Configure use of smart cards on fixed data drives
- Policy ID
- FDVConfigureSmartCard
- Scope
- Computer Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › BitLocker Drive Encryption › Fixed Data Drives
Description
This policy setting allows you to specify whether smart cards can be used to authenticate user access to the BitLocker-protected fixed data drives on a computer.
If you enable this policy setting smart cards can be used to authenticate user access to the drive. You can require a smart card authentication by selecting the "Require use of smart cards on fixed data drives" check box.
Note: These settings are enforced when turning on BitLocker, not when unlocking a drive. BitLocker will allow unlocking a drive with any of the protectors available on the drive.
If you disable this policy setting, users are not allowed to use smart cards to authenticate their access to BitLocker-protected fixed data drives.
If you do not configure this policy setting, smart cards can be used to authenticate user access to a BitLocker-protected drive.
Options
Registry
- FDVAllowUserCertREG_DWORD
- FDVEnforceUserCertREG_DWORD