How to encrypt a Windows PC with device encryption or BitLocker Make sure you’re signed into the computer’s admin account Open the start menu, then click the Settings icon.

In Windows 10 Mobile, the feature is called Device encryption, and it helps to make local device data unreadable for anyone who attempts to access it without authorization.

Instead of the standard BitLocker encryption, Windows 10 Home offers standard Device Encryption, which can be enabled with a single click in Settings.

"After installing the July 2024 Windows security update, released July 9, 2024 (KB5040442), you might see a BitLocker recovery screen upon booting your device," Microsoft said in its update.

In the upcoming 24H2 update, Microsoft introduced BitLocker encryption as a default feature for Windows 11, ensuring automatic data security on new and clean installations.

When you sign in to Windows on a new PC using a Microsoft account, Windows uses the built-in device encryption option and automatically saves the recovery key to your Microsoft account.

The Device encryption section will only appear on PCs that support it. If the situation sounds familiar, it might be because another Windows update caused similar problems a month ago.

The popular "Device Encryption" mode doesn't need an additional password, which means users can "unseal" a BitLocker volume by just booting Windows with their normal user accounts.