Why Thousands of Windows users will lose their data?

[@AndyM...]

You are 1000% correct, this will and has resulted in data loss with some of my clients. Often they'll say, "but you CAN get the data back can't you?" when I say no, not without the Bitlocker key, "Bitlocker key...what's that !?"

[@JeanPierreWhite]

Then they will claim "I never had one" when asked for the password they used to encrypt the drive.

[@apolloxiii5574]

You can get that key from Microsoft like I did, so what's the problem, once you are in again you can remove the encryption from the drive.

[@JeanPierreWhite]

@@apolloxiii5574 If the user has a microsoft account to store the key to that might be true. Eve then I have accessed keys in the past and they simply didn't work, maybe because they weer out of date.

[@AndyM...]

@@apolloxiii5574You can only get the key from MS if you stored it there, some may have done that, some may not, MS won't give you a key on request unfortunately. If they printed it or saved it ...many years later unless they're organised it's gone and so is your data unless...its backed up to an external drive regularly.

[@matthewzeller5026]

​@CarRamRod-t6dyep, I have a Dell and it can be a pain. This is a fine optional feature but should not be default. The option should be provided and the user clearly informed before it's implemented

[@jeffzebert4982]

So... Microsoft is accidentally advertising for Linux again, eh?

[@seansingh4421]

Seems like it. I suggest Xubuntu

[@WindowsChimp]

Yeah, it seems so 😂😂

[@NemanyaIam]

Linux would never win regular users, because of how complicated they are. Even a simple choice of version is so complex. People want a simple user interface and that's why we can see many things copied from MacOS. Some of them I like, some of them I don't, but for example for home OS I would stay on Windows because it gives me more options for software and games.

[@mouseguy5846]

​@@NemanyaIamjust use Zorin Os, it's second most windows-like Linux distro, the first one being Linux mint. I switched from windows to Zorin 5 days ago and it was really good. Terminal isn't even that hard to use considering how many guides there are.

[@williamthecoolboy]

I think Microsoft is just trying to protect their users this time... but still they should just make this an opt-in thing... maybe even do the usual full-screen pop-up asking if they want to encrypt stuff. Might be annoying but still better than just enabling it without telling anyone.

[@ryanm9318]

My motherboard battery died. Triggered the recovery key prompt. Changing some hardware causes the recovery key needed. Going to be a train wreck.

[@AndyM...]

Even if you go into the BIOS to change secure boot to get around the stupid "S Mode" it can trigger the key prompt !

[@WindowsChimp]

Yes it can trigger that, better to check for the key before making any changes to the BIOS.

[@zalnars7847]

Ofc, as tpm changed ​@@AndyM...

[@lilkittygirl]

Your bitlocker key is stored to your MS account. Takes a couple minutes to recover

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@WindowsChimp Which is just the stupidest thing ever. We never needed secure boot of this type. They could have just given us a bit of memory that could only be written to when a jumper or switch was in the right position and it wold have done far more than what secure boot does. From there, they could store whatever signatures we need for the OS to verify itself.

[@biswajitbarik2138]

Default ransomware by Microsoft 😅😊

[@CPsPCs]

Ransomware assumes you can get the recovery key......

[@tallpaul9475]

Not really, there's nothing to make payment to, and no way to get a recovery key.

[@curus3850]

Thats the Joke, NotPetya from Microsoft

[@ghalilahloumimiseconde3771]

​@tallpaul9475 you cant even get the key, do u really think they will give it to u 💀 they will jusy say "Nah we want more money"

[@asantaraliner]

I had a Ransomware attack in 2022. Are you saying that Microsoft sent this Ransomware on purpose?

[@hidafluffminer]

fun fact: the BitLocker encryption and decryption key is actually stored on the EFI firmware itself directly.

[@seiyachan]

microsoft getting out of control to have full control over user control.

[@Lofote]

Wait... What does this have to do with BitLocker? I mean the operating system supplier ALWAYS has full control, thats from day 1. Now how does this change with BitLocker?

[@Kyermike]

This is actually why they enabled bitlocker. Most people don't actually update their -spyware- windows install.

[@Lofote]

@@Kyermike how does bitlpcker block spyware in the future?

[@Kyermike]

@@Lofote no bitlocker makes it so you can't recover the system if it bricks, so you'll have to update windows and windows has spyware built-in

[@futuristicentity2417]

@@Lofote The supplier should not have full control over your desktop which will put them in a class action lawsuit for trespassing into another individuals computer policy or not it's federal law to invade someone's privacy you are wrong in this matter you better hope the supplier doesn't have control or people will indeed switch to Linux regardless i've been debating on it Microsoft can't be trusted.

[@smoetje]

This is really BAD... BIOS updates / UEFI updates are notoriously known for potentially causing data-loss due to bitlocker enabled...

[@mrkgrmn3]

True. Turn Bitlocker off before any BIOS update. Keeping a backup of your data is critical when using Bitlocker. I'll never turn it back on.

[@The_Nixie]

more accurately, users who conduct such updates without first taking the steps appropriate to their system configuration cause data loss. If you want security - you have to invest a little in learning how your security tools work and what they need from you. If you want any idiot who steals your laptop to have all of your data - then you can have easy and convenient and not have to learn anything about the system. But secure and easy are opposite ends of a spectrum - you get to choose where you're gonna be on that spectrum

[@delavan9141]

@@The_Nixie You're talking to IT professionals, right? Because Microsoft doesn't reveal to normal users what any particular Windows security update does. The explanations are generalized, non-specific, and all say the same thing.

[@xxlarrytfvwxx9531]

Half the time all I see is "Improved stability and security." I am _really_ considering switching to Linux exclusively here soon maybe.

