Encrypting an external hard drive - how to do it

An external hard drive can accumulate a lot of personal data and photos over time. Therefore, if you want to protect your external hard drive from unauthorized access, encryption is recommended.

Additional program required

To encrypt your external hard drive securely, an additional program is always required. It is not possible to add password protection to the external hard drive without an additional tool. Such a program is called "VeraCrypt" and can be downloaded to your PC for free via your web browser.

Encrypt hard drive

How to encrypt your external hard drive with VeraCrypt:

1. Open the "VeraCrypt" program on your PC and click "Create Volume".
2. Then select "Encrypt a non-system partition/drive". This function allows you to encrypt your hard drive.
3. Now click on "Next" and enter your administrator details of the PC.
4. You can then select a storage medium to be encrypted. Click here on your external hard drive.
5. Finally, select an encryption method and assign a password for the encryption of your external hard drive.
6. Now confirm your entry with "OK" and your hard drive is then encrypted with the password you entered. The hard drive can now no longer access any unauthorized persons who do not know the password.