In the search box on the taskbar, type System Information, right-click System Information in the list of results, then select Run as administrator. If your device doesn't support BitLocker you may be able to use Windows Device Encryption instead. It isn't available on Windows Home edition. Note: You'll only see this option if BitLocker is available for your device. Tap Start and in the search box, type Manage BitLocker and then select it from the list of results. 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 or or your work or school account.īitLocker is not automatically turned on with local accounts, however you can manually turn it on in the Manage BitLocker tool. Is it available on my device?īitLocker encryption is available on supported devices running Windows 10 or 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. Without the decryption key the data on the drive will just look like gibberish to them. If your drive is encrypted, however, 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. Then by adding your hard drive as a second drive on a machine they control, they may be able to access your data without needing your credentials. If somebody wants to bypass those Windows protections, they could open the computer case and remove the physical hard drive. Normally when you access your data it's through Windows and has the usual protections associated with signing into Windows.

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