[@The_Nixie]

@@delavan9141 true but irrelevant to this conversation. The assertion is that "the existence of bitlocker will make people lose their data" - which is untrue. "The fact that users want computers to be magic and don't want to be bothered with actually learning anything about the device they use for the majority of their working hours, and therefore do not bother to learn [a] the correct steps to take before installing a BIOS update or [b] where and how to locate their bitlocker key so they can recover when needed" is the source of the data loss. Every computer I have owned cost more than I paid for my first car. To get the car, I had to take a class, obtain a license, learn basic things about how it works (such as refueling, changing oil/tires, tune-ups and maintenance schedules), and as a driver I am held responsible for how I operate it. If I crash it, I am held responsible. It didn't magically drive and crash itself. But if I don't bother to learn the most basic thing about my computer and I cause a problem - it's somehow the computer's fault, Microsoft's fault, a terrible design" and as long as that's true, people will continue to unnecessarily lose data. p.s. many of those security updates do come with details. And many come with vague statements that amount to "we choose not to detail how thieves and bad guys were/could have been compromising the system and give that info away for them to hammer at our fix and try to find another way to use that path to jack your data." I agree it's frustrating.

[@SjurgisS]

Do you remember when OS'es were made under ideology of "OS should be invisible to end user"? Pepperidge farm remembers... Honsetly, how is this OS, that requires insider knowledge and jumping through flaming hoops still considered "de facto" is beyond me.

[@deniswauchope3788]

Hey, I still miss the Amiga OS, the last one I ever had that let me, the user, customize my OS to do what I wanted and how I wanted to do it. M$ has always been a POS in my opinion, it's just that Bill Gates managed to sell this pig to everyone! Greatest used-OS salesman in the history of the world, he was.

[@SjurgisS]

@deniswauchope3788 sorry, cant relate, started with w3.11 and single-floppy linux. Still a far cry from what is happening with the market these days.

[@James_T_Quirk]

@@deniswauchope3788 Run Linux LOOK @ Directory Structure, it is similar to Amiga OS maybe because Amiga OS was a Subset of Unix & so is Linux, and or Linus Torvalds was a Amiga Person ...

[@James_T_Quirk]

@@SjurgisS Well nice my first had 2k ram, Ms-Dos was still a gleam in Bill's eye ..

[@Lofote]

When was that? "OS should be insivisle to end user"? Never heard of that for computers. (IoT devices are of course different here)

[@peterfoldesi483]

Isn't it funny how we went from occasional driver downloading and installing in the XP era to the need to tinker with the os itself to make it usable?

[@GeekIWG]

I like how many Linux installers do it. They **ASK** the user if they want to enable full disk encryption.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

That's the right thing to do, although they probably shouldn't even ask, it should be a setting that you have to look for during installation.

[@TheTrueCBaer]

Oh fun fact, if your windows is pre installed it might be the case that the manufacturer used the same bitlocker key on all machines

[@WindowsChimp]

🤣🤣 Its auto-generated unique key for each machine.

[@Supersonic90444]

my lenovo pc had that, i was so fucking pissed when my pc did this.

[@teknixstuff]

@@WindowsChimp Not always. If they use quickprep or sysprep non-generalise (not sure if sysprep generalise clears it or not), they're gonna have duplicate keys.

[@timradde4328]

Once again so glad I use no Windows at all. Fully happy with Linux and OSX.

[@skydimond]

i dualboot rn but once roblox has a good way to play on linux, bye bye windows

[@guessundheit6494]

I use Lose10 on an OFFLINE ONLY computer and Linux for a connected machine.

[@eeaotly]

​@@guessundheit6494 What is Lose10?

[@Jordansklar0698]

I did 2 seperate systems 1 is windows 10 nothing kn it except a single game that doesnt run on linux called destiny 2 and everything elce is on my linux gaming pc 😂

[@CentreMetre]

Just recently swapped, best decision of my IT life

[@rivencleftofstars4592]

Another advertisement for Linux.

[@Gage_the_destroy]

What cuz it can boot from USB cuz your files can still get physically stolen

[@TheFamousPlatypus]

​@@Gage_the_destroyIts not like u can just get into safe mode in windows enable cmd in login screen and bypass it

[@milkkolaj]

@@Gage_the_destroy Luks encryption way better

[@devisals]

Ltsc iot doesn't have this issue

[@hefywefy5331]

Sadly no. Linux is not a viable OS for the mass market. Either Windows will remain or MacOS will dominate (unless another more user friendly OS appears)

[@Snowdragon.]

Just another reason to not move to Win11 when Win10 runs out.

[@tls559]

I use Win10 2 years

[@ironking4698]

Windows 7 originally but forced to switch windows 10

[@user-uu2we2qm2e]

Yeah, disabling one option is exponentially harder than protecting your machine from potential threats on the internet, who would have thought

[@Stormlywing]

@@user-uu2we2qm2e how they has to do is install malware that disable bitlocker bang you got a problem because just think if they able to reset your bitlocker PIN to new one which they only can access it than your done for ( Only thing is most users uses administrators group and not a standrd one to void regedit changes

[@Captoad]

@@user-uu2we2qm2e then just move to linux lmao

[@PhrontDoor]

Considering the microsoft issue with how hard it is to get to Safe-Mode in windows nowadays, combined with garbage like crowdstrike broken drivers BSODing your machines and made supremely harder for bitlocker users, then this encryption-by-default will invariably be nothing but catastrophic.

[@AsuranDiablo]

Omfg another person crying about the crowdstrike thing even though it has NOTHING to do with windows. It's a program you can install on windows but it was not a windows issues. More importantly the average windows user does not even use crowdstrike therefore less then 1% of windows users IN THE WORLD were actually affected by it. Hell the crowdstrike thing didn't even have anything to do with data encryption or bitlocker so you are just spewing crap trying to look like you know something.

