BitLocker Disk Encryption is a powerful and convenient feature built into Windows 10, but it is only enabled in Professional and Enterprise editions. But, What if you need to encrypt your drive in Windows 10 Home and you want to use BitLocker instead of a third-party tool like VeraCrypt? There are alternatives to do this, which will be discussed in the instructions below. To learn how BitLocker encryption is implemented on supported systems, read the following post: How to encrypt a disk with BitLocker in Windows 10.
Note: The home edition of the operating system is quite capable of connecting, read and write BitLocker-encrypted disks: if the disk is encrypted on another computer with the Pro edition / Enterprise from the system or if an encrypted virtual disk is created there. transferred to Windows 10 Home, you can work with it without problems, but you cannot enable encryption on unencrypted disk or disable it on encrypted disk in this version.
How to enable BitLocker encryption in Windows 10 Home Edition
All the attempts I have made to circumvent the limitations of Windows 10 Home Edition and encrypt the disk with BitLocker only using the tools built into the system, and that are present in PowerShell, as an example, have not been successful (even when it is not ” solutions ”More convenient, about those found at the end of this post).
Despite this, there are third-party programs that allow you to enable BitLocker encryption for your disks. Unfortunately, none of them are free, but the first program described is absolutely functional during the first 15 days of use (which is enough to encrypt the disks and you can work with them without this program). curiously, both utilities have versions for Mac OS and Linux: if you need to work with BitLocker-encrypted disks on these systems, Keep it in mind.
BitLocker anywhere
The best known program to enable encryption on Windows computers that lack the function in question is Hasleo BitLocker Anywhere. It has no cost during the first 15 days of use (but the trial version does not support encryption of system disk partitions).
After downloading and installing the encryption software, all you have to do is follow these steps:
- Right-click on the disk partition you want to encrypt and select the menu option “Enable BitLocker”.
- In the next window, specify and confirm the password to encrypt and decrypt. The two checkboxes below enable you to enable encryption for occupied space only (faster, newly placed data will be encrypted automatically) and also enable compatibility mode (there are different versions of BitLocker encryption, with mode support enabled, most likely the disk can be decrypted on any computer that supports the function).
- The next window proposes to save the recovery key (Save to file) or print it (Print the recovery key). It is useful in case you have forgotten your password (Y, sometimes, it is also useful in case the disk file system fails).
- In the end, you will only have to wait for the encryption procedure of the existing data on the disk to finish; don't close the program until you see the Finish button at the bottom right. On the SSD it will be faster, on the HDD it may be necessary to wait longer.
In general, the program works fine and it seems that it can also encrypt the system disk partition (but I couldn't verify the lack of a key); the next product in review can't do that. With its help you can decrypt the disk (remember some 15 days) and you can work with said disk, enter your password and unlock it without the need for any program – encryption and decryption is done “on the progress” using Windows 10 home edition.
Both this and the next program under consideration add items to encrypt / decrypt and lock in the context menu of the disks in the explorer.
Download Hasleo BitLocker Anywhere from the official web portal https://www.easyuefi.com/bitlocker-anywhere/bitlocker-anywhere-home.html
Cargador BitLocker M3
M3 BitLocker Loader is a utility very equivalent to the one previously mentioned. Of the characteristics: you cannot enable encryption in the trial version (you can only get acquainted with the program interface) and it can't work with the system disk partition.
Opposite case, the use of the program is not very different: click Encrypt on the partition to be encrypted and follow all the steps: enter password, save the recovery key, wait for BitLocker encryption.
Download M3 BitLocker Loader from the official web portal: https://www.m3datarecovery.com/bitlocker-windows-home/
More information.
Even though BitLocker cannot be enabled by Windows built-in means 10 Home, there is still a way to do it without paid programs, as long as you are willing to spend time and don't need to encrypt the system disk partition:
- Install Windows 10 Pro (the image can be obtained from the official Microsoft site, no need activation) in a virtual machine like VirtualBox (it costs us absolutely free).
- Attach a physical disk or partition to the virtual machine (it is feasible, I have not yet written instructions on this topic), a Windows compatible flash drive or vhd virtual disk (which can be created by operating system tools, see How to create a virtual hard disk).
- Encrypt it with Windows tools 10 Pro in a virtual machine, disassemble it, use it in the home edition of the operating system installed on the computer.
