Windows 11 Home version 23H2 - BitLocker question


Ward1951

Ward1951

Active member
Local time
11:05 AM
Posts
2
OS
Windows 11 Home 64-bit
I have Windows 11 Home Version 23H2. I've looked at several YouTube videos explaining how to find out if I have Bitlocker installed on my system. After examining my system using Terminal (Admin) I have discovered none of my drives (all SSD) are encrypted. Additionally, I do not have a BitLocker recovery key.

My question is the following: My system is going to be updated to Version 24H2 sometime in the near future which, from what I can gather, will apparently encrypt my C drive. If that is true, will I also receive the Bitlocker recovery key? Or is my Home version of Windows 11 going to continue to be exempt from BitLocker encryption?

Thanks in advance!
 
Windows Build/Version
23H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CyberPowerPC - C series
    CPU
    11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-11600KF @ 3.90GHz 3.91
    Motherboard
    ASRock B560M-C
    Memory
    16.0 GB (15.9 GB usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    4095MB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (MSI)
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP M27ha (1920x1080@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    931GB Seagate ST1000DM010-2EP102 (SATA )
    465GB Western Digital WD Blue SN570 500GB (Unknown (SSD))
    1862GB Western Digital WD Elements 2621 USB Device (USB (SATA) (SSD))
    PSU
    ATX-PR600W
    Case
    CyberPowerPC case
    Cooling
    water cooled
    Keyboard
    HID Keyboard Device
    Mouse
    HID-compliant
    Internet Speed
    500 mbps download - 55 mbps upload
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DJ 2700 series PCL-3 printer
Ward1951 said:
I have Windows 11 Home Version 23H2. I've looked at several YouTube videos explaining how to find out if I have Bitlocker installed on my system. After examining my system using Terminal (Admin) I have discovered none of my drives (all SSD) are encrypted. Additionally, I do not have a BitLocker recovery key.

My question is the following: My system is going to be updated to Version 24H2 sometime in the near future which, from what I can gather, will apparently encrypt my C drive. If that is true, will I also receive the Bitlocker recovery key? Or is my Home version of Windows 11 going to continue to be exempt from BitLocker encryption?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
If your C drive is being encrypted with BitLocker after updating to Windows 11 version 24H2, you should receive the BitLocker recovery key during the encryption setup process. This key is essential for accessing your drive if needed. As for the inclusion of BitLocker in Windows 11 Home edition, changes in version 24H2 would need to be confirmed with official Microsoft documentation or release notes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microcenter B677
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-9400
    Motherboard
    ASRock H310CM-HDV/M.2
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Intel Kaby Lake - High Definition Audio / cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech) [A0]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Model: GSM59F1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080
    Case
    Lian Li 205M
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky AV
Ward1951 said:
I have Windows 11 Home Version 23H2. I've looked at several YouTube videos explaining how to find out if I have Bitlocker installed on my system. After examining my system using Terminal (Admin) I have discovered none of my drives (all SSD) are encrypted. Additionally, I do not have a BitLocker recovery key.

My question is the following: My system is going to be updated to Version 24H2 sometime in the near future which, from what I can gather, will apparently encrypt my C drive. If that is true, will I also receive the Bitlocker recovery key? Or is my Home version of Windows 11 going to continue to be exempt from BitLocker encryption?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Welcome to Eleven Forum.

No, the update to 24H2 should not encrypt your drive(s).

Home doesn't support Bitlocker, but it does support device encryption. On a device that meets certain requirements (for example, supports Modern Standby, has TPM 2.0 and has Secure Boot enabled) then a clean install of Windows 11 (Home or Pro) will by default enable device encryption. This encrypts the drive but leaves it 'open', so that you don't have any need for a key. Only in Pro you would you then be prompted to turn on Bitlocker, and only then will you be provided with a key that you need to know and keep safe.

The feature update to 24H2 though should retain whatever your current encryption state is, in your case unencrypted.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
Bree said:
Welcome to Eleven Forum.

No, the update to 24H2 should not encrypt your drive(s).

Home doesn't support Bitlocker, but it does support device encryption. On a device that meets certain requirements (for example, supports Modern Standby, has TPM 2.0 and has Secure Boot enabled) then a clean install of Windows 11 (Home or Pro) will by default enable device encryption. This encrypts the drive but leaves it 'open', so that you don't have any need for a key. Only in Pro you would you then be prompted to turn on Bitlocker, and only then will you be provided with a key that you need to know and keep safe.

The feature update to 24H2 though should retain whatever your current encryption state is, in your case unencrypted.
Click to expand...
My post was based on the information provided in the link listed below;
(below link is from an article on "tom's HARDWARE" dated May 7th, 2024)

tinyurl.com

Windows 11 24H2 will enable BitLocker encryption for everyone — happens on both clean installs and reinstalls

You can still manually disable encryption if desired.
tinyurl.com tinyurl.com

Perhaps there is more recent information which contradicts the article that I have not seen.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microcenter B677
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-9400
    Motherboard
    ASRock H310CM-HDV/M.2
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Intel Kaby Lake - High Definition Audio / cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech) [A0]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Model: GSM59F1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080
    Case
    Lian Li 205M
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky AV
Sir_George said:
My post was based on the information provided in the link listed below;
(below link is from an article on "tom's HARDWARE" dated May 7th, 2024)
Click to expand...
Your link says "happens on both clean installs and reinstalls". The meaning of a 'clean install' is obvious, the 'reinstall' it refers to would typically be when you go to System > Recovery and select Reset this PC.

The feature update to 24H2 through Windows update is neither of those, it is an upgrade of your existing system and retains your files, installed apps, and settings - and that should include your current setting for device encryption being turned off.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
Thanks to all who responded! Appreciate it!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CyberPowerPC - C series
    CPU
    11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-11600KF @ 3.90GHz 3.91
    Motherboard
    ASRock B560M-C
    Memory
    16.0 GB (15.9 GB usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    4095MB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (MSI)
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP M27ha (1920x1080@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    931GB Seagate ST1000DM010-2EP102 (SATA )
    465GB Western Digital WD Blue SN570 500GB (Unknown (SSD))
    1862GB Western Digital WD Elements 2621 USB Device (USB (SATA) (SSD))
    PSU
    ATX-PR600W
    Case
    CyberPowerPC case
    Cooling
    water cooled
    Keyboard
    HID Keyboard Device
    Mouse
    HID-compliant
    Internet Speed
    500 mbps download - 55 mbps upload
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DJ 2700 series PCL-3 printer
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