Forum Discussion
How to Encrypt files on One drive
Is there a way to encrypt photos and files on One Drive so that no one can access them even it they get hacked? I have read about bitlocker but not sure how it works. Someone said I need to encrpt my files first then upload them to onedrive? What about the ones already on One drive? Do I delete those first?
Appreciate any advice
4 Replies
Thank you that is very comprehensive. I like the Bitlocker option which I just got and enabled locally on my hard drive.
One last question. Since all of my files were uploaded to One Drive BEFORE I had Bitlocker enabled are they now automatically encrypted on One Drive? or do I need to download then to my hard drive again so they are encrypted and then upload again for an encrypted version to be on One Drive?
Have a look here
Privacy, security, and compliance in Microsoft OneDrive - SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn
and from Copilot hereMicrosoft has laid out some clear policies around OneDrive that might help ease your mind—or at least clarify what’s happening behind the scenes.
🔐 What Microsoft Says About Your OneDrive Data
- You retain ownership: Microsoft explicitly states that your data remains yours. They do not use your OneDrive content to train AI models or large language models.
- No unauthorized access: Your data stays within your organization’s tenant (if you're using OneDrive for Business), and Microsoft does not transfer it elsewhere for processing.
- GDPR compliance: OneDrive is designed to meet GDPR requirements, meaning it must follow strict rules about how personal data is handled.
- Data residency: Your files are stored in data centers based on your geographic region, as defined in the Microsoft Data Protection Addendum.
- Security features: OneDrive inherits Microsoft 365’s security stack—things like role-based access control, identity management, and encryption at rest and in transit.
🛡️ Want Extra Protection?
If you’re using OneDrive Personal, you can:
- Use Personal Vault for sensitive files—it adds an extra layer of authentication.
- Encrypt files locally with tools like BitLocker before uploading them. That way, even if someone accessed your OneDrive, they couldn’t read the files without your encryption key.
If you’re still uneasy, you might consider keeping ultra-sensitive files offline or using end-to-end encryption tools before upload. Want help setting up a workflow for that? I can walk you through it.
Take a look at the personal vault feature: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/protect-your-onedrive-files-in-personal-vault-6540ef37-e9bf-4121-a773-56f98dce78c4
Thank you but isn't true that MS could access those files? I had heard if you use Bitlocker on your laptop and encrypt the files before they go to one drive than only I could unencrypt those files through bitlocker.