[@pascalmartin1891]

Crowdstrike is typically a corporate pc thing. How many home users purchased crowdstrike? A corporate pc is centrally managed. The data on your laptop is really a local copy of data on corporate servers. Loosing the data on the laptop is a non-event, while thieves accessing non-encrypted data is a calamity. Bitlocker was meant for that corporate environment. Microsoft probably believes that tethering Windows on the Azure cloud fills the gap, but I don't believe so: many people see their most valuable data as too private for the cloud, especially if it removes the search protection in the constitution (in the US). This corporate mindset is going to backfire. I am waiting for the forthcoming Bitlocker update bug, wiping out millions of computer storages. Keep your backup ready--on a non-Microsoft device..

[@AsuranDiablo]

@@pascalmartin1891 Exactly, bitlocker is a corporate thing and should stay that way. I also think the idea to force it on none corporate customers will backfire BUT in a way I can also understand Microsoft for doing it. Whenever a big hack or virus or whatever happens and people loose their data everyone right away screams that Windows/Microsoft is to blame. No YOU are responsible for YOUR data. There are many options to secure it which are cheap or even free. Microsoft tries to cover their butts and rightfully so. Virusses etc. are not targetting Windows because it is the weakest OS or something like that, it gets targeted because it is the most used OS. So people screaming Linux or Mac, NO you are NOT 100% safe.

[@pascalmartin1891]

@@AsuranDiablo I do not believe that Bitlocker protects against viruses: once Windows is up and running, the stored data is accessible. The protection is against booting the laptop or extracting its storage device to read it from another computer. Bitlocker is about protection from device theft, nothing related to the Internet.

[@pascalmartin1891]

@@AsuranDiablo Bitlocker is not really a protection against viruses: once Windows is on, the decryption key is setup and the storage is accessible, including to a virus. Bitlocker is mostly for laptops because you travel with them and they are easy to steal. Otherwise I agree on the comment about Linux or Mac: not fat targets. Stealing data from one individual is not as profitable as from a corporation.

[@DreasWaveBroadcasts]

So an update is gonna hold all my data at gunpoint with a 48 character key? Thanks Microsoft!

[@Russellsouthey]

No automatic BitLocker activation: Existing installations of Windows 11 (prior to 24H2) will not have BitLocker enabled automatically. The 24H2 update only affects new installations and reinstalls, which will have BitLocker enabled by default. Windows 24H2 update only affects new installations and reinstalls, and existing installations will not have BitLocker enabled automatically. Users can choose to enable or disable BitLocker on their existing systems as desired.

[@STCatchMeTRACjRo]

maybe for now but from the looks of it that wont be forever.

[@CPsPCs]

So how do you explain Windows 11 Home on a 9th Gen i5 having Bitlocker turned on. This is a clients machine I'm currently trying to recover data from. Owner is 90 and doesn't even know what a microsoft account is, nor does she have email or a mobile phone.

[@JeanPierreWhite]

@@CPsPCs Unless your client can remember the password used when the drive was encrypted then you and she are out of luck. I have a client like that. Every now and then they contact me to see if I have recovered their data yet. I ask for the passwords they used on the computer again and explain again that I am not able to recover the data without the correct password. Two months will go by with no passwords and then they'll ask if I have recovered their data yet and the cycle continues. They are puzzled, I have always been able to recover data for them in the past. I suppose because I was so good at recovering data they never bothered with backups I asked them to take, they used me as the backup.

[@raylopez99]

@@CPsPCs He forgot? Save into your Microsoft account or anywhere else you select implies manual input by the user as to where the key will be stored. The key doesn't just magically appear and then disappear.

[@JesusKnocks.]

@@STCatchMeTRACjRonah. doing it this way eventually they get everyone when it’s time to upgrade OS.

[@g-man2450]

If you need to change hardware or enter the UEFI/Bios then always disable it first otherwise it will trigger the enter recovery keys. Bitlocker was automatically installed on my new build PC without my knowledge of it and while i was still setting up the Bios after a Win 11 restart. It should be your decision to enable it not Microsoft !

[@WindowsChimp]

Valuable advice 👌

[@tailslessons9634]

I never had to deal with that because I bypassed the microsoft account setup and went full offline local account.

[@CPsPCs]

Lots of Lenovo Laptops and Computers both home and pro have been having Bitlocker turned on by default for the last few years. I have personally seen lots of people lose their data because of this. I'm currently dealing with a 90 year old who has a Lenovo All-In-One that has corrupted windows and has no idea what a microsoft account is. Can't even get into recovery mode due to bitlocker.

[@andrewgreenwood8554]

Yes, you are correct. Been there, done that. To be fair to Lenovo support, they were helpful in restoring Windows but was it the Lenovo update of drivers that turned on the Bitlocker?

[@syarifairlangga4608]

i was buying HP Pav aero and it also default on. i dont need such a feature since i didnt bother with sensitive data. also the bitloker is too hard to use

[@CPsPCs]

@@andrewgreenwood8554 Restoring Windows is easy, I do it daily, Recovering data from a Bitlocker drive though, that's another issue.

[@LimbaZero]

Yep. Noticed that lock icon on drive when I checked my father lenovo laptop. It seems some companies just turn it on on their laptops by default. I saved it to disk but forgot to copy it to usb stick. Need to say him to copy it to usb stick or just do it when I next time visiting him. I backup all photos then I last time visited him.

[@darrennew8211]

@@LimbaZero Bitlocker doesn't let you save the recovery key to an encrypted drive. I'm not sure how you got yourself locked out without knowing exactly what you're doing.

[@matthewharris517]

This is probably the only time I'm glad I have no internet at home for now

[@utoob7361]

Windows keeps getting worse. I'm sure Microsoft has a back door anyway.

[@jrapplefan2231]

But there are many people like me that do not want msft account. Only local account for me. Who trust microsoft now ?

[@JeanPierreWhite]

If you have that level of distrust in Microsoft, which is fine BTW, you should not be using Windows. Use Linux instead.

