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What is the difference between BitLocker encryption and Device encryption in Windows10?

Win 10 Home doesn't have Bitlocker, only Win 10 Pro and other editions, but Home also has something called 'Device encryption'. What is the difference?

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Ciki Liu

Ciki Liu

Answered on Wednesday, November 22, 2023

 

The biggest difference between BitLocker and Device encryption is that, BitLocker is able to encrypt a single drive with a set of management tools while Device encryption protects your system and secondary drives without the option to exclude a drive or partition. Besides, there are other differences such as the availability, usage, and hardware requirements.

Encryption

BitLocker encryption: In short, BitLocker encryption is a full-drive encryption technology combined with management controls for your encrypted devices. You may encrypt one drive or all drives using BitLocker, including the internal and external drives. Meanwhile, you get a set of management tools to configure the security features and protect your data.

Device encryption: Unlike BitLocker, Device encryption can't protect an individual drive but your whole system as well as secondary drives. You are unable to exclude a disk or partition when Device encryption is enabled.

Availability

BitLocker encryption: BitLocker applies to Windows 10, Windows Server 2016 and above, and Windows 11. However, BitLocker is not included in Windows 11/10 Home edition. To use BitLocker to secure your data on these versions, you must update your PC to the Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition.

Device encryption: You can find Device encryption on every Windows OS, however, there are some hardware requirements for your PC.

Usage

BitLocker encryption: It's suggested to configure the BitLocker encryption via the Group Policy and back up your BitLocker recovery key as where you are advised to.

Device encryption: To use it on your PC, an active TPM is required as well as a Microsoft account.

Hardware requirements

BitLocker encryption:

  • The BIOS or UEFI firmware on your computer must be Trusted Computing Group (TCG) compliant and have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 or later.
  • The disk you want to encrypt must be partitioned into at least two drives, including the operating system drive and the system drive.

Device encryption:

  • Your PC has a TPM (Trusted Platform Module), be it a TPM 1.2 or a TPM 2.0.
  • UEFI Secure Boot and Platform Secure Boot are enabled on your PC.
  • Direct memory access (DMA) protection is turned on. 

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