Introduction
Bitlocker is Microsoft's built in encryption method for files and flash drives. It ensures that whenever anyone tries to access them they have to enter a password, either for a specific file, folder, or an entire drive. There are different requirements and instructions depending on what your current Microsoft OS is. The first part of this article will describe how to check this on your device, then follow the links below it to the section that corresponds with your version.
Finding your Windows Edition
- Go to the Settings app on your device.
- Click on the System tab on the left hand side.
- Scroll down until you see the Windows specifications heading, and look for the Edition heading. This will be the edition of the OS you currently have.
Enabling Encryption
Click this link to see the instructions from Microsoft to enable encryption on your device.
Note: You must be signed in as an admin on your device. If it is a Windows Home system, normally a personal, non-SVSU issued device, you should be your own admin. If it is an SVSU device, you must submit an admin by request to change this. See the instructions here.
Windows Enterprise Instructions
- To start, find the drive that you want to encrypt.
- After right clicking on the desired drive, click on the "Turn on BitLocker" option.
- After turning it on, you will see this screen. Just wait until it moves to the next step before continuing.
- Click on the box shown in the arrow.
- Choose and set your password. It should be unique and secure.
- Next it will ask how you want to save the recovery key. We recommend clicking the option shown blow. In order to save to a file, the file must be unencrypted, and this can be difficult when encryption is already turned on. Instead, the "print the recovery key" option, will print a PDF version of the recovery key which you can save anywhere on your computer you like.
- Choose whichever option best suits your needs and then click next.
- Finally, you can click the button below to start encrypting your drive.
- You will see a screen similar to this pop up. Don't close it or pause, just let the encryption finish. It may take some time depending on how much of the drive you want to encrypt.
- Once you see this screen, the encryption for Windows Enterprise is all set for this drive. You can close any windows you had open for this and access your drive. See the image below to see what to expect when opening an encrypted drive through BitLocker.
- Enter your password in the text box, then click unlock. This will allow you to access the drive, and will be required wherever you are using the drive.
Windows Home Instructions
If you have Windows Home, you don't have access to BitLocker. However you can still protect your files and drives from outside access by enabling device encryption.
- Once you have enabled encryption, following the directions at the beginning of this article, search for the control panel app in the search bar of your computer.
- Open the "System and Security" tab, shown by the arrow below.
- This will open up the following window. Click on the "Device Encryption" shown by the arrow below.
- Next, a page will show up asking you to back up the recovery key. Click on the button with shown in the arrow below and proceed to the next step.l
- Next it will ask how you want to save the recovery key. We recommend clicking the option shown blow. In order to save to a file, the file must be unencrypted, and this can be difficult when encryption is already turned on. Instead, the "print the recovery key" option, will print a PDF version of the recovery key which you can save anywhere on your computer you like.
- Now your Windows Home device should be encrypted. You can close out of any windows used in this process.