Tech Q&A: Some users of Windows 11 Home can avoid unwanted encryption

How do you find out if you have one of those non-encrypting PCs? Download Windows 11 Home, open Settings and click 'privacy & security' on the left side of the screen. — Photo by Windows on Unsplash

The good news about Windows 11 automatic encryption is that at least some readers can avoid the problem.

In the last two columns, I've warned that Microsoft had set Windows 11 Home and Pro operating systems to automatically encrypt consumer data. I said that was dangerous because if a PC were disabled with encryption on, a repair shop would be unable to copy its data to another PC unless the consumer could produce an "encryption key" that Microsoft had not adequately explained. As a result, I suggested that consumers turn off automatic encryption on their newly downloaded copies of Windows 11.

But a few readers who had recently downloaded Windows 11 Home said they were surprised to find that their PCs had not automatically encrypted their data, even though mine did.