BitLocker Slows Down SSD? Fix It and Speed Up SSD Now

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are well known for their fast performance, but after enabling BitLocker on your Windows PC, your SSD may slow down. BitLocker helps protect data, but it can slow SSDs.

BitLocker continuously encrypts and decrypts data, which may hinder performance, especially on SSDs. Because BitLocker requires more processing resources to encrypt, reading and writing data can be delayed.

Improving SSD performance while utilizing BitLocker requires the correct computing skills. Trust us—there are ways to speed up your SSD without compromising BitLocker security. We'll discuss the best BitLocker slowdown fixes to get your SSD back to full speed.

BitLocker Slown Down SSD, How Do I Fix It?

Microsoft first introduced BitLocker to improve data security by encrypting its more recent Windows 11 versions. Sensitive data protection depends on this function, particularly on devices likely to be stolen or subjected to unauthorized access. Though BitLocker offers strong protection, mainly if you're using an older drive, it can significantly impact SSD performance.

If BitLocker encryption has caused a slowdown on your computer or SSD, don't panic; there are workable fixes to help you restore SSD performance while preserving security. Three techniques discussed below will help to resolve the slowdown:

1. Turn Off or Remove BitLocker

Turning off BitLocker is one of the easiest methods to resolve this issue. Disabling encryption frees SSD resources and boosts speed. This solution is useful if efficiency is more important than encryption or your system doesn't contain sensitive data.

2. Upgrade SATA SSD to NVMe

Consider upgrading to an NVMe SSD from an older SATA SSD. NVMe SSDs are faster than SATA SSDs and handle BitLocker encryption better, reducing performance loss. This upgrade improves system speed, performance, and reliability.

3. 4K Align SSD

4K alignment optimizes SSD performance by aligning data. Without 4K alignment, your SSD's read and write performance would be slower, especially with BitLocker. Aligning your SSD can restore performance without disabling encryption.

Now, you might wonder which method is best for you. 

Using an older SATA SSD? I recommend starting by turning off BitLocker or upgrading to an NVMe SSD.

Using an NVMe SSD? Try upgrading the SSD 4K Align SSD method for the best results.

If you prefer to keep BitLocker enabled for security reasons, it is suggested to focus on Method 2 or Method 3 to improve your SSD's performance without sacrificing encryption.

#1. Turn Off BitLocker on SSD

BitLocker, activated by default in Windows 11 and later systems, offers high data security. If the speed of your SSD is not much affected, this method is highly advised since it is vital for safeguarding private data. Disabling BitLocker can be a sensible fix, but, if you observe notable slowdowns and would want speed above encryption top priority.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you turn off BitLocker on your Windows 11 SSD:

• Press Win + S to open the search bar. Type "BitLocker" and select "Manage BitLocker" from the search results.
• In the BitLocker Drive Encryption window, search for the SSD that you need to turn off BitLocker for.
• Click "Turn off BitLocker" next to the SSD for which you want to disable encryption.
• A confirmation window will appear. Click "Turn off BitLocker" again to start the decryption process.

Decryption could take some time, depending on the SSD's capacity and data storage volume. The BitLocker Drive Encryption pane lets you track progress. Make sure your PC stays plugged in; never stop the operation.

Though your data security may suffer, disabling BitLocker can help restore SSD performance. If you find the slowdown acceptable or if your data security comes first, consider keeping BitLocker turned on and looking at other ways to improve SSD performance.

#2. Replace/Upgrade SATA SSD with Newer NVMe SSD 

If your PC features a PCIe interface slot, upgrading from an older SATA SSD to a more recent NVMe SSD will greatly boost performance. NVMe SSDs are better suited to manage the demands of BitLocker encryption with low-performance impact and far faster than their SATA counterparts.