[@jasonsnell708]

@@JeanPierreWhite I've used Linux Mint, Linux Mint Debian Edition, and eventually landed on Fedora with Gnome. I'll NEVER go back to windows. ever.

[@pascalmartin1891]

​@@JeanPierreWhiteconsidering the tag name on the post, I would guess he does not use Windows: apple fan? Might be beetlemania. 🧐

[@JeanPierreWhite]

@@forbidden-cyrillic-handle All of the computers that crashed this week are even safer than your Windows NT system. Any system that is rendered useless is very very safe. Very very useless, but very very safe.

[@JeanPierreWhite]

@@forbidden-cyrillic-handle I imagine many probably have done so already lol.

[@desktation]

Thank you for this information. The edits before installing windows is gold. I'll def save this vid for later.

[@WindowsChimp]

Awesome 👌

[@filehosting5793]

All Windows since Win 8 in the form of Windows Device Encryption. If certain hardware requirements are meet is enabled by default. Unless you disable after install or make a custom image and use unattended files or edit the gpo/registry most is not all new machine will be encrypted by default regardless of the Win version. From MS "Device encryption is available on all Windows versions, and it requires a device to meet either Modern Standby or HSTI security requirements. Device encryption can't have externally accessible ports that allow DMA access. Device encryption encrypts only the OS drive and fixed drives, it doesn't encrypt external/USB drives."

[@shlomomarkman6374]

The issue is that disk encryption (SD card encryption actually) is standard on all mobile devices. People will manage and they frequently use cloud backups.

[@MindCaged]

Yes of course they will. Disk encryption means that bad guys can't steal your hard drive and get your files, but it also possibly means /you/ can't transfer your drive to another computer either unless you save the key maybe in the cloud and/or a flash drive or something. I personally have very little worry about people stealing my physical drive, and it does absolutely nothing about spyware/malware/hackers/etc. It pretty much /only/ helps if your physical drive is stolen which is probably the least common form of data theft. It also adds overhead on drive access meaning it might slow it down a bit. This being turned on automatically when many users wouldn't even know what it means or know why it's so important to keep a backup copy of the encryption key is kind of crazy, it's like they're saying it's better that /nobody/ has access to a users files rather than them having a 1 in probably thousands/millions chance of the drive being stolen and end up in the hands of a thief who actually is planning on stealing files and not just going to steal the whole computer and try to sell it for quick cash. So it's better that a user loses everything than a thief getting it.

[@WindowsChimp]

Yes, true the feature itself is very useful and essential. But only for people who know what it is and how it works.

[@Palexite]

Not to mention that if they can’t access it, there’s no saying they won’t try to destroy it if it’s fully stolen.

[@zeenxdownz]

bro loves using slashes

[@Rovsau]

From the pioneers of Ransomware, in an attempt to fix ransomware: Presenting: Ransomware by default. (CSI Miami soundtrack)

[@MindCaged]

Another question, can the drive encryption be turned back off again? Like go into the properties and uncheck encrypt this drive probably having to wait for a long time to decrypt? Though users would have to know enough to be able to do that.

[@cam_934]

Yes it can be turned off, its set to on by default when setting up a new PC.

[@omi_god]

Yes, you can turn Bitlocker encryption off, and it will decrypt your hard drives. You do this through the Settings widget, not through Properties.

[@WindowsChimp]

Yes, its easy to turn back the encryption, its going to take some time depending on the storage. The problem is people aren't aware about this.

[@KRich408]

This explains why after I did a update on my my Microsoft Surface pro a week ago, after the reboot i was forced to enter my But locker key. Something i was not expecting. I thought i just lost everything! Fortunately i was able to recover it through my M$ account. I had no warning from the M$ update that i was going to need my key again.

[@prodigys9823]

Terrific video I thought you made a similar video before but it’s nice to be reminded of what the impending changes will be on window 1124H2. Beautiful video for a beautiful woman.

[@deleater]

This is AI voice lol

[@luminaxar]

BitLocker is only available with Win11 Pro though? The Home Edition won‘t allow to enable it.

[@ProtoType4588]

nope it will be enabled by default for all consumer versions of windows 11 also if you ever reinstall windows 11 it will enable it and encrypt your hard drives while still in the setup process which means you have to remove bitlocker every fricking time you reinstall windows unless you go the rufus route which can disable bitlocker through registry tweaks

[@luminaxar]

@@ProtoType4588 I did a fresh install on 2 different systems since June. Both times I not only had the option to choose anything BitLocker during the setup, it also doesn’t show up in the settings after the install is finished. I wonder if it’s a regional thing then (I‘m in the EU), since I can also uninstall basically every pre-shipped MS app like OneDrive, Xbox, etc..

[@benstone5650]

Things like this are why I use Linux.

[@timradde4328]

Agree.

[@pierrotA]

I'm a linux user, but to be completly honest it's not perfect either, for exemple sudo password can lead to lot of problems. For someone that do not know a lot about linux, it's easy to forget your sudo if you set it when an app ask to set it without understanding why. I agree that (most of the time) it do not lock you from your data, and you can copy them before reinstalling, unlike with bitlocker bs. In the end, all modern OS are so complex and secured that it became very hard for new users to not soft-lock themself by accident.

[@mk72v2oq]

​​@@pierrotA if you forgot a password from admin/root user, you boot from live usb and reset it. Or simply plug your drive into another pc to copy files over. It's nowhere near as devastating as disk encryption. Also more advanced Linux users know that often you can open a bootloader menu before the system start and tweak the kernel command line to circumvent the login prompt completely.

[@darrennew8211]

@@mk72v2oq And if your laptop gets stolen out of your car, now all your passwords, web accounts, and etc are available to the thief. Hello identity theft.

