AOMEI Partition Assistant
How to Fix [BitLocker Encryption Is Not Compatible With the Version of Windows]
BitLocker encryption is not compatible with the version of Windows can be fixed easily. You can update Windows version or check drive connection to solve that. In this passage, we will give you the guide.
By Irene / Updated on September 9, 2024
Why does the error “BitLocker encryption is not compatible with the version of Windows” appear?
After opening the disk manager / BitLocker management; all of a sudden, I had the message below and this regardless of the Windows--> win11 family 21H2 or win 10 company 21H2. BitLocker encryption is not compatible with your version of windows. try to open the player using a newer version of Windows.
Generally, the error message "The BitLocker encryption on this drive isn't compatible with your version of Windows" appear includes many reasons like these:
- Unsupported editions of Windows: BitLocker is only available in specific editions of Windows, such as Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. If you are using Windows Home edition and find exclamation mark on drive notice you to turn on the utility, you may receive the “BitLocker Encryption is not compatible with the version of Windows” without upgrading to the designated editions.
- Outdated Windows version: Old versions may not support the latest features of BitLocker, and you may encounter problems if you do not update the system, but the BitLocker feature automatically upgrades.
- Missing TPM (Trusted Platform Module): Some outdated systems and certain configurations may cause the lack of TPM chip which is required for BitLocker running.
- Group Policy settings and system requirements: Running BitLocker requires compatible configurations of Group Policy settings, and it must meet the the minimum hardware requirements for performing BitLocker.
How to fix BitLocker encryption not compatible with this version of Windows?
How to effectively fix “BitLocker encryption not compatible with this version of Windows”? According to the aforementioned causes, you can fix it by following these solutions:
Fix 1. Enable BitLocker without upgrading to specific Windows editions
If you are Windows 10 or 11 Home users who want to enable BitLocker but receive the error message “BitLocker encryption not compatible with this version of Windows”, you can just run AOMEI Partition Assistant. This powerful software allows Windows Home users to enjoy BitLocker features without upgrading to Windows Pro or higher versions. For users who are already using the utility, it can assist them in effectively managing the tool.
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the "Tools" main tab and select "BitLocker".
Step 2. All drives on the system will be displayed, including operating system drives, fixed data drives, and removable drives. Please find the partition you would like to encrypt BitLocker and click the "Turn on BitLocker" option. (Here, we take the drive D: as an example.)
It only supports encrypting NTFS partitions. Other partition file systems like FAT or FAT32 cannot be encrypted.
Step 3. Please set a password to encrypt the drive and select a way to back up your recovery key. Then, please click the "Next" button to start the encryption process.
-
If you would like to encrypt your current system drive, you will be required to restart your PC to enter into the Windows PE environment.
Step 4. The encryption process might take time to encrypt the drive. Before the process is finished, please do not terminate the program, remove the drive, or turn off the power. Once the encryption process is finished, please click "Completed". Finally, the drive is BitLocker encrypted.
Fix 2. Update Windows versions
As was already said, this error message could be caused by an old version of Windows. At the same time, the chat box tells you to try opening the drive with a more recent version of Windows. That's why updating your Windows might help you fix this. Do these things:
If you have heard that there are some updates to Windows recently, but you do not see the system updates, it may be because Windows did not detect these updates. If you encounter Windows KB5026446 update error, please read this passage as reference.
You can open the control panel in "Start", then click "Update and Security", in "Windows Update", select the "Check for Updates" button to install and update Windows again.
Fix 3. Check the connection status
A loose drive connection can cause the "BitLocker encryption is not compatible with the version of Windows" issue. Here's how to check the connection of your internal or external hard drive and how to make it recognized:
- ★Tips:
- For internal drives: You may need to open your computer case to check these connections. Kindly please ensure all data and power cables are securely connected to the drive and motherboard.
- For external drives: Make sure the drive is properly plugged into a working USB port. If the initial connection doesn't work, try a different USB port or cable. Some external hard drives also need a separate power cable, so ensure it's plugged in and receiving power.
You can safely eject the external hard drive and reconnect it using a different USB port, and ensure it's securely connected, then check if the issue persists. If it does, try other solutions like we shared above.
Conclusion
With our guide, BitLocker encryption is not compatible with the version of Windows can be fixed easily. As a reliable disk manage, AOMEI Partition Assistant can also help you fix issue like a disk error occurred, clone HDD to SSD without losing data, convert MBR to GPT effectively, format an encrypted hard drive, and so on.
