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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aplus-bitlocker-ntfs-os-drive

For BitLocker to work, the operating system drive must be formatted with which file system?

NTFS on the OS drive.

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  1. exFAT
  2. ReFS
  3. NTFS ✔

Why: BitLocker needs the operating system drive to be NTFS. A separate unencrypted system drive holds files needed to boot, and that one can be FAT32 on UEFI computers.

Huh, didn't know that: The BitLocker system drive must be unencrypted and different from the operating system drive.

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Why did the file system go to the gym? To lose some FAT.
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References

Answer: NTFS. BitLocker needs the operating system drive to be NTFS. A separate unencrypted system drive holds files needed to boot, and that one can be FAT32 on UEFI computers.

  1. BitLocker overview, Microsoft Learn learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/data-protection/bitlocker
    It must be formatted with the NTFS file system.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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