How to Turn Off Device Encryption on Your Windows Device

Support Article | University PC Care

Device Encryption is a simplified form of BitLocker included on many Windows Home devices. While it helps protect your data in the event of loss or theft, there may be times when you need to disable it — such as for troubleshooting, hardware upgrades, or preparing to sell your device.

Follow the steps below to safely turn off Device Encryption.

What You Should Know

Turning off encryption will decrypt your drive, removing protection for your data.
The decryption process can take time depending on your drive size.
You’ll need to be signed in with administrator privileges to turn it off.
Keep your recovery key backed up just in case anything goes wrong during decryption.

How to Turn Off Device Encryption

Open the Start Menu, then click Settings.
Go to Privacy & Security (on Windows 11) or Update & Security (on Windows 10).
Click Device Encryption from the sidebar.
If Device Encryption is turned on, click Turn off.
Confirm your choice if prompted.

Your drive will now begin the decryption process. You can continue using your PC, but performance may be affected until decryption is complete.

How to Check the Status

To check if Device Encryption is still enabled:

Go back to Settings > Privacy & Security > Device Encryption.
It will show On or Off based on the current status.
You can also open System Information from the Start Menu and check under Device Encryption Support.

When to Leave It On

Disabling Device Encryption removes a layer of protection from your personal files. You should only turn it off if:

You’re selling or transferring the device
You’re performing advanced troubleshooting or hardware upgrades
You have another method of data security in place

If you’re not sure, it’s best to leave encryption enabled.

Need Help?

Whether you're unsure if Device Encryption is active or need help disabling it safely, the experts at University PC Care are here to assist.

📍 Visit us at University PC Care
📞 Call: (252) 558-1280
📧 Email: support@universitypccare.com