. It isn't bachelor on Windows Home edition.

If your device doesn't support BitLocker you may be able to use Windows Device Encryption instead.

To see if you can utilize device encryption

In the search box on the taskbar, type System Information, right-click Arrangement Information in the list of results, then selectRun as ambassador. Or you can select theStart push button, and so under Windows Authoritative Tools, select System Information.
At the bottom of the System Information window, findDevice Encryption Support. If the value says Meets prerequisites, then device encryption is available on your device.

To turn on device encryption

Sign in to Windows with an administrator business relationship (you lot may have to sign out and back in to switch accounts). For more than info, see Create a local or administrator account in Windows 10.
Select theCommencement button, then selectSettings > Update & Security > Device encryption. If Device encryption doesn't appear, it isn't bachelor. Yous may be able to turn on standard BitLocker encryption instead.
If device encryption is turned off, select Plough on.

Additional resource

If your device requires a recovery key to unlock, meet Find your recovery key.

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