Choose drive encryption method and cipher strength (Windows 10 [Version 1511] and later): registry value EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs and 2 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE

Policy ID: EncryptionMethodWithXts_Name
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › BitLocker Drive Encryption

Registry

EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Select the encryption method for operating system drives:

Options
Item	Stored value
AES-CBC 128-bit	3
AES-CBC 256-bit	4
XTS-AES 128-bit (default)	6
XTS-AES 256-bit	7

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE]

; Options (use only one)
; AES-CBC 128-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs"=dword:00000003
; AES-CBC 256-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs"=dword:00000004
; XTS-AES 128-bit (default)
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs"=dword:00000006
; XTS-AES 256-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs"=dword:00000007

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: AES-CBC 128-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
:: AES-CBC 256-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
:: XTS-AES 128-bit (default)
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs" /t REG_DWORD /d 6 /f
:: XTS-AES 256-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs" /t REG_DWORD /d 7 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# AES-CBC 128-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
# AES-CBC 256-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null
# XTS-AES 128-bit (default)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs' -PropertyType DWord -Value 6 -Force | Out-Null
# XTS-AES 256-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsOs' -PropertyType DWord -Value 7 -Force | Out-Null

EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Select the encryption method for fixed data drives:

Options
Item	Stored value
AES-CBC 128-bit	3
AES-CBC 256-bit	4
XTS-AES 128-bit (default)	6
XTS-AES 256-bit	7

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE]

; Options (use only one)
; AES-CBC 128-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv"=dword:00000003
; AES-CBC 256-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv"=dword:00000004
; XTS-AES 128-bit (default)
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv"=dword:00000006
; XTS-AES 256-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv"=dword:00000007

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: AES-CBC 128-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
:: AES-CBC 256-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
:: XTS-AES 128-bit (default)
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 6 /f
:: XTS-AES 256-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 7 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# AES-CBC 128-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
# AES-CBC 256-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null
# XTS-AES 128-bit (default)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 6 -Force | Out-Null
# XTS-AES 256-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsFdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 7 -Force | Out-Null

EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Select the encryption method for removable data drives:

Options
Item	Stored value
AES-CBC 128-bit (default)	3
AES-CBC 256-bit	4
XTS-AES 128-bit	6
XTS-AES 256-bit	7

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE]

; Options (use only one)
; AES-CBC 128-bit (default)
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv"=dword:00000003
; AES-CBC 256-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv"=dword:00000004
; XTS-AES 128-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv"=dword:00000006
; XTS-AES 256-bit
"EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv"=dword:00000007

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: AES-CBC 128-bit (default)
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
:: AES-CBC 256-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
:: XTS-AES 128-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 6 /f
:: XTS-AES 256-bit
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE" /v "EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv" /t REG_DWORD /d 7 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# AES-CBC 128-bit (default)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
# AES-CBC 256-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null
# XTS-AES 128-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 6 -Force | Out-Null
# XTS-AES 256-bit
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE' -Name 'EncryptionMethodWithXtsRdv' -PropertyType DWord -Value 7 -Force | Out-Null