Unlock-BitLocker (BitLocker) (2024)

FAQs

How do I force BitLocker to unlock? ›

To unlock their drives, users must open “This PC” (or “My Computer”, depending on the version of Windows), right-click on the encrypted drive icons with the locked yellow padlock icon, click "Unlock Drive" and provide the Password.

If you've entered the correct BitLocker recovery key multiple times, and are still unable to pass the BitLocker recovery screen, follow these steps to break out of the BitLocker recovery loop. On the BitLocker recovery screen, press Esc for more BitLocker recovery options. Select "Skip this drive" at the right corner.

What is my BitLocker recovery key? Your BitLocker recovery key is a unique 48-digit numerical password that can be used to unlock your system if BitLocker is otherwise unable to confirm for certain that the attempt to access the system drive is authorized.

Press Windows Start button. Type bitlocker. Click Manage BitLocker to enter the BitLocker Drive Encryption menu. Select Turn off BitLocker to proceed with decryption.

Click Start, click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then click BitLocker Drive Encryption. Look for the drive on which you want BitLocker Drive Encryption turned off, and click Turn Off BitLocker. A message will be displayed, stating that the drive will be decrypted and that decryption may take some time.

Type and search [Manage BitLocker] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②. Click [Turn off BitLocker]③ on the drive that you want to decrypt. If the drive is under locked status, you need to click [Unlock drive] and type the password to turn off BitLocker.

Use Command Prompt: You can try unlocking the drive using the Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type one of the following commands: manage-bde -unlock X: -Password or manage-bde -unlock X: -RecoveryPassword.

The easiest way to bypass the BitLocker recovery screen is to enter the correct recovery key. Most users save their recovery keys in their USB drives. Thus, we also suggest you check your USB drive and check whether you can bypass the screen. If you can't find the BitLocker recovery key, contact your administrator.

When the Windows system is protected with BitLocker, the only way to access its content is to unlock the system drive. However, if you don't have the recovery key or password, you need to factory reset PC by fully formatting the system drive and reinstalling Windows 10.

If a user doesn't have a BitLocker Key, there's no way to bypass it. The only option is to do a clean Windows installation that will delete everything. A user can find the BitLocker Key from the same account used to activate it.

Can you unlock BitLocker without password? ›

Can I unlock bitlocker without password and recovery key? If you don't have the BitLocker password and recovery key, you may need to format the drive to remove the encryption, or use the third-party tools, such as Passware Kit, Elcomsoft Forensic Disk Decryptor, and Elcomsoft Distributed Password Recovery.

Unlocking Bitlocker from CMD

To try unlocking the drive using the Command Prompt, start by opening Command Prompt while logged into an administrator account. Type either "manage-bde-unlockX: -Password" or "manage-bde-unlockX: -RecoveryPassword."

Step 1. Press Win + E keys to open the File Explorer, and then right-click the system drive or other BitLocker encrypted drive and select Change BitLocker PIN. Step 2. In the pop-up window, click on the Reset a forgotten PIN link.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type one of the following commands: manage-bde -unlock X: -Password or manage-bde -unlock X: -RecoveryPassword. Remember to replace the letter “X” with the drive letter of the BitLocker encrypted drive.

The BitLocker recovery key prompt can be triggered by a variety of reasons, including hardware changes, software updates (especially if BIOS update is involved), etc. It is not necessarily alarming. The recent security update can be definitely a trigger here as well.

If you do not have the BitLocker password and recovery key, you need to format the encrypted drive to remove the encryption or turn to third-party tools, such as Passware Kit, Elcomsoft Forensic Disk Decryptor, or Elcomsoft Distributed Password Recovery. EaseUS will provide detailed guides on how.