Microsoft enables BitLocker encryption for external drives in Windows 10 and 11

BitLocker is a built-in encryption feature for Windows 10 and 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. It allows users to encrypt external drives, such as USB sticks and external hard drives, to protect data from unauthorized access. To encrypt an external drive, connect it to a Windows PC, search for "BitLocker," and select "Manage BitLocker." Choose the drive, turn on BitLocker, set a password, and back up the recovery key. Users can choose to encrypt only used space or the entire drive. To access an encrypted drive, connect it and enter the password when prompted. If needed, users can easily remove encryption by unlocking the drive and selecting "Turn BitLocker off" in the BitLocker manager.