[@samwood3691]

I had windows update trigger bitlocker key prompt. This is going to be “fun”

[@marsrocket]

I assume this is an AI voice because the script has a few odd word choices and grammatical errors, but she speaks like a native English speaker.

[@laurentitolledo1838]

watching this from my RPiOS Bookworm RPi4B desktop.....relaxed....sipping lemonade.....

[@hairballusa]

It's rare that one can foresee a class action lawsuit, based upon the deliberate actions/decisions of a given company. I think Bitlocker is a guaranteed ship-sinker for Microsoft.

[@oldwizzy]

I have a data backup plan that works according to the 3-2-1 principle, which prevents troubles such as BITLOCK problems !!

[@omi_god]

Or you can just turn Bitlocker off.

[@MrPir84free]

@@omi_god In today's world, the more that you are exposed to the world, the more there is a need to be able to back up and restore your data. Only a fool would think that turning off Bitlocker solves that potential problem. Unfortunately, for most people, the thought to back up their data does not arise until something happens that ends up with data loss. Reality is that if you have a single computer, if your drive dies unexpectedly, or Bitlocker or some other component kills your system, or malware strikes, you'll likely need another computer to fix it yourself, or pay someone else to attempt recovery of your data and to attempt restoring your computer to functioning. A second computer is often cheaper; Backups is something that should be on one's RADAR as soon as you have something that is worth recovering. ( Pictures, your taxes, other documents, etc )

[@linkdorf376]

@@omi_god Home PCs yeah, enterprise no. Most good IT in enterprises uses policies where you cannot even open email if bitlocker is not active.

[@Cursedsome]

This is why i still use windows 10

[@BobFrTube]

Imagine the encrypted Rosetta Stone.

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

If it did prompt me for bitlocker I would use a phone to take a image of the bitlocker key

[@WindowsChimp]

That's a clever idea and save it in your cloud.

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

@@WindowsChimp and flashdrive as well

[@darrennew8211]

Or you can right-click on the encrypted drive and say "save the key." It isn't hard.

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

@@darrennew8211 yea IK I could save the bitlocker key file to my onedrive or even to a flash drive!

[@darrennew8211]

@@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440 If you save it to your flash drive, you don't even need to type it in. Just stick the USB stick in. And you can buy an encrypted USB drive, where there's buttons on the drive you have to press to unlock it. Nobody is getting into my machines if they break into my house. :-)

[@gwgux]

All the advertising to get off of Windows if you don't like what Microsoft is doing aside, this really is a advertisement for backing up your data to an external drive. Anything from a home SAN/NAS to a simple USB drive will do so long as there's enough space and so long as it's easy for the end user to do (and what they'll be good with will depend on them). Regardless of OS, backing up your stuff to an external storage medium is basic and that practice has been recommended for decades now. Maybe now people will get the message after they lose all their data (we know they won't do it until they have data loss).

[@darrennew8211]

There are two kinds of people using computers: People who back up their data, and people who will one day start backing up their data after they lose all their work.

[@Wampa842]

I had to deal with this a week ago. Coworker's laptop got borked (wouldn't POST), got sent in for repair, came back with a bitlocker prompt. He didn't have the key, or a backup, or knew what bitlocker was. He lost the exam data for the entire semester and the best I could tell him was to yell at the repair shop and/or Microsoft.

[@laurencecope7083]

Microsoft did this a long time ago, and it all ended in tears. Only it was called double disk. It encrypted your disk and sometimes gave you double the disk capacity. Only problem was, if the driver failed to load or got corrupted then you lost all your data.

[@ChessPuzzles2]

cant find device encryption in my windows 11

[@Ben24-7]

Microsoft has already stated that it will prompt you to turn bitlocker on , it won't actually turn it on unless you click yes

[@mavendorf121]

do you have a link where microsoft states that in the 24h2 update. that when if we upgrade to that. that we will get a prompt in the setup.

[@Ben24-7]

@@mavendorf121 i just recently updated , I never got a prompt , but its not switched on either , both drives are compatible for bitlocker as well

[@doowtnehpets]

Page at 3:00 shows how to find the Bitlocker codes in your Microsoft account. They basically force Microsoft accounts on everyone at this point, so more likely than not code is stored in the Microsoft account associated with the computer. I just checked and saw the ones for my computers. I enabled it on purpose years ago, I printed to a PDF to have the code backed up. Having it enabled is a good thing IMO, someone steals your computer and all your pictures and documents are free for other people to go through. Instead of avoiding it or turning it off, people should learn more about their computers.

[@WindowsChimp]

Yes, its advantage if you know where to find your code.

[@darrennew8211]

You can also just ask bitlocker to give you a copy of the file, stick it on a USB drive you store in your safe, and plug it in during boot if you ever wind up at that screen unexpectedly.

[@soliver111]

Great video Thanks Question: Is there a script that I can run to turn off this feature? I do not have the knowledge to mess with the Windows registry. Cheers

[@g-man2450]

There is a setting in Win 11 Settings /Privacy & Security/Device Encryption /on/off or you can disable & enable it using the Terminal Admin command line ..... Suspend-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:" -RebootCount 0 that disables it, change "C" if needed for a different drive letter. Look in File Explorer to check which drives are using bitlocker it will have a padlock icon. Resume-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:" This enables it again.

[@omi_god]

The Bitlocker tool is in Settings. We can manually turn the feature on or off there.

[@soliver111]

@@g-man2450 great will do. I have a mix of win10, win11 and Linux environments. Also exploring running windows under encrypted Linux operating system. Cheers

[@soliver111]

@@omi_god yes, found it.. thanks cheers

[@darrennew8211]

Right click on the drive and pick "turn off bitlocker." It'll spend a while decrypting the drive. You don't have to screw with anything. It's right in the UI exactly where you'd expect it to be.

