Beginning in Windows 8.1, Windows automatically enables BitLocker Device Encryption on devices that support Modern Standby. With Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft offers BitLocker Device Encryption support on a broader range of devices. These include those that support Modern Standby, and devices that run Windows 10 Home Edition or Windows 11. All computers that Dell currently ships are Modern Standby compliant and the above applies. A registry key that Dell leaves in a neutral state controls this behavior, neither prohibiting nor enforcing encryption. Windows interprets this as approval to encrypt.