On Windows 11, you can use BitLocker to encrypt your drive. The encryption of BitLocker prevents unauthorized access to your files and documents stored on your drive. Since we have shared a detailed guide on setting up and using BitLocker on a regular system drive, we will discuss BitLocker to Go in this article.

What is BitLocker to Go?

BitLocker To Go is the same BitLocker functionality, but it’s meant to encrypt removable data drives.

The BitLocker To Go program encrypts USB and removable drives and restricts access through a password. USB drives encrypted with this program can only be accessed with a password or recovery code.

This excellent security feature prevents unauthorized access to your files and documents on your drive.

How to Encrypt a USB Drive with BitLocker

Encrypting a USB drive with BitLocker to Go on Windows 11 is pretty easy; you just need to follow some simple steps shared below.

1. Click on the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.

2. On the Settings, click the System tab on the left pane.

3. On the Right Pane, click on the Storage option as shown below.

4. Under the storage, click on the Advancedstorage settings. Then, on the next menu, click on the Disks & volumes option.

5. Select the USB drive and click on the Properties button.

6. On the next screen, click the Turn on BitLocker link.

 

7. On the BitLocker Drive Encryption screen, click the Turn on BitLocker link behind the drive.

8. On the next screen, select the ‘Use a password to unlock a drive’ option and type in the password. Once you’ve done this, click the Next button.

9. Now, you will be asked to save the recovery key. You can choose to Save to your Microsoft account, Save to a file, or Print the Recovery key.

10. Choose how much of your drive to encrypt, select Encrypt used disk space only, and click the Next button.

11. Select Compatible mode and click the Next button on the next screen.

12. Next, click the Start encryption button to begin the encryption process.

How to Access Encrypted USB Drive?

Once the drive is encrypted, you will find a yellow lock icon next to the encrypted drive.

When you try to access the data stored on the encrypted drive, you will be asked to enter the password. Enter the password to unlock the drive.

How to Disable BitLocker?

Disabling BitLocker on Windows 11 is pretty easy; follow the easy steps we have shared below.

1. Click on the Start button and select Control Panel.

2. On the Control Panel, select the BitLocker Drive Encryption option as shown below.

3. Now, find your encrypted drive, and click on the Unlock drive link beside the drive name.

4. On the confirmation prompt, click the Turn off BitLocker button again.

5. The BitLocker Drive Encryption process will start and decrypt the drive.

BitLocker To Go is a great security feature that everyone should use. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.