It is important to protect sensitive data stored on a USB drive, and encryption is an effective security measure. in encrypt your USB key, you can protect the files and personal data it contains even when you use them on other computers. This ensures that only people with the correct password will have access to the contents of the key, even if it is lost or stolen.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you have several options for effectively encrypting a USB key. The first method is to use BitLocker, Windows’ built-in encryption tool. The second method involves downloading third-party encryption software. Whichever method you choose, you will be able to securely encrypt your USB drive and protect its data from prying eyes.
How to encrypt your USB key with BitLocker? (Windows tool)
- Plug the USB drive into the computer.
- Right-click the USB drive icon in File Explorer, then select “Enable BitLocker.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a strong password or other authentication method.
- Choose where to save your recovery key (we advise you to duplicate this key on different media without naming it specifically).
- Select the desired encryption mode and click “Next”.
- Click “Start Encrypt” to start the USB drive encryption process.
This page may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product from these links, the merchant site will pay us a commission without affecting your purchase amount in any way.