Everything you need to know about BitLocker encryption in one place: step-by-step tutorials to enable BitLocker, unlock drives, recover lost keys, fix errors, and protect your data effectively.
Having trouble with BitLocker? Whether you need to enable encryption, unlock a drive, recover a lost key, or fix common errors, EaseUS Software brings together everything you need to know about BitLocker on this page. Check the page content to quickly navigate to the right section.
| What is BitLocker? Should I be worried about this - r/Windows10 |
BitLocker is a built-in disk encryption feature available in Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and some Education editions. It is designed to protect your data by encrypting the entire drive, including the system files and user data. Once encryption is turned on, only someone with the correct password, PIN, or authentication key can access the data.
BitLocker is especially useful in the following circumstances:
BitLocker uses the TPM chip (Trusted Platform Module) on modern PCs to securely store encryption keys, enhancing security without interrupting the user experience.
| What is BitLocker recovery key, and where can I find it? - r/WindowsHelp |
Then, what is a BitLocker recovery key? A BitLocker recovery key is a 48-digit numerical code that serves as a backup method to unlock a drive encrypted with BitLocker. It's generated automatically when you first turn on BitLocker encryption.
You may be asked to enter the recovery key if:
Typically, your recovery key can be saved in several locations, including your Microsoft account, a USB flash drive, a printed paper copy, a text file on another drive, or cloud storage.
Share this page td problems.
Losing access to your BitLocker recovery key can be stressful, but it doesn't always mean your data is lost. Microsoft provides several ways to help you find the recovery key, depending on where it was saved when you first enabled BitLocker.
Method 1. Check Your Microsoft Account
If you're signed in with a Microsoft account, this is the most common place your key is backed up. Here is how to retrieve the BitLocker recovery key with a Microsoft account:
Step 1. Go to: https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.
Step 2. Sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your device.
Step 3. Then, look for the 48-digit key under your devices.
Method 2. Check USB Drive, External Storage, or Cloud Storage
Sometimes BitLocker prompts you to save the key to a USB drive, external hard drive, or cloud storage (such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox). Go each place and look for a .txt file named something like: BitLocker Recovery Key xxxxxx.txt.
Method 3. Check for a Paper Copy
You might have printed the key when setting up BitLocker. Check files, notebooks, or physical storage where you keep important information.
Method 4. Check with Your Organization (If Work/School PC)
If your device is managed by a company, school, or IT department, the key may be stored in Active Directory (AD) or Azure Active Directory. Alternatively, you can contact your IT administrator directly for assistance.
If none of the above options work and BitLocker is asking for the recovery key, you can turn to a professional BitLocker management tool, such as EaseUS Partition Master. It searches on the local disk and the Microsoft Account without manual searching.
We've set two options for you to wipe data. Choose the one you need.
Option 1. Wipe Partition
Option 2. Wipe Disk
If you don't have the BitLocker password and recovery key, you can run Diskpart or seek help from third-party tools to format the BitLocker encrypted drive to resolve the issue.
As a powerful command-line utility, Diskpart can help you manage disks, partitions, and volumes, such as formatting, creating, and deleting partitions. In this case, you can remove BitLocker encryption by formatting the encrypted drive using CMD.
Step 1. Type cmd in the search bar > select Run as administrator to open it.
Step 2. To launch Diskpart, type diskpart in the window.
Step 3. Type the following command lines > press Enter after each line.
EaseUS Partition Master Free allows you to format the BitLocker drive with a few simple clicks. This is the most straightforward approach to removing BitLocker encryption by formatting the disk, especially for newcomers.
Step 1. Right-click the hard drive partition and choose the "Format" option.
Step 2. In the new window, you can set a new name for your selected hard drive partition. Then click the "OK" button.
Step 3. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button, then click "Apply" to start formatting the hard drive partition.
"Can BitLocker be used on an external hard drive or USB drive?" Of course, it can. To enhance data security and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information, some users intend to employ BitLocker on USB drives and external hard drives. If you're also looking for ways to use BitLocker on USB drives or external hard drives, you can follow the steps below.
