How to Turn On BitLocker in Windows 10/11 Home

BitLocker is not natively available on Windows 10/11 Home editions. However, there are a few ways that can help users turn on Bitlocker on Windows 11/10 Home. Let's explore how!

Is BitLocker available on Windows 10/11 Home? Out of the box, BitLocker is not available on Windows 10/11 Home editions. It's a feature that is exclusive to the Pro, Enterprise, and Education versions. Don't worry. EaseUS will discuss alternative workarounds to activate BitLocker or achieve similar encryption functionality on the Home edition, including upgrading Windows, using command lines, or applying third-party BitLocker managers like EaseUS Partition Master.

Methods to Enable BitLocker on Windows 10/11 Home

To keep your data safe and secure, let's explore three methods to enable BitLocker on Windows 10/11 Home Edition.

Way 1. Upgrade to Windows 10/11 Pro

The most straightforward way to activate BitLocker is to upgrade from Windows 10/11 Home to Windows 10/11 Pro. This upgrade will unlock all the advanced features of Windows, including BitLocker.

Phase 1. Upgrade to Windows 10/11 Pro:

Step 1. Click on the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).

Step 2. In the Settings window, click Update & Security > Activation.

Step 3. Select the Go to the Microsoft Store option to purchase an upgrade.

Step 4. Click on the link to go to the Microsoft Store and follow the prompts to purchase Windows 10/11 Pro. 

Phase 2. Activate Bitlocker Encryption

Once your PC has upgraded to Windows Pro, you can activate BitLocker by following these steps:

• Press Windows Key + X and choose Control Panel.
• Go to System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
• Click Turn on BitLocker next to the system drive (usually C:).

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the encryption process.

Way 2. Turn On Bitlocker via Third-party Software

EaseUS Partition Master Free allow Windows users manage their Bitlocker in a efficient way. It provides free tools to turn on/off Bitlocker in one click, format Bitlocker encrypted drive, and resize Bitlocker partition.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, enter the Partition Manager section to locate the BitLocker encrypted partition. Click the BitLocker icon to bring up the BitLocker Manager.

Step 2. Click the Turn On button in BitLocker Manager. 

Step 3. After the bitlocker indicates the drive, choose how you want to unlock this drive.(If you choose to use a password to unlock the drive, enter your password.)

Step 4. Then, choose how do you want to back up your recovery key.

Step 5. Choose how much of your drive to encrypt.

Step 6. Choose which encryption mode to use.

Step 7. When the "Are you ready to encrypt this drive" window prompt, choose "Start encrypting."

Step 8. Wait till the Bitlocker encryption is complete.

Explore More Powerful Features

• Unlock BitLocker Without Recovery Key and Password
• No Option to Turn Off BitLocker Windows 11 
• Format BitLocker Encrypted Drive With or Without Password

Way 3. Use Windows 10/11 Home with TPM and Group Policy

While BitLocker is not available directly in Windows Home editions, it is possible to use BitLocker with a workaround that involves enabling the Group Policy Editor and utilizing your TPM (Trusted Platform Module). This method requires some technical know-how but can be effective for advanced users.

Phase 1. Enabling BitLocker using TPM

• Press "Win + R" to open the Run dialog box and type gpedit.msc. This opens the Group Policy Editor.
• Navigate to the following path: Local Computer Policy > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Operating System Drives.

Phase 2. Enable BitLocker without TPM

• Find the policy named "Require additional authentication at startup" and double-click it.
• Set it to Enabled and check the box "Allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM."

After enabling this policy, apply the changes and close the Group Policy Editor.

Phase 3. Activate BitLocker

• Now you should be able to turn on BitLocker by following the same steps as for Windows Pro:
• Open Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
• Click Turn on BitLocker and follow the instructions to set up BitLocker encryption for your system drive.

Way 4. Run Command lines

It is possible to enable BitLocker on Windows 10/11 Home using command-line tools, although this method is more technical and requires some expertise.

Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command to start encryption:  manage-bde -on c: -used(you can replace C with the drive letter you want to encrypt)

Step 3. Back up the BitLocker-Recovery-Key.txt file, which will be located on your desktop.

Step 4. To check the encryption status, use the command: manage-bde -status.

Conclusion

Keeping the safety of your data is paramount. While BitLocker is not natively available on Windows 10/11 Home editions, this post discussed several ways to enable disk encryption on Windows 10 and 11 Home. The most straightforward method is upgrading to Windows Pro. Still, if you prefer to stay on Windows Home, third-party encryption tools like EaseUS Partition Master or using Group Policy settings with TPM support can help you secure your data.

FAQs: How to Turn On Bitlocker in Windows 10/11 Home

1. How do I disable Bitlocker in CMD?

To disable BitLocker using the command prompt, follow these steps:

Step 1. Type cmd or command Prompt in the Search box, click the utility, and choose "Run as administrator" in the right-click menu.

Step 2. In CMD, enter manage-bde -off X: (replacing "X" with the drive letter assigned to the encrypted volume) and press Enter.

This command turns off BitLocker encryption on that drive, and the data will no longer be protected by encryption

2. Should I turn on the Bitlocker or not?

BitLocker offers enhanced security for your data by encrypting the entire drive, and protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access, especially if your device is lost. However, it can also impact performance, potentially slow down your system, and require careful management of encryption keys to avoid being locked out of your own data.

3. Can I format a BitLocker Encrypted drive without a password and recovery key?

Yes, you can run a clean command or use EaseUS Partition Master to format your Bitlocker encrypted drive without a password and recovery key.

⛳More Details: How to Format BitLocker Encrypted Drive With or Without Password