[@paulwarner5395]

Thanx for the video. I discovered this when I ran up a Win 11 24h2 VM where I needed to increase the drive size and discovered that I couldn't change it because of drive encryption. I have to unencrypt the drive before I could change it. This is going to be a real pain for a lot of unsuspecting users.

[@philb4462]

On another similar channel they said that often your key doesn't work anyway when you try to use it.

[@ericpratt984]

2:31 "With 'Save it as a file', usually people save the key on their computer. Without realizing that they need this key to access the computer." Yeah, that makes total sense. Let's put the key inside of the safe. That's a smart thing to do.

[@chrisblack6258]

You are not all allowed to save the file in the encrypted drives.

[@ericpratt984]

@@chrisblack6258 Oh, so they changed it. Good. But hopefully you'll change that pfp, Chris.

[@tuut1241]

Bit locker has been around win7. Use GPO and regfixes to tweak the config.

[@Waludalf]

When setting up Windows you're asked(if not required) to configure Windows at first install. This has a good reason, the encryption key is stored on the Microsoft account, hence I recommend actually not skipping that part of the setup, normally I would aswell but this is a backup security measure. And wrong aswell is that the bitlocker generates the key depending on your hardware installed, the bitlocker key is also easily readable by a 7$ raspi.... The bitlocker is already defeated

[@chrisblack6258]

Is there a source of you're willing to share? About the bitlocker being defeated

[@Techkomsan]

Windows 1124 H2 update may cause data loss for Windows users due to the bit Locker encryption requirement.

[@franciscohorna5542]

but you need to have the pro version of 11 im using 10 here 22h2 not going to 11

[@omi_god]

Bitlocker is a part of Windows 10 Professional as well. Search for the Bitlocker tool on your machine and you'll find it - probably turned on, as it was on my Win10 machine. Best practice if you find it on is to turn it off.

[@codycallaway9057]

I'm never ever going to use 11

[@franciscohorna5542]

@@codycallaway9057 same here eeven after 0ctober 2025

[@user-hy6xy7zg2n]

Always back up your data to an external drive. That way, when you have to reinstall the OS - PITA but can be done - you can simply reload the data files from the backup. OR - use Linux. Linux also has an option to encrypt your hard drive but this is a choice and is not forced upon you.

[@reaperinsaltbrine5211]

Unless they autoforce ButtLicker on your external drive, too....

[@robbylock1741]

Blessed are the Pessimists, for they hath made backups! Book of Exasperation Chapter 1 Verse 1

[@robertjames4908]

How do you know windows won't encrypt your back-up drive . I have 3 drives including the windows one. Also, concerns that encryption will slow gaming performance and we all know how 'efficient' Microsoft software is?

[@darrennew8211]

@@robertjames4908 I have my backup drives encrypted. I don't need someone breaking into my house and having access to everything on my computer. I also have a separate unencrypted partition to put things like games on. You can just turn off the encryption if you don't want it on.

[@Mani_writes]

Bitlocker encryption not showing in services folder

[@ArmoredsoldierCZ]

Good thing that i dont have windows 11.

[@lmelin1959]

It's somewhat irritating that the word "on" is missing from the first spoken sentence in this video. Anyway, I'll just be switching to Linux Mint. I'm weary of big companies trying to force the obsolescence of perfectly good older hardware.

[@Braddeman]

bitlocker won’t encrypt without backing up the key to your microsoft account, azure, or active directory first. so it will be in your microsoft account if you are a home user. it won’t give you the option to save to disk or print key. It doesn’t encrypt by default if you use a local account either.

[@earthoid]

No, "several users" will not lose their data. It will be more like many thousands.

[@robbylock1741]

I use Window 10 and a local account! I guess when I'm forced to go to Windows 11, I'll move to Linux, in prep for that I am migrating from all Microsoft applications to ones that are also available with Linux. Fortunately I have found replacements for all the ones I use.

[@iansanchez1470]

One of the Dell Laptops at school suddenly turned off and we turn it on and the screen started flickering the Dell Logo, we plugged it in and showed the Dell SuppotAssist for diagnostics and after it restarted, the BitLocker Recovery Screen showed up. We've manage to restart the laptop to get it back to work again

[@tallpaul9475]

So glad I don't keep anything important on the computer drive. Thank you for this information, too.

[@crumblingsanity6455]

I do wonder, if this is going to be turned on be default, then wouldn't turning this off be kinda pointless? There's no way if they're serious about this update they'll let you turn it off or disable it and if they do it'll be one of those temporary things. Also, what's the point in this? The only reason I could see them doing this is the fact that you need a Microsoft Account to really do any of this stuff in the first place and which I guess is the main idea, force you to make a Microsoft Account so they can scrub more data from you and have a lot of this stuff sync'd to the cloud and this is going to suck, cause now, your average user isn't even going to know about this they're going to have their computer essentially bricked and have to do a new install and even then when you have to update the system again you're likely going to get the same prompt for the bitlocker encryption anyway, so can you even access the system anymore at that point? I'm genuinely shocked that they can do this and honestly wouldn't be surprised if they get some insane backlash for this. Also, let's keep in mind that even if you are able to get the key for your device I have already heard the complaints about the website you need to go on not working properly or the website in general just not showing the key at all, what is this? So now, assuming what I said is likely going to happen you're without a doubt going to have hundreds maybe even thousands of computers that can't be used anymore, just picture just buying a brand new computer waiting to set it up, only to be met with this screen and having no idea what the key to unlock it. Update: After watching another video on this, apparently this is going to be mainly forced on people (so far) who have done a fresh install of windows and are making/have a Microsoft account, if you're doing an upgrade from windows 10 to 11 you will also not be affected by this either. On top of that if you go to your settings>systems>Bitlocker and you notice you don't really have an option for it at all, then that means you don't have to worry about it on your current installation of windows, note though this was in a preview build, so things might change upon the release of the update, so this is what I just learned just now.