4 Ways to Remove BitLocker from External Hard Drive
This post provides four efficient methods for safely removing BitLocker from your external hard drive. If you don't save the recovery key safely, you may need to read this tutorial for more details.
Let's show how to use BitLocker on USB drives or external hard drives.
Step 1. Connect the USB drive or external hard drive to your PC > press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
Step 2. Right-click on your targeted USB drive or external hard drive > choose Turn on BitLocker.
Step 3. Select Use a password to unlock the drive > remember to create a strong, memorable password.
Step 4. Save your BitLocker recovery key in a safe and separate location. For instance, you can save it to your Microsoft account, print it, or save it to a file.
Step 5. Click Start encrypting. Please wait patiently because the drive encryption process depends on the size and data of your selected USB drive or external hard drive.
| How to find BitLocker recovery key with recovery key ID? I do not have any recollection of setting up BitLocker, nor do I have a key saved in my Microsoft account. The page is displaying a "recovery key ID" that it says can help identify my key, but I cannot figure out where to enter this to get my key. - Microsoft |
When BitLocker locks your drive, it sometimes shows a message like: "Enter the recovery key for this drive. Key ID: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"
Well, what does the Key ID mean? The Key ID itself is not the recovery key—it's just an identifier to help you match the correct key from your backups.
You need to follow the instructions on how to recover the BitLocker recovery key, and the key ID will help match the correct recovery key.
Many users are seeking a way to turn on BitLocker, especially when they just updated to Windows 11. BitLocker is a built-in encryption feature in Windows 11 that protects your data by locking your drive with a password or a smart card. If your computer is lost or stolen, BitLocker ensures that no one can access your files without the recovery key.
✅ Requirements Before You Start
Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition (not available in Home).
UEFI firmware with TPM 2.0 enabled (most modern PCs have this by default).
Below are the steps to enable BitLocker on Windows 11:
Step 1. In the serach box, type Control Panel, and click it to open.
Step 2. Navigate to: System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Step 3. Find the drive you want to encrypt (usually C:). Click Turn on BitLocker and select a way to back up the BitLocker recovery key.
Step 4. Select encryption options based on your needs.
Step 5. Select the encryption mode.
Step 6. Click Start Encrypting.
The process may take time depending on drive size, but you can keep working while encryption runs in the background.
A lack of administrator privileges, incorrect Group Policy settings, or a disabled BitLocker service can cause the option to turn off BitLocker to be missing. Thus, if you want to turn off BitLocker, you can refer to the following ways.
The Control Panel is frequently used to manage various Windows settings. This way may be the most convenient if you prefer a graphical interface. Let's show how it works.
Step 1. Type control panel in the search bar on your Windows 11 > click it to open it.
Step 2. Click System and Security > select BitLocker Drive Encryption > locate your encrypted drive > click Turn off BitLocker.
Step 3. Please wait patiently, as it may take a few minutes to several hours to decrypt your drive.
If the incorrect Group Policy settings are responsible for the lack of no option to turn off BitLocker, you can deactivate it in your Group Policy Editor.
Step 1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window > type gpedit.msc > click OK or press Enter to open this utility.
Step 2. In the Local Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Fixed Data Drives.
Step 3. Locate Deny write access to fixed drives not protected by BitLocker > double-click on it to open its properties window.
Step 4. In the next window, select Disabled > click OK.
Step 5. Once it is done, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Windows Services operate in the background and handle different system tasks. Adjusting the BitLocker service allows you to effectively turn it off.
Step 1. Press Win + R to open the Run window > type services.msc > click OK or press Enter to open Windows Services.
Step 2. In the Services window, locate BitLocker Drive Encryption > right-click on it > select Stop.
Step 3. Right-click on it > choose Properties. Beside the Startup type tab, select Disabled > click OK.
A small number of people are seeking solutions to install Windows on encrypted disks, those users need to completely wipe the BitLocker partition and then reinstall Windows. If you're one of them and prefer easy operating steps and are unwilling to use the Windows Media Creation Tool, EaseUS Partition Master might be your top choice.
We've set two options for you to wipe data. Choose the one you need.
Option 1. Wipe Partition
Option 2. Wipe Disk
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