Published on

How to set up and use BitLocker for drive encryption.

Authors
  • avatar
    Name
    how-to.digital
    Twitter

How to Set Up and Use BitLocker for Drive Encryption

BitLocker is a built-in encryption feature in Windows that helps safeguard your data by encrypting entire drives. It provides an added layer of protection against unauthorized access, theft, and data breaches. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of setting up and using BitLocker for drive encryption.

Prerequisites

Before getting started, ensure that you meet the following prerequisites:

  • Windows operating system (such as Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7).
  • An available and compatible disk drive (internal or external) that you want to encrypt.
  • A user account with administrative privileges.

Step 1: Accessing BitLocker Setup

  1. Open the Control Panel by clicking on the Start menu and searching for "Control Panel." Alternatively, you can press Win + X and select Control Panel from the power user menu.
  2. In the Control Panel, navigate to System and Security.
  3. Click on the BitLocker Drive Encryption option.

Step 2: Starting the BitLocker Setup Wizard

  1. In the BitLocker Drive Encryption window, select the drive you want to encrypt.
  2. Click on the Turn on BitLocker option next to the selected drive.

Step 3: Selecting the Encryption Method

  1. Choose the desired encryption method. BitLocker offers two options:
    • New encryption mode: This mode provides the best security and is only available on newer Windows versions and modern hardware.
    • Compatible mode: This mode ensures compatibility with older versions of Windows and computers that don't support the new encryption mode. However, it may be less secure.
  2. Select the appropriate option based on your needs and click Next.

Step 4: Choosing the Encryption Type

  1. Choose whether you want to encrypt the entire drive or just the used disk space. Encrypting the entire drive provides better security, while encrypting only used disk space reduces the encryption time.
  2. Select the desired option and click Next.

Step 5: Setting Up a BitLocker Password

  1. Choose how you want to unlock the drive:
    • Enter a password: This option requires you to create a password that you will need to enter each time you start your computer or access the drive.
    • Insert a USB flash drive: This option allows you to use a USB device as a key to unlock the drive. It provides an additional layer of security.
    • Use a smart card: If your computer has a smart card reader, you can use a smart card as a key to unlock the drive.
  2. Select the preferred unlocking method and follow the on-screen instructions for the chosen method.
  3. Create a password or insert the USB flash drive/smart card when prompted and click Next.

Step 6: Saving the Recovery Key

  1. Decide how you want to save the recovery key:
    • Save to your Microsoft account: This option saves the recovery key to your registered Microsoft account. It is recommended to choose this option for easy recovery in case you forget the password.
    • Save to a USB flash drive: This option allows you to save the recovery key to a separate USB flash drive. Make sure to keep it in a safe place.
    • Print the recovery key: This option provides a hard copy of the recovery key. Print it and store it securely.
  2. Select the preferred method for saving the recovery key and click Next.

Step 7: Encrypting the Drive

  1. After completing the previous steps, you will see a confirmation screen with a summary of the chosen options.
  2. Click on Start encrypting to begin the encryption process, which may take a considerable amount of time depending on the drive size and options chosen.

Step 8: Using BitLocker-Encrypted Drive

  1. Once the encryption process is complete, you can start using the BitLocker-encrypted drive.
  2. You will need to enter the password or insert the USB flash drive/smart card you set up earlier each time you start your computer or access the drive.
  3. Remember to unlock the drive before performing any data operations such as copying, moving, or accessing files.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully set up and started using BitLocker for drive encryption. BitLocker ensures that your sensitive data remains secure in case of theft or unauthorized access. Always remember to back up your recovery key and keep it in a safe place in case you forget your password or encounter any issues with your encryption setup.