Turn On or Off Device Encryption in Windows 10

How to Turn On or Off Device Encryption in supported in Windows 10

Windows 10 is able to utilize and manage the built-in hardware security features where available and protect your sensitive data using them. Device encryption helps protect your data, and it's available on a wide range of Windows devices. Here's how to enable it.

If you turn on device encryption, the data on your device can only be accessed by people who've been authorized. If device encryption isn't available on your device, you may be able to turn on standard BitLocker encryption instead.

Device encryption is available on supported devices running any Windows 10 edition. Note that standard BitLocker encryption is only available on supported devices running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. Many modern Windows 10 devices have both types of encryption.

Windows 10 comes with the following hardware requirements to be able to use hardware device protection.

Device Encryption System Requirements in Windows 10

1. A TPM version 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) available and enabled in BIOS.
2. Modern StandBy Support.
3. Motherboard firmware in UEFI mode (not in legacy BIOS).

You can manually check if it is supported by your device as described in the post

Check if Device Encryption is Supported in Windows 10

If device encryption is available on your device, it is easy to enable it.

To Turn on Device Encryption in Windows 10,

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Open the Update & security category.
3. Click on the Device Encryption item on the left.
4. On the right, click on Turn On.

You are done. The Device Encryption feature is now turned on, so all your new files will be encrypted automatically. You current files will be encrypted during your device's idle period.

To Turn Off Device Encryption in Windows 10,

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Open the Update & security category.
3. Click on the Device Encryption item on the left.
4. On the right, click on Turn Off.
5. Confirm the operation.

You are done. Your PC will now start decrypting your files. This may take a some time to finish. While you will be able to use your device during this process, you must not turn it off until decrypting has finished. The operation status can be found in Settings on the Device Encryption page.

That's it.