BitLocker To Go Encryption

Summary

BitLocker To Go encrypts removable data drives—such as USB drives, SD cards, and external hard drives—making it easy to protect your portable data with a password.

Body

Use BitLocker To Go to encrypt removable storage devices, such as USB flash drives, SD cards, and external hard drives.

Follow the steps below to encrypt your drive using BitLocker To Go or to change your BitLocker To go password when needed.

Encrypt with BitLocker

1. Plug in the drive to encrypt.
2. Open Windows Explorer.
3. Click This PC in the left-hand pane and view your drive under Devices and drives.

4. Right-click your drive and select Turn on BitLocker.

5. The next window, Choose how you want to unlock this drive appears automatically.

6. Select Use a password to unlock the drive and create a strong password that will be required by anyone who needs access to the drive.

Note: Be careful not to use your personal passwords!

7. Click Next.

8. When prompted How do you want to back up your recovery key? select Save to a file.

9. Choose where you want to save the file such as your home directory or department drive.

Note: You cannot save it to the drive that you are encrypting.

10. When the key has been saved, click Next, and Start encrypting.

11. A progress window will appear with the status of the encryption progress.

Note: Do not remove the drive while encryption is in progress, or it may damage the drive.

12. When finished, you will see message, Encryption of [drive] is complete.

13. Click Close.

14. Check you drive for the lock and key icon to know your drive is encrypted.

Change BitLocker Password

1. Right-click the drive

2. Choose Change BitLocker password.

3. Enter your old and new password, and confirm the new password.

4. Select Change password to save the change.

Details

Article ID: 8126

Created

Tue 1/9/24 1:32 PM

Modified

Wed 10/22/25 2:11 PM