Windows Device Encryption (WDE)

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Windows Device Encryption (WDE)

Windows 11/10 Home edition includes WDE
but this is not generally well known.

This can be switched on by default on supporting Systems
and encrypting Home versions of Windows.
The User can be unaware of this encryption and also that
they need to urgently perform an encryption key backup asap.

(Microsoft did require OEMs to ship Windows 10 systems with a TPM
module and made this later a mandatory enabled requirement for
Windows 11.
The TPM module was frequently disabled on Windows 10 OEM systems
as they probably didn't want to deal with User data recovery failure issues
where there was no encryption key backup)


Windows 11/10 Pro edition includes BitLocker.
Bitlocker requires the encryption key to be saved prior to
beginning encryption. (WDE doesn't).


Further Info

Difference between Device Encryption and BitLocker
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/difference-between-device-encryption-and-bitlocker


Device encryption in Windows
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/device-encryption-in-windows-ad5dcf4b-dbe0-2331-228f-7925c2a3012d


How to enable device encryption on Windows 10 Home
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-enable-device-encryption-windows-10-home


Turn On or Off Device Encryption in Windows 11
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-device-encryption-in-windows-11.1424/


Is your Windows 11 PC encrypted? The answer is surprisingly complex
https://www.pcworld.com/article/624593/is-your-windows-11-pc-encrypted-the-answer-is-surprisingly-complex.html