Some external drives support hardware encryption.
It is built in and cannot be changed.
IMPORTANT:
- Hardware Encryption and Password Protection are two different things.
- Adding or removing a password DOES NOT enable or disable hardware encryption.
- Removing a drive from single-bay enclosures void the Warranty.
- Western Digital does not does not sell replacement or empty enclosures.
- Drives removed from some enclosures may not be readable by other enclosures or computers.
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Hardware Encryption Table
| Name | Drives Count |
RAID Support |
Hardware Encryption |
Password Protection4 |
Readable without WD Enclosure |
Readable with new WD Enclosure |
Data Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Book (WDBFJK, WDBYCC, WDBBGB, WDBMLE) |
1 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes 1 | Yes | Yes 2 |
| WD Backup Drive (WDBMLE) |
1 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes 1 | Yes | Yes 2 |
| My Book (WDBACW) SmartWare enabled |
1 | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes 2 |
| My Book Duo (WDBLVE, WDBFBE) |
2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes 2 |
| My Book Pro | 2 | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes 2 |
| My Passport | 1 | No | Yes | Yes | n/a 3 | n/a 3 | Yes 2 |
| My Book Thunderbolt Duo | 2 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes 2 |
| My Passport Pro | 2 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes 2 |
| WD Elements Desktop USB 3.0 | 1 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes 2 |
| WD Elements Portable USB 3.0 | 1 | No | No | No | n/a 3 | n/a 3 | Yes 2 |
| WD Elements Desktop USB 2.0 | 1 | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes 2 |
| WD Elements Portable USB 2.0 | 1 | No | Yes | No | n/a 3 | n/a 3 | Yes 2 |
| easystore Desktop | 1 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes 2 |
| easystore Portable | 1 | No | No | No | n/a 3 | n/a 3 | Yes 2 |
1 If no password is set.
2 If the drive is not physically damaged beyond recovery, and the password is known or not set.
3 The drive controller board (PCBA) only has a USB connector. There is no SATA-to-USB board.
4 Can set a password on the drive with WD Security.
Data Recovery
IMPORTANT:
Western Digital does not provide data recovery services.
Contact one of our Data Recovery Partners.
Any agreement you may reach with the service provider is a matter between you and the service provider.
Western Digital makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the services provided by the service provider, including but not limited to, any warranty regarding the quality or reliability of services performed by it.
Your selection of the service provider is at your own risk. Western Digital assumes no liability for any loss or damages of any kind that relate to, arise out of or result from the performance of services by the service provider, including, but not limited to any loss of data contained on a Western Digital hard drive.
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Western Digital Warranty Policy
Warranty Replacement
Single Bay Drive (In Warranty)
Need more help?
Answer ID 33498: Western Digital Warranty Replacement and Data Recovery
Dual Bay Drive (In Warranty)
- Create an Advanced Replacement.
It will be shipped before the old enclosure is returned to WD.
Need more help? - Move the drives to the new enclosure.
Need more help?
Answer ID 51623: Steps to Move Drives from a My Book Duo to a New or Replacement Enclosure
Critical:
DO NOT mix up the drives and slot order/position.
Drive #1 MUST go into Slot #1 of the new enclosure.
Drive #2 MUST go into Slot #2 of the new enclosure - Power on the new enclosure.
Readable with new WD Enclosure (Out of Warranty)
Source a replacement enclosure of the same make and design as the old enclosure.
Western Digital does not support the enclosure and cannot recommend a place to buy one.
Readable without WD Enclosure
View the Use of Third-Party Software or Websites disclaimer.Western Digital Support cannot help with third-party software or hardware.
It may be possible to use a third-party enclosure to mount the drives and access the data.
Western Digital does not provide, test and cannot recommend a third-party enclosure.
