Hard Drive Encryption | How to Encrypt a Hard Drive

What Is Drive Encryption

In essence, encryption is the process of encoding data. As for disk encryption, it indicates that all the information on your disk is transformed from plaintext to ciphertext. Then the original information on the disk will be unreachable.

Hard drive encryption converts a physical disk or logical volume into an unreadable format that can’t be unlocked by anyone without the secret key or password to the encrypted drive with a specific algorithm, or cipher.

Here are two leading PC encryption types (full disk encryption and file-level encryption). The two drive encryption types are not mutually exclusive. You can obtain higher security level by using them at the same time.

• Full Disk Encryption (FDE) or called whole disk encryption keeps the entire volume and all files on the hard drive from unauthorized access.
• File-Level Encryption (FLE) happens on the file system level, which can encrypt individual files and directories.

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What Does Encryption Mean

Hard drive encryption process utilizes complex mathematical functions to protect data from anyone without the password or key. It offers an additional layer of security, stopping strangers from accessing.

For instance, people who receives an encrypted Word document from you or others can only access the content after decrypting it. Otherwise, he will only see some random mumbo-jumbo. In a word, you can enjoy a high data security level with disk encryption.

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Why Do You Should Encrypt Hard Drive

You may encounter various urgent cases, like laptop missing, attacks from computer hackers, and other situations that may cause invasion of privacy. Then sensitive information like bank accounts, and social security numbers can be accessed by others easily. This is terrible. If you encrypt hard drive, the situation is different.

People can’t access the information on your computer without the correct password or key. Then your data will be safe.

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How to Encrypt a Hard Drive

Encrypting hard drives is an effective way to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Windows includes a built-in encryption tool called BitLocker, which makes it easy to secure both internal and external drives.

If you prefer a more user-friendly interface and centralized BitLocker management capabilities, you can also use MiniTool Partition Wizard, which features built-in BitLocker management functions.

Here are the detailed steps:

Way 1: Use Windows Built-in Tool

To encrypt hard drive on Windows, you can use the built-in tool – BitLocker. Here’s a tutorial on how to encrypt hard drive via BitLocker.

Step 1: Enable BitLocker via File Explorer.

• Open File Explorer by pressing Windows and E keys.
• Click This PC in the left pane.
• Move to the right side of the window.
• Find and right-click on the drive to encrypt and click Turn on BitLocker.

Step 2: In this window, choose a way to unlock the drive and then perform further actions as required. After that, click Next.

Step 3: Choose a way to back up the recovery key and configure the settings. For instance, if you choose to save to a file, you need to configure the stored location. Then click Next.

Step 4: Choose how much of your drive to encrypt based on your demand. You are recommended to select the option 2 as it is more complete. If you mind the time, select the option 1. Then click Next.

Step 5: Choose an encryption mode according to your need and click Next.

Step 6: If you ready to encrypt the target drive, click Start encrypting to begin the process.

Step 7: Wait for the finish of the disk encryption. You can view the progress in the pop-up window. You’d better not pause the operation. Otherwise, drive and files could be damaged.

Way 2: Use MiniTool Partition Wizard

Alternatively, you can use MiniTool Partition Wizard to encrypt a hard drive.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard. Right-click the target drive and click BitLocker Manager from the menu.

Step 2: Click the Turn on BitLocker button in the pop-up window to continue.

Step 3: Choose a method to unlock the drive, and then click Next.

Step 4: Choose where to save the recovery key. Select a path to save the recovery key and click Save.

Step 5: Choose how much of the drive to encrypt, and then click Next.

• Encrypt used disk space only (faster and best for new PCs and drives).
• Encrypt entire drive (slower but best for PCs and drives already in use).

Step 6: Select the encryption mode, then click Next.

• New encryption mode (best for fixed drives on this device).
• Compatible mode (best for drives that can be moved from this device).

Step 7: Click Start encrypting to begin the encryption process.