Every version of Android since Android 3.0 Honeycomb has had a feature called Full Disk Encryption, but with Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google has promised to enable it by default. Here we will explain how to enable or turn on Encryption for your Android smartphone or tablet.
Google recently fulfilled its promise to encrypt all devices and stated that it would be an option, but not enabled by default for all Android 5.0 and above devices. This is because encryption in its current form is a slight compromise in performance. Without going too far into Full Disk Encryption or how it works as Google posted lots of informationhere we will explain how to open it simply.
FDE basically blocks all your data, information and files behind a secure encrypted wall and password or pin. And while it doesn’t need to have a PIN or password to work, it’s the most secure method. This is something many companies need if you’re using your own device rather than a company device, so we’re talking about how to enable it.
You can turn on encryption without using any screen security, but the way it works means you need to protect your phone with a lock screen password to be the most secure. This can be a regular password, a PIN or a pattern lock. The system will use this to unlock the phone and decrypt the data on the disk. Again we are not talking about all the details about encryption but instead how to enable it on Android 5.0 and above devices.
Instructions
To get started, users will want to go into settings by tapping the gear-shaped icon in the notification bar or by locating the settings app in your app tray. Once in settings go to option and then add a password, pin or lock screen security of your choice.
If you have set a pin or password, write it down or remember it. You will need it to unlock and use your encrypted and protected device. Otherwise, you will need to do a factory data reset, which will delete all user data to use your phone or tablet.
The next step is important and your phone must be fully charged and plugged in to encrypt the device. This usually takes over an hour, so take your time to complete this. If you interrupt the process or unplug your device, you may lose important data. So make sure you follow the encryption instructions on your device up to T. We do this on the Moto G, but the process should be similar or the same on all Android 5.0 and above devices.
In the same settings > security tab, you will see an option to encrypt your phone or tablet. Tap this and follow the instructions and then press the button. Here you will be reminded once again that you have the battery and plugged in, and this is extremely important.
When the process (which may take more than an hour) is complete, your device will reboot and if you have added a passcode, you will be prompted to enter it to continue using your device. That’s all you have to do and you’re done. Your Android smartphone is now completely safe and uses Google’s latest Full Disk Encryption security feature.
You will need the password or PIN every time you turn on your phone, otherwise everything will be locked. This is more than a lock screen security measure, it hides all your data behind 128-bit AES encryption. This makes all your data, files and information extremely safe from prying eyes.
We’ve heard that enabling this causes a slight slowdown in overall performance on devices, as everything needs to be decrypted instantly when using your smartphone, apps, opening files or documents, and more. There is a great deal of debate going on on most Android forums about whether encryption should be used and how strong the security really is. Not everyone needs it, but it’s an easy option now, at least with Android 5.0 Lollipop. All that aside, if you need encryption, all you need to do to complete the process are the steps above. It’s pretty simple, so give it a try today.