[@darrennew8211]

You don't need a microsoft account. They're turning it on by default because all their business users want it on, and honestly so should you. You don't need internet connectivity to save a copy of your key locally. The whole "oh my god you're going to be so screwed" fear mongering isn't any more likely than the fact that you'll lose all your data due to a hard drive failure or a stolen computer.

[@crumblingsanity6455]

@@darrennew8211 Why would a regular home user have any real use for this? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the main users for Bitlocker were enterprises to begin with, so it makes sense for those individuals to have it ready to go, but why would a home user need this? As far as I have been reading, Bitlocker is only really useful in cases where someone has physical access to your computer, and if they wanted access to your drive, they would need the password (key) to do it. I don't know very many people who even know what Bitlocker is (including myself up until recently) and never needed it once, this entire feature seems very situational, and while not useless of course, most aren't going to need this and forcing it on users is just ridiculous. Also, I'll state this again, but home users are just going to be blindsided by this and when that screen pops up for them, they aren't going to know what to do, they're likely going to take it to a repair shop to get it fixed, and it's not going to work, cause they are also going to need the key to even access to the computer, so you are kinda just sitting there with a bricked computer and all your data is kinda just lost, this is a problem for a reason, and that's why videos like this are popping up more and more, cause it's not a feature that's really needed for most people.

[@MindCaged]

Disk encryption has been around for literally decades and it's /never/ been mandatory or default before. I've /never/ turned it on because I /like/ being able to switch my drive over to another computer without having to worry about somehow losing my encryption key. Even storing it in the cloud isn't a 100 percent guarantee. It only keeps somebody from messing with your physical drive and most hackers target systems remotely with viruses/etc for which disk encryption does like absolutely nothing. Though I do wonder if it would prevent some ransomware from encryption your drive if it was already encrypted. Would you need to know the existing key before you could change it? Edit: Never mind, no, it doesn't, they'll just add a second layer of encryption for which you don't have the key.

[@omi_god]

Encryption was turned on by default on both my win10 and win11 machines when I bought them. I turned Bitlocker off as soon as I noticed. Maybe you should check?

[@incandescentwithrage]

Device encryption for Windows home editions has defaulted to on for years already. Android data partition is similar.

[@omi_god]

@@incandescentwithrage The problem here, of course, is that encryption has been turned back on even for those users who had specifically turned the feature off, without notifying users this had occurred. I wouldn't have noticed if not for this video dropping into my feed.

[@incandescentwithrage]

@@omi_god That's not happened though. The change of Bitlocker status is for fresh installs of Pro only, and only with TPM2.0 & MS account creation in combination. Home was already defaulted to on as far back as Win10, and if you turned it off in W11, it stays off when upgrading to 24H2. This is another channel trying to sensationalise without providing sufficient context. I use Linux and Windows daily, so can say without bias..this is not news. In your case, I suggest that Bitlocker has been on a lot longer than you think..are you even running 24H2 this video relates to? It's preview only at present.

[@omi_god]

@@incandescentwithrage I have a win11 install which had bitlocker turned off. When I checked this morning, it was turned on. Whether it was this update or another, one of them turned the option back on, which is still concerning.

[@melissarainchild]

As a Linux user...I'm even more inclined NEVER to use windows...thanks...

[@hueypautonoman]

Same. It's hilarious that the KZbin algorithm seems to have brought so many of us here.

[@AdventureSMBW]

Back in the day of hard drives, you could wipe the drive then run data recovery software and would typically get everything back, but with SSDs, its not that easy.

[@oguzhankarahan1737]

I think BitLocker encryption obligation will be a group policy. It's likely we will have an option to disable and enable the BitLocker encryption obligation from the group policy.

[@darkwolf41nite53]

She’s right I did format my drive completely I didn’t reinstall windows forget it !

[@tenchistar8164]

One more question. Can we add the prevention to the registry to existing Windows 11. To prevent the encrytion from happening like shown in the video for new installs to prevent updates from doing the encrytion?

[@mikeconway9849]

I'm glad I switched to EndeavourOs 6 months ago. I dual boot, so I do go into Windows 11 once in a while. This will give me incentive to recover the disk space.

[@cryingwater]

I have Bitlocker installed and it's definitely the finickiest feature on Windows. One wrong move and you can say bye-bye to your data. I managed to avoid a few losses by knowing how to handle such cases, but I doubt the average Win11 user can do the same thing

[@RevelingDragon]

Thank go I just did a clean install

[@joshsessions7188]

I left Microsoft because of this reason and other reasons now I have moved to Lennox mint and I don't have any troubles whatsoever they don't force updates on you and they don't force you to use software you don't want to use wake up people.......

[@joseoncrack]

Just stop using Windows. Regain your freedom.

[@atariplayer3686]

Another option: you can choose to save the Bitlocker key to a file on your hard drive, then upload it to your email address and categorize it under a container so you will always have the key as an attachment on an email account! 🤓

[@AliCool412]

I'm actually sad at the fate of windows , the intent wasn't malicious , it's just that if the user knows nothing about bitlocker , they porbably don't need it at all .

[@cassiuscartland]

My entire school laptop got bricked due to bitlocker. I lost loads of my work etc. And there is no way on earth I am risking this on my personal laptop.

[@darrennew8211]

So you have a digital device with moving parts that you never backed up. It would have been just as lost if you accidentally deleted the data or accidentally dropped your laptop in the water or left it at the bar.

[@cassiuscartland]

@@darrennew8211 we couldn't back it up lol, our school blocked backup because apparently "they aren't secure"

[@nobbyfirefly57]

This is stupid. Most people don’t need drive encryption and it’ll just slow it down because of the constant encryption and decryption or something. You only need to encrypt your drive if it has sensitive data, like the GTA 6 source code, not your word documents for your Nan’s birthday.

