BitLocker is one of the simplest ways to encrypt an external drive on Windows, as long as you're using it with Windows devices. It's just one of many security features in Windows 11.

USB drives, external HDDs, and memory cards—remains the go-to for transferring and backing up data. But these devices are also among the easies ...

BitLocker is officially only available for Windows 10/11 Pro. However, the tool is actually also included in the Home versions, just hidden.

Wait for BitLocker to initialize the drive and set a password for the drive. Next, specify where you want to save the recovery key, which you can use in case you forget the password.

If you need a vault for your data, you don't have to resort to buying additional tools. Windows 11 Pro offers everything you need.