It’s long been possible to encrypt the contents of a Windows PC using the included BitLocker encryption tool. Beginning this fall, with the newest update of Windows 11 (version 24H2), the encryption will be activated by default during re- or new installations, according to The Verge.
Microsoft also plans to lower the system requirements for BitLocker; for example, the computer no longer needs to support Hardware Security Test Interface (HSTI) or Modern Standby.
In a normal update, encryption will not be turned on automatically, meaning users shouldn’t run into trouble accessing files if they update from Windows 11 23H2 to 24H2, for example.
