Device encryption is a security feature that Microsoft often quietly enables during Windows 11 installation. Sign in with a Microsoft account on a PC with compatible hardware, and you’re done (usually).
In fact, many Windows 11 users may not even realize that their PC is encrypted or that the recovery key is also automatically saved to your Microsoft account. This key is required if you forget your password, or if the data stored in the TPM is wiped. It allows you to unlock data stored on the drive that would otherwise remain a garbled collection of 1s and 0s. (This is a useful situation when someone else owns your laptop, but even more so when you need access.)
[ Further reading: What is a TPM and why isn’t mine working? ]
Fortunately, viewing that recovery key is easy. Just go to account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey. For extra security, you can back up your recovery key, but treat it like sensitive information. For example, one way to store information securely is to create an entry in a password manager. (Not yet? Check out our top recommendations for password managers.)
If you don’t see the key, make sure you’re logged into the correct account. Only one account? If someone else set up your PC for you, the key might be tied to their account. Or, if you’re a Windows 11 Pro user, BitLocker may not have been enabled with your Microsoft account. The person who set up your PC may have created a local account and then activated BitLocker.
You can really If this is the case, want to save your recovery key – which means you don’t have a copy of it saved anywhere.go Control Panel > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Back Up Your Recovery Key. Saving to your Microsoft account is the most straightforward option.
By the way, if keeping track of recovery keys seems like a headache and you’re tempted to turn encryption off, don’t do it. You’d better back up your data to multiple places (which you should already do…) and keep it encrypted. If applicable, also share the recovery key with trusted contacts.
It might seem worrisome that Microsoft enabled a feature you didn’t explicitly approve, but it did Yes in your favor. Smartphones have had encrypted storage as the default for years, and since most people prefer laptops, if you don’t encrypt your device, your sensitive information (financial information, etc.) runs the risk of falling into the wrong hands. So stay. Other Windows 11 features are certainly annoying enough, but not this one.
