Windows Components › BitLocker Drive Encryption › Fixed Data Drives
Allow access to BitLocker-protected fixed data drives from earlier versions of Windows
Supported on At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7 through Windows Server 2022 or Windows 11 Version 22H2
What it does
This policy setting configures whether or not fixed data drives formatted with the FAT file system can be unlocked and viewed on computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3), or Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) operating systems. If this policy setting is enabled or not configured, fixed data drives formatted with the FAT file system can be unlocked on computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP with SP3, or Windows XP with SP2, and their content can be viewed. These operating systems have read-only access to BitLocker-protected drives. When this policy setting is enabled, select the "Do not install BitLocker To Go Reader on FAT formatted fixed drives" check box to help prevent users from running BitLocker To Go Reader from their fixed drives. If BitLocker To Go Reader (bitlockertogo.exe) is present on a drive that does not have an identification field specified, or if the drive has the same identification field as specified in the "Provide unique identifiers for your organization" policy setting, the user will be prompted to update BitLocker and BitLocker To Go Reader will be deleted from the drive. In this situation, for the fixed drive to be unlocked on computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP with SP3, or Windows XP with SP2, BitLocker To Go Reader must be installed on the computer. If this check box is not selected, BitLocker To Go Reader will be installed on the fixed drive to enable users to unlock the drive on computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP with SP3, or Windows XP with SP2 that do not have BitLocker To Go Reader installed. If this policy setting is disabled, fixed data drives formatted with the FAT file system that are BitLocker-protected cannot be unlocked on computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP with SP3, or Windows XP with SP2. Bitlockertogo.exe will not be installed. Note: This policy setting does not apply to drives that are formatted with the NTFS file system.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE- Value name
FDVDiscoveryVolumeType- When enabled
- "FAT32"
- When disabled
- "<none>"
Why it needs changes for Intune
- Policy references a Windows supportedOn definition.
- ADMX-INTUNE-WINDOWS-SUPPORTEDON-REFERENCE
In Intune
No native CSP; import the ADMX (needs changes first).
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do not install BitLocker To Go Reader on FAT formatted fixed drivesDefault: unchecked | Checkbox | FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader |
On (1) or off (0) |
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · Computer · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE]
"FDVDiscoveryVolumeType"="FAT32"
"FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader"=dword:00000000
PowerShell
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Allow access to BitLocker-protected fixed data drives from earlier versions of Windows
# Name: FDVHybrid_Name
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: VolumeEncryption.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'FDVDiscoveryVolumeType' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'FAT32'
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 0
- The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
- Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_VolumeEncryption/FDVHybrid_NameADMX SyncML candidate
<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
<SyncBody>
<Replace>
<CmdID>1</CmdID>
<Item>
<Meta>
<Format>chr</Format>
<Type>text/plain</Type>
</Meta>
<Target>
<LocURI>./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_VolumeEncryption/FDVHybrid_Name</LocURI>
</Target>
<Data><enabled/>
<data id="FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader_Name" value="false"/></Data>
</Item>
</Replace>
<Final/>
</SyncBody>
</SyncML>Intune remediation scripts
Detection
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()
function Test-RegistryValueExists {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}
function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
$valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
return $false
}
$actual = $valueObject.$Name
switch ($Kind) {
'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
'MultiString' {
$actualArray = @($actual)
$expectedArray = @($Expected)
if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
'Binary' {
$actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
$expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
}
}
# Policy: Allow access to BitLocker-protected fixed data drives from earlier versions of Windows
# Name: FDVHybrid_Name
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: VolumeEncryption.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'FDVDiscoveryVolumeType' -Kind 'String' -Expected 'FAT32'
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE\FDVDiscoveryVolumeType') | Out-Null
}
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 0
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE\FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader') | Out-Null
}
if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1
Remediation
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Allow access to BitLocker-protected fixed data drives from earlier versions of Windows
# Name: FDVHybrid_Name
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: VolumeEncryption.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'FDVDiscoveryVolumeType' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'FAT32'
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 0
History 5 retained releases
- 24H2 · 1.030 Sep 2024
- Supported on At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7[added: through Windows Server 2022 or Windows 11 Version 22H2]
- Supported on windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7[added: To1122H2]; resolved;
[removed: AnyOf; products:MicrosoftWindows [6, ]; products:WindowsServer2008 [1, ]][added: Blank; ]
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
3 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
FDVHybrid_Name- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption- Template file
VolumeEncryption.admx- Release
- Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set
de4e49983ebd651f…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.FDVHybrid_Name)" explainText="$(string.FDVHybrid_Help)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" name="FDVHybrid_Name" presentation="$(presentation.FDVDiscoveryVolumeType)" valueName="FDVDiscoveryVolumeType" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:FVEFDVCategory" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2" />
<enabledValue>
<string>FAT32</string>
</enabledValue>
<disabledValue>
<string><none></string>
</disabledValue>
<elements>
<boolean id="FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader_Name" required="true" valueName="FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader">
<trueValue>
<decimal value="1" />
</trueValue>
<falseValue>
<decimal value="0" />
</falseValue>
</boolean>
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="FDVDiscoveryVolumeType" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<checkBox defaultChecked="false" noSort="true" refId="FDVNoBitLockerToGoReader_Name">Do not install BitLocker To Go Reader on FAT formatted fixed drives</checkBox>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:category:FVECategory
<category displayName="$(string.FVECategory)" name="FVECategory" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:category:FVEFDVCategory
<category displayName="$(string.FVEFDVCategory)" name="FVEFDVCategory" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:FVECategory" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:category:FVECategory
<category displayName="$(string.FVECategory)" name="FVECategory" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:FVECategory">BitLocker Drive Encryption</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:category:FVEFDVCategory
<category displayName="$(string.FVEFDVCategory)" name="FVEFDVCategory" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:FVECategory" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.VolumeEncryption:FVEFDVCategory">Fixed Data Drives</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7To1122H2">At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7 through Windows Server 2022 or Windows 11 Version 22H2</string></strings>