How to Test Dell Encryption Enterprise and Dell Encryption Personal with Windows 10 and Windows 11 Feature Updates

Summary: This article covers the methodology for testing Dell Encryption Enterprise (formerly Dell Data Protection | Enterprise Edition) or Dell Encryption Personal (Dell Data Protection | Personal Edition products with Windows 10 and Windows 11 feature updates. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Affected Products:

  • Dell Encryption Enterprise
  • Dell Encryption Personal
  • Dell Data Protection | Enterprise Edition
  • Dell Data Protection | Personal Edition

Affected Versions:

  • v8.18.0 and later

Testing Dell Encryption Enterprise or Dell Encryption Personal varies between Supported and Unsupported Windows 10 feature updates. For the latest information about supported Windows 10 feature updates, reference Dell Data Security / Dell Data Protection Windows 10 Feature Update Compatibility.

Supported

To test a Windows 10 and Windows 11 feature update that is compatible with Dell Encryption Enterprise or Dell Encryption Personal, reference Dell Encryption Enterprise / Dell Encryption Personal Best Practices: Windows 10 Feature Update / Migration.

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Unsupported

Warning:
  • Using Dell Encryption Enterprise or Dell Encryption Personal with an unsupported version of Windows 10 and Windows 11 may cause adverse effects, which can include data loss. Dell suggests testing unsupported feature updates on nonproduction devices for application compatibility only.
  • Dell ProSupport is unable to provide technical support on unsupported versions.

Testing an unsupported Windows feature update, including Insider Previews, varies between:

  • Installing Dell Encryption Enterprise or Dell Encryption Personal on Windows 10 and Windows 11
  • Updating Windows 10 and Windows 11 on a device with Dell Encryption Enterprise or Dell Encryption Personal

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Install

During installation, Dell Encryption Enterprise/ Dell Encryption Personal v8.18.0 and later automatically checks the version of the operating system against an internal marker. If a compatible match is not found, the installation is blocked on that device, with an error message indicating an unsupported operating system version.

Dell Encryption display's the message below when it is installed on an unsupported operating system:

Dell Encryption Message

Dell Encryption Management Agent display's the message below when it is installed on an unsupported operating system:

Dell Encryption Management Agent message

Warning: The next step is a Windows Registry edit:

A local administrator can create a registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Dell\Dell Data Protection
DWORD: AllowedMaxVersion
Value (Decimal): 1909

In the example, 1909 is used, which would allow Dell Encryption Enterprise or Dell Encryption Personal to install on Windows 10 version 1909 (November 2019 Update) or earlier.

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Upgrade

During the operating system update, Dell Encryption Enterprise or Dell Encryption Personal v8.18.0 and later automatically checks the version of the operating system against an internal list of supported versions. If a match is not found, the feature update is blocked, and a notification is presented to the logged in user.

Dell Encryption notification

To find the build number of the Windows 10 and Windows 11 feature update that is attempting to install, slow and fast-ring builds display the build number within the installation name.

Windows 10 and 11 feature update

Also, Microsoft maintains a list of builds that are available in various release rings here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/flight-hub/ This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.

Warning: The next step is a Windows Registry edit:

Policy-Based Encryption blocks can be overwritten to allow for testing with an unsupported operating system. A registry key enables this ability:

HKLM\Software\Dell\Dell Data Protection\Encryption
REG_SZ: SupportedWindows10Upgrade
Value: <HighestSupportedBuildHere>

This example would allow any Windows 10 and Windows 11 build to install up to 10.0.22500.1 on a device with Policy Based Encryption:

HKLM\Software\Dell\Dell Data Protection\Encryption
REG_SZ: SupportedWindows10Upgrade
Value: 10.0.22500.1

Self-Encrypting Drive management, BitLocker management, and Dell’s Software-Based Full Disk Encryption management blocks what the registry can overwrite, by modifying the appropriate value according to the technology that is in-place on the endpoint:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Dell\Dell Data Protection\OsUpgradeSupportedVersions
REG_SZ: WinVersion_BLM
Value: <highestsupportedbuildhere>
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Dell\Dell Data Protection\OsUpgradeSupportedVersions
REG_SZ:WinVersion_SED
Value: <highestsupportedbuildhere>
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Dell\Dell Data Protection\OsUpgradeSupportedVersions
REG_SZ: WinVersion_FDE
Value: <highestsupportedbuildhere>

This example would allow any Windows 10 and Windows 11 build to install up to 10.0.22500.1 on a device with BitLocker manager:

HKLM\Software\Dell\Dell Data Protection\Encryption
REG_SZ: WinVersion_BLM
Value: 10.0.22500.1

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To contact support, reference Dell Data Security International Support Phone Numbers.
Go to TechDirect to generate a technical support request online.
For additional insights and resources, join the Dell Security Community Forum.

Affected Products

Dell Encryption
Article Properties
Article Number: 000129461
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 24 Jul 2025
Version:  14
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