In general, if you forget the password, use the Recovery Key as the backdoor to regain access to your data. When it comes to security methods, this tool offers password and smart card authentication.

Close the app when finished, your device is now encrypted.

The app will now encrypt the device, this may take several minutes.

Now, you can either choose Compatible mode for use with Windows 7/8 PCs or New encryption mode for Windows 10 PCs and then click Next again.

Select Encrypt entire drive on the next window and then click Next.

Click on Next to continue with the encryption process.

Now, save the recovery key in a secure location on your computer.

Then, enter in your password in the textbox and then again to verify it.

Next, click on Use a password to unlock the drive.

Now, right-click the drive and choose Turn on BitLocker.

To encrypt your drive via Bitlocker, insert the drive and launch This PC/My Computer.

So if you often transfer between a Mac and a PC, you should have a partition and an executable for each OS.

With that said, one executable file won’t work for all the systems. It means you’ll run the encryption app from the drive and decrypt the data on the spot. This is why it is best to partition your USB drive and keep one partition for the data and the other for the executable decryption software. For example, you might not be able to decrypt the files or read/copy them even when they’re decrypted.

USB Drive PartitioningĪs hinted, if you try to use the drive on a computer other than your own, you might face certain compatibility issues. However, there is a catch if you use the drive on different computers and operating systems. Luckily, there are apps that allow for quick and easy encryption, regardless of the operating system you are using. To be honest, unless you encrypt the drive, anybody who gets a hold of it will be able to read your data.

Encrypted usb thumb drive