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How to Enable BitLocker in Windows 10
Edited 5 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
Windows 10BitLockerEncryptionSecuritySystemSettingsDataProtectionDiskManagement
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BitLocker is a security feature available in Windows 10 that helps keep your data safe by encrypting your drive. This ensures that unauthorized users do not get access to your data or information. Enabling BitLocker is a straightforward process, but it is essential to understand certain prerequisites and the procedure to be followed. This lesson explains the steps to enable BitLocker on your Windows 10 computer system in a comprehensive way so that anyone can understand and follow it effectively.
Understanding BitLocker
BitLocker is a full volume encryption feature included with Microsoft Windows versions starting with Windows Vista. It is designed to protect data by providing encryption for the entire volume. When BitLocker is enabled, the disk is locked, and only authorized users can decrypt the data by entering a password or using a physical key at startup.
BitLocker uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption algorithm with a key length of 128 or 256 bits to protect your data. It can be enabled on internal hard drives as well as removable drives using BitLocker To Go. It is important to understand the importance of data encryption as it helps protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, especially in today's digital world where data breaches are becoming increasingly common.
Prerequisites for enabling BitLocker
Before you enable BitLocker on your Windows 10 computer, there are a few prerequisites that you should consider and implement:
- Make sure your version of Windows 10 supports BitLocker. It's typically available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10.
- Your computer's Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 1.2 or later. Typically, BitLocker requires a TPM to manage encryption keys. However, you can configure BitLocker without the use of a TPM by setting up a USB startup key.
- Be sure to back up important data before starting the encryption process, as there is always a risk of data loss during such operations.
- Make sure your drive is partitioned correctly, with separate system and boot partitions. Windows usually takes care of this; so, if you installed your OS using the usual methods, you should already have the correct partitions setup.
Steps to enable BitLocker
Here is a detailed step-by-step guide to enable BitLocker on your Windows 10 PC:
Step 1: Access BitLocker Drive Encryption
To begin, you need to go to the BitLocker settings on your computer. You can do this as follows:
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click the Windows icon on the taskbar.
- Type 'BitLocker' in the search bar and select 'Manage BitLocker' from the search results. This action will open the BitLocker Drive Encryption control panel.
Step 2: Select the drive to encrypt
Once you are in the BitLocker Drive Encryption panel, you will see a list of drives. Identify the drive you want to encrypt and click 'Turn on BitLocker' next to it. Generally, you may want to start by encrypting the system drive where Windows is installed.
Step 3: Choose how to unlock your drive
BitLocker will give you several options for unlocking your drive. You can use a password or a smart card. For simple use, select 'Use password to unlock my drive':
- Enter a strong password that you can remember. To ensure that the password is strong, it should contain a mix of upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Re-enter the password to confirm.
Step 4: Back up your recovery key
After you choose how to unlock the drive, BitLocker will require you to back up your recovery key. This key is necessary when you forget your password or in cases where you cannot use the normal unlock method. You have several options for saving your recovery key:
- Save to your Microsoft account (if your computer is associated with a Microsoft account).
- Save to a USB flash drive.
- Save it to a file on your computer.
- Print the recovery key.
Choose any of these methods (preferably more than one) to ensure the safety of your recovery key.
Step 5: Choose how much of your drive to encrypt
You will be given the option of how much of the drive you want to encrypt. The options are as follows:
- Encrypt only used disk space - This is faster and best for newer drives and PCs.
- Encrypt the entire drive – This is more secure and better for drives that already have files on them.
Choose your preferred option based on your specific needs.
Step 6: Choose the encryption mode
BitLocker allows you to select the type of encryption to use. You have the following options:
- New encryption mode - Designed for stationary drives on this PC.
- Compatible Mode - Designed for drives that can be used on older Windows systems.
For most users encrypting their system drive, the new encryption mode is recommended.
Step 7: Start encryption
Once you've gone through the options and set your preferences, click 'Start Encrypting'. The process may take some time depending on the amount of data on the drive and its size. It's important to keep your computer on and prevent it from going into sleep mode during this period.
Post-encryption steps
After the encryption process is complete, restart your computer and check if everything is working fine and no problems have occurred. To make sure BitLocker is working properly, look for the lock icon next to the drive in File Explorer.
With BitLocker enabled, whenever your computer boots up, it will require the password you set or the smart card you inserted to unlock the drive. Make sure to always keep the unlock method accessible to avoid being locked out of your system.
Managing BitLocker
You can manage BitLocker settings at any time by visiting the BitLocker Drive Encryption control panel. You can change your BitLocker password, re-backup your recovery key, or even temporarily suspend BitLocker in this area.
Conclusion
Enabling BitLocker on your Windows 10 device is a proactive step toward keeping your data secure and protecting it from unauthorized access. By encrypting your data, you add an extra layer of security that is becoming increasingly important in today's digital landscape. Always keep your recovery keys safe and consider encrypting all drives where sensitive data may be stored, including removable drives for optimal data protection.
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