Policy

Configure use of hardware-based encryption for operating system drives

Windows 11 25H2

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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

ClassComputer
CategoryWindows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Operating System Drives
Supported onAt least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016

This policy setting allows you to manage BitLocker’s use of hardware-based encryption on operating system drives and specify which encryption algorithms it can use with hardware-based encryption. Using hardware-based encryption can improve performance of drive operations that involve frequent reading or writing of data to the drive. If you enable this policy setting, you can specify additional options that control whether BitLocker software-based encryption is used instead of hardware-based encryption on computers that do not support hardware-based encryption and whether you want to restrict the encryption algorithms and cipher suites used with hardware-based encryption. If you disable this policy setting, BitLocker cannot use hardware-based encryption with operating system drives and BitLocker software-based encryption will be used by default when the drive is encrypted. If you do not configure this policy setting, BitLocker will use software-based encryption irrespective of hardware-based encryption availability. Note: The “Choose drive encryption method and cipher strength” policy setting does not apply to hardware-based encryption. The encryption algorithm used by hardware-based encryption is set when the drive is partitioned. By default, BitLocker uses the algorithm configured on the drive to encrypt the drive. The “Restrict encryption algorithms and cipher suites allowed for hardware-based encryption” option enables you to restrict the encryption algorithms that BitLocker can use with hardware encryption. If the algorithm set for the drive is not available, BitLocker will disable the use of hardware-based encryption. Encryption algorithms are specified by object identifiers (OID). For example: - AES 128 in CBC mode OID: 2.16.840.1.101.3.4.1.2 - AES 256 in CBC mode OID: 2.16.840.1.101.3.4.1.42

Internal name
OSEDrive_Name
Policy ID
2c388e86c14d
Elements
3

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

Registry locationTypeEnabled valueDisabled value
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE\OSHardwareEncryptionREG_DWORD
1
0

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

ElementTypeRegistry mappingConstraints & behavior
Restrict crypto algorithms or cipher suites to the following:
ID OSAllowedAlgos
text
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE\OSAllowedHardwareEncryptionAlgorithms
Type REG_SZ
None
Use BitLocker software-based encryption when hardware encryption is not available
ID OSUseSW
boolean
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE\OSAllowSoftwareEncryptionFailover
Type REG_DWORD
Options: true (1), false (0)
True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0
Restrict encryption algorithms and cipher suites allowed for hardware-based encryption
ID OSRestrictAlgos
boolean
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE\OSRestrictHardwareEncryptionAlgorithms
Type REG_DWORD
Options: true (1), false (0)
True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0

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