[@daymenpollet4202]

U do release u can just find the key through ur Microsoft account. Even if people don't know it, they can just search it online and they will know where to go no problem.

[@EduardoFrancoFilho]

Here in my PC, I disabled this function by editing its configuration on Local Group Policy. Though one day my occur to install my OS from zero. In my opinion plenty of users will complain about it in the future.

[@kintyjunction5044]

Thank god I switched over to macOS laptop after Microsoft bricked my laptop back in 2016 after an update their answer was buy a new windows disc I was like they erased the back up recovery needless to say I never got windows again their updates sucks. Since I switched over to Mac it’s a lot less hassle to use

[@NigelMelanisticSmith]

MacOS has been default encrypting user's data for years, I see no issue with Microsoft matching them there.

[@ashtonmiller-z1n]

yes but at least they make it easy for you to recover your data wihout giong thre so many hoops with the icloud and could even very with the timemechine app also can make atuomacly back up and even keep screenshots of back up sates for your encritped drive dta back ups super easy easly trasnfer it from a older comptuer to a new one without much issue as long as you had your apple id regtserd to your encrtiped data. also for extrnal drives back ups atuoamtcly too also are inlcuded autotmacly too if they are conteded even with google drive as well by the way if you likned your apple id to your google aconut too. that is a thing you know.

[@NigelMelanisticSmith]

@@ashtonmiller-z1n OneDrive and System Restore are features on Windows too, it's just that they are optional. If Microsoft wanted to be as heavy handed as MacOS was with those features, then they already match the arguments you've mentioned. And with them making OneDrive and Bitlocker more mandatory, they've already directly addressed your points.

[@NigelMelanisticSmith]

@@ashtonmiller-z1n Microsoft has OneDrive and System Restore, both of which have the exact some functionality as you describe.

[@gameo7]

I’m so thankful I never turned bitlocker on. I’m having computer issues and I needed to test out my computer with different hardware, imagine trying to sort through sudden freezes and restarts and when you try to replace the component it comes up with the Bitlocker screen @_@

[@darrennew8211]

Or you could turn off bitlocker until you've fixed your hardware.

[@Goat0423]

I don’t even have Bitlocker settings on mine, so unless they’re adding it to mine I can’t actually access the code. Very confusing to have this upcoming doomsday event but I literally don’t have settings for it lol

[@claudetheclaudeqc6600]

same

[@darrennew8211]

If you right-click on the drive and it doesn't offer you a way to turn off bitlocker, then it's not even available to you.

[@aidanpryde7720]

you all know bitlocker keys are stored on your Microsoft account device page yes?

[@guessundheit6494]

The best option is: (1) Use Lose10 on OFFLINE ONLY to run software. No "updates", no security issues. (2) Use Linux on a miniPC (~$100-120) for the internet. It's more secure than Lose11, and cheaper too.

[@LaurenGlenn]

Backup the key to a file and also to your account. Yes absolutely. Hopefully they do that automatically since you’re using a Microsoft account on your Windows. Great video

[@Kenjiro5775]

Still a Windows 7 user. Why upgrade?

[@mchenrynick]

I did. I upgraded to Linux Mint =)

[@shadowslyzethrogenada6728]

I'm over here using Windows 10 and my PC doesn't have the requirements to upgrade. Why bother I like it more than Windows 11 garbage that Microsoft is trying to shove down our throats.

[@rebeldragon3257]

5 months ago , my MSI Katana had a firmware update after which this Bitlocker Screen was presented which scared the hell outta me😢😢😢 Luckily I had my Bitlocker key printed so I didn't suffer any data loss. BUT THE FACT IS THAT ALL THIS WHILE , BITLOCKER WAS TOGGLED OFF😅😅😅

[@JesusGamer36]

So I started using windows 11 a month ago, and I will keep using because I use a laptop that came with Windows 11, and I can't risk downgrade or something because the laptop cost me 8 months of waiting (getting enough money to pay it)

[@darrennew8211]

You can turn it off if it's on. Just right-click the drive icon and pick "turn off bitlocker."

[@merlefi6162]

Does Windows 11 Home Single Language have Bitlocker? I can't seem to find the Device Encryption option.

[@chrisblack6258]

Yes, but you can't manually enable it. You can disable it though

[@borisbeloudus2691]

I have several old laptops before Bitlocker was installed I use for retrieving old files when I get a new laptop.

[@marcse7en]

I used BitLocker on Windows 10, but my new Windows 11 PC is the "Home" version, and does NOT support BitLocker. I now use Veracrypt.

[@bmiller949]

The phone calls I will be getting from family will go through the roof. FU Microsoft!

[@WindowsChimp]

🤣🤣

[@claycoates5056]

There are better operating systems Around this is BAD years ago we use to install software to prevent this type of thing from going on now the operating system dose it why dose any one put up with this sort of thing ????

[@Richard-yz7sb]

But when search device encryption, it isn't showing in the video.

[@SK-os7tu]

This video is misleading because it doesn't say which version of Windows 11 this applies to. Enterprise versions it is not bitlocker device encryption is not enabled by default. I myself have been using Windows 11 IoT Enterprise 2024 for many months since the preview channel, so bitlocker device encryption is not even enabled by default, so it only applies to consumer versions only, not business versions.

[@mavendorf121]

well good for business versions.. not good for anyone that uses a pc for personal home use though..

[@HisuiOgawa]

And here I was trying to convince my mother that yes, using a computer is not that hard, no she won't lose all of her stuff if she accidentally clicks on the wrong spot... She just got Win11. This is going to be fun. 😂

[@WindowsChimp]

Its not that easy, the key is to read everything before clicking.

[@HisuiOgawa]

@@WindowsChimp it's what I keep telling her but she never read things properly before starting to click, and when it doesn't work the way she was expecting she starts panic-clicking everywhere... 😅

[@michaelepica3564]

This isn't bitlocker, this is something entirely different