How to encrypt a flash drive using VeraCrypt on Windows

How can I encrypt a flash drive using VeraCrypt on Windows?

It is incredibly common to be forgetful and lose the portable flash drive storing all your data. Especially if the data stored is sensitive, you might risk it falling into the hands of the wrong person.

Encryption is one of the most important security tools in this case. There are a number of ways in which you can encrypt the data on a flash drive, one of which is achieved by using VeraCrypt on Windows.

Now, let’s find out how you can encrypt a flash drive using VeraCrypt on Windows:

Step 1: Download VeraCrypt from here, then install it and run it.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Create Volume’ option on the main window.

Step 3: Next screen that will appear is ‘VeraCrypt Volume Creation Wizard’.

This will give you two options:

Option 1: ‘Create an encrypted file container’, which creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file.

Option 2: ‘Create a volume within a partition/drive’, which formats and encrypts a non-system partition, entire external or secondary drive, entire USB drive, etc.

Here you would select the option 2, that is, ‘Create a volume within a partition/drive’, and then click ‘Next’.

Step 4: You will again get two options to choose from, one is ‘Standard VeraCrypt Volume’ and second is ‘Hidden VeraCrypt Volume’.

Select ‘Standard VeraCrypt Volume’ to create a normal VeraCrypt volume, and then click ‘Next’.

Step 5: Click on ‘Select Device’ and choose the USB/Flash drive that you want to encrypt. Click ‘OK’.

Make sure to check ‘Never save history’ and then click ‘Next’.

Step 6: In this step you will be able to choose encryption algorithm and hash algorithm. The options that you get are AES, Serpent, Twofish, etc.

You can choose the default and click ‘Next’.

Step 7: Now, you will be asked to set up a password. This password must be between 40-60 characters long. Make sure you choose a strong password and remember it. Click ‘Next’.

Step 8: Select the recommended option for File system (FAT filesystem). Click ‘Next’.

Step 9: On the Volume Format window, move around your mouse for about 30 seconds to generate some random data. Once enough random data has been generated, click the ‘Format’ button.

Now this process might take some time to complete.

When the formatting process is done, you will get a message, ‘The VeraCrypt volume has been successfully created’. Click ‘OK’ and exit the wizard.

Step 10: Now choose one of the slots and click ‘Select Device’ to choose the USB/Flash Drive you just formatted. Then click on the ‘Mount’ button. Type in your passwords. After entering your passwords, you will that your device name and mount directory will appear in the file manager. This indicates the process is complete.

And that’s how you encrypt a flash drive or a USB drive using VeraCrypt on Windows platform.