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ComputerHow to Enable BitLocker on Windows 11/10 Home

How to Enable BitLocker on Windows 11/10 Home

By Michael | Last Updated

As is known to all, BitLocker encryption is not compatible on Windows 11/10 Home edition. Thus, many people search for the solution to enable BitLocker and use it on Windows 11/10 Home computer. Is there any way to apply BitLocker encryption to the Windows 11/10 partition? Yes, of course. In this article, you can get a full guide to enable BitLocker on Windows 11/10 Home.

enable BitLocker in Windows 11/10 Home

Part 1: Enable BitLocker on Windows 11/10 Home via CMD

Generally, you can not turn on BitLocker for your drive in Windows 11/10 home computer. So, you need to enter WinRE to enable BitLocker encryption.

Step 1: Preparation

To make use of BitLocker on your Windows 11/10 Home edition, you should ensure the computer meets the BitLocker hardware requirements:

  • 1. TPM is enabled. You can search tpm.msc on your Windows search bar. After that, open it and you can find whether the TPM management is enabled on the computer or not.
  • check TPM status

  • 2. The system disk is in GPT partition style. You can check it via the command line shown on the below picture.
  • check partition style of your disk

  • 3. The drive is in UEFI firmware style.

Step 2: Enable BitLocker in WinRE system.

1. Click the Start icon on your computer and click the power icon. Press the Shift key on your keyboard all the time and then click the Restart option.

restart Windows to enter WinRE

2. Choose the Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

click Advanced options

3. Click the Command Prompt option to open Command Prompt.

click Command Prompt

4. Enter the following command lines orderly in command to check all your volumes: diskpart list volume exit .

check all your volumes

5. Run the command line to encrypt only used space on system drive C: manage-bde -on C: -used –rvsc .

encrypt used space on C drive

If you want to enable BitLocker on data partition, you can execute the command line: manage-bde -on D: -used . You can replace D drive letter with others.

encrypt used space on D drive

6. After that, you can close Command Prompt and click the Continue option to run your computer.

click Continue

Step 3: Set the Password for Your BitLocker Drive

After the Windows starts normally, you can run Command Prompt as administrator.

How to Set the BitLocker Password to System Drive

1. Execute the command line: manage-bde C: -protectors -add -rp –tpm to add key protectors for your system drive.

2. The key protector is added successfully. And you need to save the numerical recovery password, which is the BitLocker password to unlock the encrypted drive.

3. Run the command line to enable the key protector for your encrypted drive: manage-bde -protectors -enable C: .

set BitLocker password to C drive

How to Set the BitLocker Password to Data Drive:

1. Run the command line to enable auto unlock to your volume: manage-bde -autounlock -enable D: .

2. Execute the command line to add key protectors for the drive: manage-bde -protectors -add -rp D: .

3. The key protector is added successfully. You should keep the BitLocker password carefully.

4. Execute the command line to enable key protector for your drive: manage-bde -protectors -enable D: .

set BitLocker password to D drive

After that, you can open This PC and see the drives are displayed with a lock icon.

drives are encrypted with BitLocker

Part 2: Turn on Device Encryption in Windows 11/10 Home

The Device Encryption is a built-in alternative to BitLocker for Windows Home users to protect the data from unauthorized access. But first of all, you should check whether your computer meets the requirements or not.

Step 1: Search System Information and then press the Enter key on Windows search bar.

Step 2: On System Information interface, find the item named Device Encryption Support on the right panel. Check the value and make sure your PC meets the requirement. If your computer does not support it, you can try other methods to encrypt the drive in your computer.

check Device Encryption Support

Step 3: Open Settings. Then click Privacy & Security on the left side.

Step 4: Find Device Encryption. Finally, toggle it on to apply the device encryption to your drive.

turn on Device Encryption on Windows 11 Home

Part 3: Easily Enable BitLocker on Windows 11/10 Home with BitLocker Genius

iSunshare BitLocker Genius for Windows is the BitLocker software for Windows users to easily manage BitLocker encryption in any Windows version, including Windows 11/10/7 Home, Windows 8.1/8 Core and Windows 7 Pro editions. Thus, you can easily turn on BitLocker for the target drive on Windows Home PC.

Step 1: Download and install the software on your computer. If you are going to encrypt the external hard drive, connect it to your computer.

Step 2: Open iSunshare BitLocker Genius for Windows and then choose your drive. With a simple right-click on the drive, you can choose the Turn on BitLocker option.

click Turn on BitLocker

Step 3: Now, you are able to define the password to encrypt the drive. After that, you can click Save to file button to save the recovery key file on anywhere you like.

set password and save recovery key file

Step 4: After that, hit the Encrypt button and the BitLocker encryption is attached to the drive soon.

click Encrypt button

Part 4: FAQs about BitLocker on Windows Home

1. How do I enable BitLocker in Windows 10 Home Edition?

BitLocker is not available on Windows 10 Home edition. But you can manually enable it with the mentioned steps in this article. Or you can use the third-party tool, such as BitLocker Genius for Windows, to turn on BitLocker for the drive on your Windows 10 Home edition.

2. Why is BitLocker not on my computer?

BitLocker is only available on certain Windows Professional and Enterprise editions. Thus, you can check your Windows edition if you cannot find BitLocker on the volume.

3. How can I encrypt my important data on Windows 11 Home?

If you want to encrypt the important files or folders, you can use iSunshare SafeFile Genius to securely protect the files/folders. If they are saved in a USB flash drive, SafeUSB Genius is better for you to encrypt the whole USB drive with password.

Conclusions:

As mentioned above, there are still ways to apply BitLocker on your Windows 11/10 Home edition although Windows does not support it. Besides, you can choose BitLocker alternative software to protect the important data.

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