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Hello, I bought a new HP laptop with Windows 11 Home Edition + Bitlocker enabled by default.
I decided to disable Bitlocker and so I did. But, once I disabled Bitlocker, it seems to be missing and lost forever because Bitlocker isn't in Start Menu anymore (like it was before) and I can't find out a way to re-enable it.
So I'd like to ask: is Bitlocker lost forever? Can I re-enable it even though I don't have Windows Pro?
Thank you
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Answer accepted by question author
I made it!
I'd like to share how i did it. Maybe it could help someone:
Secure Boot was disabled. I enabled it and now under "Privacy and security" there is "Device Encryption" where I can encrypt my disk. There is a switch "Enable / Disable". https://imgur.com/a/4AL4JvT
I knew Bitlocker was not available in Home Edition, but my new laptop did have it enabled by default. When I turned my new laptop on the first time, the nvme was completely encrypted and a padlock icon was showed on C: drive. Besides I did have Bitlocker menu entry in Start Menu. AFTER I disabled it, Bitlocker was no more available and totally disappeared.
I read in this web page How to enable BitLocker device encryption on Windows 11 Home - Pureinfotech that in the Home Edition there is "device encryption is a light version of BitLocker." So if this is correct, why did it disappear?
Hello and thank you for helping me, but there's no item "Bitlocker etc. etc." in my Control Panel
I apologize: You said that you have the Home edition of Windows. Bitlocker is not included in the Home edition. See the following from Microsoft:
Hello and thank you for helping me, but there's no item "Bitlocker etc. etc." in my Control Panel https://imgur.com/JRO7PT3
To disable or enable Bitlocker, go to the old Control Panel and open the BitLocker Drive Encryption applet:
Do not enable Bitlocker unless and until you know where to find your Bitlocker recovery key. Always have at least one backup copy of your Bitlocker recovery key.
