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How to use Windows BitLocker To Go for portable drives.

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How to Use Windows BitLocker To Go for Portable Drives

BitLocker To Go is a useful feature provided by Windows that allows you to encrypt and protect the data on your portable drives. Whether you're using a USB flash drive or an external hard drive, you can use BitLocker To Go to ensure the security and confidentiality of your sensitive files. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up and utilize Windows BitLocker To Go effectively.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

  • A portable drive (USB flash drive or external hard drive)
  • A computer running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition (BitLocker To Go is not available in Windows 10 Home edition)

Step 1: Connect the Portable Drive

  1. Plug in your portable drive to an available USB port on your computer.

Step 2: Enable BitLocker To Go

  1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows Key + E or by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar.
  2. Locate the connected portable drive in the list of drives under "This PC" or "Computer".
  3. Right-click on the portable drive and select Turn on BitLocker option from the context menu.

Step 3: Choose a BitLocker Password

  1. Select the Use a password to unlock the drive option.
  2. Enter a strong password in the provided fields. Make sure to use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
  3. Click Next.

Step 4: Choose a Recovery Method

  1. Select one of the following recovery methods:
    • Save the recovery key to a file: This option allows you to save a copy of the recovery key to your computer or a different location.
    • Print the recovery key: This option enables you to print a hard copy of your recovery key.
    • Save to your Microsoft account: If you have a Microsoft account linked to your Windows login, you can use this option to save the recovery key securely on your account.
    • Save to USB flash drive: Choosing this option will save the recovery key to another USB flash drive.
  2. Select your preferred recovery method and follow the prompts to complete the process.

Step 5: Choose Encryption Options

  1. Select one of the following encryption options:
    • Encrypt used disk space only: This option will only encrypt the space that is currently in use on the portable drive, offering a quicker encryption process.
    • Encrypt entire drive: This option will encrypt the entire portable drive, offering maximum security but with a longer encryption process.
  2. Choose the desired encryption option and click Next.

Step 6: Start Encrypting the Drive

  1. Click on Start encrypting to begin the encryption process. The time required for encryption will depend on the size of your portable drive and the chosen encryption option.

Step 7: Accessing the Encrypted Drive

  1. Once the encryption process is complete, you can safely remove the portable drive from your computer.
  2. The next time you connect the encrypted drive to a Windows computer, you will be prompted to enter the BitLocker password you set in Step 3.

Step 8: Modifying BitLocker To Go Settings (Optional)

  1. If you want to change the BitLocker password or recovery options, follow these steps:
    • Connect the encrypted portable drive to the computer.
    • Right-click on the drive in File Explorer.
    • Select Manage BitLocker from the context menu.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to modify the desired settings.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up and utilized Windows BitLocker To Go to encrypt your portable drive. Remember to keep your BitLocker password and recovery key stored securely to avoid data loss or unauthorized access to your encrypted drive.