Steps to release or upgrade SSD with new NVMe SSD:

• Replace your old SATA SSD with a new NVMe SSD that has more storage space. Verify that it has the PCIe interface and is compatible with your computer's motherboard.
• Turn off and disconnect your computer from the power supply. If needed, tighten the NVMe SSD with the included screw after inserting it into the slot.
• Turn on your computer and let Windows load. Press Win + X, then choose "Disc Management" to launch Disc Management.
• Select "Initialize Disc" with a right-click after locating the new NVMe SSD in the list of drives. To finish the initialization, adhere to the instructions.

Use a reliable cloning tool to move your OS and data from the old SATA SSD to the new NVMe SSD. EaseUS Partition Master is a highly recommended tool, as it is safe and easy to use. Clone OS Disc allows you to clone the OS disc to the new NVMe SSD in a few clicks.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, go to the Disk Clone tab, select "Clone OS Disk" and click "Next". 

Step 2. Select the target new drive where you want to clone the OS to, and click "Next".

Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to continue the OS disk cloning process.

Step 3. View the disk layout, and click "Start" to begin the OS cloning process.

Step 4. When the process completes, you'll see a confirming message, asking "if you want to start up computer from the clone target disk". 

• Reboot Now means to reboot your PC and configure the computer to boot OS from the new disk immediately.
• Done means you want to make the changes later. 

After this, you can follow the tips here to enable the new NVMe SSD as boot drive to gain a faster performance on your PC:

• Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings.
•  Under Boot, select the new NVMe SSD as the primary boot disc. Save and quit BIOS/UEFI. The new NVMe SSD will boot your PC.

Upgrading NVMe SSDs will improve system speed and responsiveness, especially when running BitLocker-encrypted apps.

#3. 4K Align SSD to Gain Faster Speed

Consider clearing some space and doing a 4K alignment if your SSD is configured with BitLocker and you still wish to maximize its performance—or if you have previously disabled BitLocker and want to increase the speed of your SSD.

Furthermore, 4K alignment can improve the speed of your SSD notably in relation to BitLocker encryption. While misaligned SSD partitions could reduce performance, 4K alignment guarantees that data blocks are correctly aligned with the drive's physical sectors, enabling faster data access.

If you want to do this work quickly and effectively, we advise using EaseUS Partition Master and its 4 K alignment capability. This utility highly increases performance by letting users match their SSDs with just a few clicks, simplifying the procedure.

Step 1. Go to "Toolkit" and choose "4K Alignment".

Step 2. Select the disk you want to align. Click the "Start" button.

Moreover, to maintain the best read and write speeds, we also suggest you leave at least 20% to 30% free space on your SSD. More free space results in less data fragmentation, which lets the SSD run more effectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, disabling and removing BitLocker is the easiest and fastest way to fix SSD speed issues. This will instantly restore your SSD's speed and efficiency, letting it perform at its best without encryption.

If you want BitLocker for data encryption, upgrading to an NVMe SSD with 4K alignment can improve SSD speed. These steps will reduce BitLocker's impact on performance and speed up your SSD.

Try EaseUS Partition Master for smooth upgrades or alignment. This utility makes SSD upgrades and 4K alignment easy, maximizing performance.

Choose your preferred approach for a quicker, more efficient SSD

FAQs of BitLocker Slow Down SSD

Here are some commonly asked queries about BitLocker slowing down SSD.

1. Should I enable BitLocker on SSD?

If data security is a priority, ensure your SSD has BitLocker enabled. BitLocker's robust encryption helps protect your data from loss. If BitLocker noticeably reduces SSD performance, you might need to optimize or find other solutions to balance security and performance.

2. Does BitLocker affect SSD performance?

BitLocker can indeed impact SSD performance. It uses extra processing capability as it encrypts and decodes data. This increased overhead can cause slower read and write rates, particularly on older or less powerful SSDs. Though performance effects can still arise, newer NVMe SSDs often manage BitLocker encryption more effectively.

3. What is the downside of using BitLocker?

BitLocker's main drawback is the system's impacted performance. Encryption and decryption hinder data transport. If mismanaged, BitLocker can complicate data recovery and take a lot of resources during setup and encryption. Despite these drawbacks, many users value security over performance.