How to Use Device Encryption on Windows 11

In this day and age, people are becoming more conscious about their privacy, so they want to know if there's a way to encrypt their devices. Fortunately, if you're a Windows user, you don't have to purchase a third-party encryption tool, as you can use the built-in protection feature called Device Encryption.

How to Enable or Disable Device Encryption on Windows 11

If you've upgraded to the new Windows 11 and you're wondering whether the steps for enabling Device Encryption have changed, don't worry – we'll walk you through the process in detail.

Step 1. Click the Windows logo, then click “Settings” > “Privacy & Security” > “Device Encryption.” If you don't see the “Device Encryption” option, your computer doesn't support it. You can try enabling standard BitLocker encryption instead.

Step 2. If you see the "Device encryption" option, tap Turn on to enable it. To disable it, tap Turn off.

How to use Device Encryption on Windows 11

As noted above, if device encryption is not available, you can use BitLocker to protect your device. Here's how to turn on BitLocker.

Step 1. Type "Manage BitLocker" in the search bar, then choose the best match.

Type “Manage BitLocker” in the search bar.

Step 2: Find the devices you want to protect, both internal and external. Here you can see the status of each device.

Step 3: Click “Turn on BitLocker,” and then choose whether you want to protect your device with a password or a smart card. If you choose a password, set one, or insert your smart card, and then click “Next.”

What is device encryption?

What is device encryption? Why don't I have a device encryption option? You might have some questions about device encryption.

Device encryption helps protect your data, and it's available on many Windows devices. When you turn on device encryption, only people who are authorized can access the data on the device.

However, some users have found that their PCs don't support this feature. That's because Fast Startup is only available on devices that support Modern Standby and are running Windows 11. In Windows 10, there are two power models for PCs: S3 and Modern Standby. S3 is an older standard that doesn't provide the instant-on experience expected from modern devices, while Modern Standby is a newer, more advanced model.

Windows 11 Installation Failed? Solutions Here

Many of you might have encountered the same error where Windows pops up a notification stating "Windows 11 installation failed" without specifying the reason. If you're one of them, stay here and follow this guide to fix the error and successfully install Windows 11 on your computer.

The difference between device encryption and BitLocker

For users who don't have device encryption, BitLocker is typically recommended. BitLocker is a “full” device encryption feature with management controls. Computers with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 1.2 or later can use this to protect the device.

Device encryption has higher requirements for your device, which must support Modern Standby, a later version of TPM, and PCR7 binding. But both methods provide the same level of protection for your device.

Conclusion

That's all about how to use Device Encryption on Windows 11. Through this post, you can also learn more details about Device Encryption and BitLocker. Windows 11 has many other features, such as it requires GPT partition style. You can learn more information about how to convert MBR to GPT for Windows 11.