Luna - Technical Editor at Hasleo Technology
Written by Luna
Technical Editor at Hasleo Technology, focuses on data protection and practical solutions.
Updated on May 18, 2026 | WinToUSB

BitLocker Drive Encryption is a full-volume encryption feature developed by Microsoft for the Windows operating system. if you are using early versions of Windows 10 and Windows 8 Enterprise/Education, you can easily create a BitLocker-encrypted Windows To Go (WTG) USB drive using the built-in Windows To Go Creator. Unfortunately, Microsoft announced on May 25, 2019 that it would discontinue development of Windows To Go. As a result, this tool is no longer available in newer versions of Windows 10/11 Enterprise or Education. It is also unsupported to use the Windows Home/Pro editions for Windows To Go creation, as the WTG is only available in Windows 10 or 8 Enterprise/Education editions.

Windows To Go in Windows Control Panel

Are you looking for a tutorial to create a BitLocker-encrypted Windows To Go drive for any edition of Windows 11/10/8/7? We recommend Hasleo WinToUSB, the world's first third-party Windows To Go Creator software. Use it to install or clone Windows to a USB drive as Windows To Go , and encrypt the USB drive with BitLocker for data security. The key point is that this method works regardless of your Windows edition. Below, we will detail the steps to proceed.

Step-by-Step Guide: Encrypt Windows To Go USB with BitLocker Using Hasleo WinToUSB.

1
Download and install Hasleo WinToUSB on your computer, then connect the USB drive to the PC. Run the software and select the "Windows To Go USB" option.
Open WinToUSB and select Windows To Go creator
2
Click "Select installation source" => "Browse image file". Then choose the Windows installation ISO file from the dialog box as your source. Alternatively, select a CD/DVD drive with Windows installation media.
Select installation source for Windows To Go
3
Hasleo WinToUSB scans for and lists installable operating systems. Select your target Windows edition to proceed with the installation.
Select Windows edition
4
Click "Select destination drive", then choose the target drive from the pop-up drive list. If Hasleo WinToUSB fails to detect the drive, click the Click to refresh detected drives button to initiate drive recognition.
Select destination drive
5
Select your preferred partition scheme and installation mode. Check the "Enable BitLocker" checkbox and enter the encryption password. Optionally, you may specify the encryption mode and strength, then click "Proceed".
Select partition scheme and installation mode

* Tips:

1
For detailed information about "Partition scheme", "Installation mode" and "Enable BitLocker", please refer to: How to Create a Portable Windows 11/10/8/7 from an ISO, WIM, ESD, SWM or VHD(X) file?
2
If you select "Keep the existing partition scheme" option, you need to manually prepare the USB drive partitions before this step. View guide: How to Manually Prepare Partitions for Windows To Go?
6
After clicking "Proceed", a confirmation dialog will appear asking whether to continue formatting the drive. Click "Yes" if you accept the operation.
The drive needs to be formatted prompt
7
Back up BitLocker recovery key, then click "Proceed" to continue.
Backup BitLocker recovery key

* Tips:

1
You can save the recovery key as a file or print a copy of it. Security Note: Anyone with this key can unlock the drive, even without your password entered in the previous step. Please keep it secure and do not share it.
8
After clicking "Proceed", Hasleo WinToUSB initiates Windows installation on the destination drive.
installing Windows to USB
9
The installation will take some time. After installation, restart the computer to enter BIOS/UEFI settings. Set your USB drive as the first boot device.
Boot from USB setup instructions
10
To start Windows from the Windows To Go drive, enter the BitLocker password you set when creating the drive.
enter password to boot windows to go
11
A standard Windows installation requires completing all setup steps during the first boo. Afterward, you can install applications and copy files, etc.
Windows normal installation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does WinToUSB support BitLocker encryption for Windows To Go drives?

A: Yes, WinToUSB supports BitLocker encryption when creating Windows To Go. You can enable BitLocker during the creation process and set an encryption password to protect your portable Windows data.

Q: Can I create BitLocker-encrypted Windows To Go with Windows Home edition?

A: Yes, WinToUSB allows you to create BitLocker-encrypted Windows To Go with all Windows editions including Home, Professional, Education, and Enterprise. This is something Microsoft's built-in Windows To Go Creator cannot do.

Q: What happens if I forget my BitLocker password for Windows To Go?

A: If you forget your BitLocker password, you can use the recovery key that was saved during the creation process. Make sure to back up the recovery key to a secure location when prompted during Windows To Go creation.

Q: How do I enable BitLocker when creating Windows To Go with WinToUSB?

A: During the Windows To Go creation process, select your partition scheme and installation mode, then check the 'Enable BitLocker' checkbox. Enter your desired encryption password and select your preferred encryption mode before proceeding.

Q: Can I encrypt an existing Windows To Go drive with BitLocker?

A: Yes, you can encrypt an existing Windows To Go drive using BitLocker. However, it is recommended to encrypt during the creation process for best results. For existing drives, you can use BitLocker Through Partitions feature or other encryption tools.

Conclusion

This guide details the creation of a BitLocker-encrypted Windows To Go USB drive step by step using most powerful Windows To Go CreatorHasleo WinToUSB—the most powerful Windows To Go creator tool. Compatible with Windows Enterprise, Pro, or Home editions, the tool supports BitLocker encryption for portable Windows.

If you already have a Windows To Go workspace and want to encrypt it for data protection, please refer to: How to Encrypt an Existing Windows To Go USB Drive?

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