How long the encryption process takes depends on the size of the drive and other factors.Use a USB flash drive to create a password reset disk using the following steps: Note: This operation is only possible when using a Windows 10 Local Account. Do not remove the USB flash drive until the encryption process is complete. On the 'Are You Ready To Encrypt This Drive' window, click Start Encrypting.In the 'Save BitLocker Recovery Key As' window, choose a storage location and then click Save.

On the 'How Do You Want To Store Your Recovery Key' window, click Save The Recovery Key To A File.

Because this feature requires a smart card reader, it is normally used to unlock a drive in the workplace and not for drives that might be used outside the workplace. ' Use My Smart Card To Unlock The Drive': Select this option if you want to use a smart card and enter the smart card PIN to unlock the drive. Passwords allow a drive to be unlocked in any location and to be shared with other people. ' Use A Password To Unlock This Drive': Select this option if you want to be prompted for a password to unlock the drive.

On the 'Choose How You Want To Unlock This Drive' window, choose one or more of the following options, and then click Next:.

Right-click the USB flash drive in My Computer or This PC and select 'Turn on BitLocker'.

If there is data on the USB flash drive, please go to step 3.

Format USB flash drive into FAT32/NTFS/exFAT file system.

If you only have Windows 7/8/10 Home edition, please refer to How to turn on BitLocker drive encryption on Windows 7/8/10 Home edition?

Windows 10 Professional/Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Professional/Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate/Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate/Enterprise, Windows Server 2008/2012

Insert a USB flash drive to a Windows computer with these editions:.

Usb flash drive password