Minimum size of the BitLocker system partition.

Question

Hello,

in the documentation I found the following partitioning requirement when using bitlocker:

The system partition:

• Must be configured as the active partition.
• Must not be encrypted or used to store user files.
• Must have at least 250 MB of space.
• May be shared with a recovery partition.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/bitlocker-drive-encryption?view=windows-11

All installation routines or sample scripts known to me create a 100MB (260MB with 4Kn drives) EFI system partition.
Is the documentation wrong here or how should this be understood?

Thanks and greetings,
Martin

Answer 1

Hi @Martin Fessler

The documentation you found is correct. The system partition must be configured as the active partition, must not be encrypted or used to store user files, and must have at least 250 MB of space. The EFI system partition is not the same as the system partition, and it is not used to store user files. It is used to store boot files and is required for UEFI-based systems, while the system partition is used to store the operating system files.

Hope the information is helpful.

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

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