BitLocker is a Windows tool that allows you to encrypt your device to protect its integrity, and it works with commercial or professional versions of the operating system. Enabling Bitlocker protection on a USB drive means enhanced content security, restrict access to it.
Since USB flash drives help to transfer files and data, they are often moved and inserted into different unknown devices, when the content is private and sensitive, you may be faced with other users having options to view it and even edit it. therefore, first line of protection All you have to do is enter a password on the USB, and the best part is that BitLocker is an easy-to-use integrated addition to Windows, which we’ll explain to you step by step now.
How to turn on BitLocker on a USB device in Windows 10’s File Explorer?
When you decide to partition an external USB drive in Windows, it may be because you have decided to install on it boot drive or something else importantin these cases, you must handle the device with care so that you can avoid partition loss or failure.
If, as part of these protections, you’ve decided to establish an access key for your flash drive, that’s when the BitLocker tool comes into play as the most secure Drive Encryption configurator in Windows. To activate it, you must first insert the USB memory you want to protect, then go to the control panel, which you can do by right-clicking on the start symbol in the taskbar, then selecting the option with the name, and finding «BitLocker Drive Encryption” and click it.
How to enter USB encryption password with BitLocker in Windows 10?
If you’ve just backed up your USB drive, it’s normal to want to encrypt it with a password, so let’s move on to the steps so you can do it:
- From the BitLocker Drive Encryption menu, you will see all the drives connected to the device, and then you must select the drive or memory for which you want to set a password.
- Next, click «Activate BitLocker», you may need an administrator password during this step, so you enter it.
How to define which part of the USB device will be encrypted?
Since Bitlocker is a tool that can easily restrict access to different drives such as hard drives or USB drives, when you choose to activate this add-on, the Encryption Wizard will be activated, which will guide you through the process of choosing the partition you want to protect simpler. Wait for the device to fully boot so you can configure the details.
Where do I choose which encryption mode to use?
Once fully booted, the Lockdown Mode setting opens in front of you and the available options are «Use a smart card to unlock the drive» and «Unlock the drive with a password”, in this case we of course choose with password. Here you have to define the password you need every time you want to access the USB drive, you have to enter it twice to confirm and click Next.
At this point you have to choose where to back up your recovery key, you can choose between an associated Microsoft account, in a local file or print and physically save it, whatever option you choose, be sure to keep it in mind.As you go forward, you will arrive You choose whether to encrypt the entire drive or just the disk spaceif it is a partition, select that option and click Next.
Choose your preferred encryption mode, «New encryption mode» is only compatible with Windows 10 Build 1511 and later. And for USB, it is recommended to use «Compatibility Mode» because it is compatible with all versions of Windows 10, go ahead and click «start encryption”, you wait for it to complete and access to the USB will be protected.
How do I remove the USB disk password from Manage BitLocker?
If, after going through the above process, you decide you want to reverse it, i.e. eliminate the password request every time you want to open the USB drive on your computer, then what you should do is simple.
Use BitLocker password when connecting USB to PC
- Go to the taskbar, click Start and type «Manage BitLocker».
- Open the generated options and you will be taken to the configuration menu where we activate it.
- Select the locked USB drive and click Turn Off BitLocker, you will need to enter the BitLocker password again to authorize the process.
If you forgot your password or forgot your Microsoft account
If the reason you want to remove password protection from a flash drive is because you forgot the key, remember do you have backups? Of these, you’ve previously configured, anticipating these situations, and your best bet is to store it in your Microsoft account because you can access it anytime.
So the first thing to restore it is to follow a series of steps which are not complicated but you need to link all the instructions:
- You must open your Hotmail or Outlook account from another device, find the BitLocker recovery key and copy it.
- Next, you go to the USB device and double click on it, select «More options» and «Write recovery key» option
- There you paste the key that is able to «unlock» and now if you can go to «Manage BitLocker» to permanently deactivate it.