Windows 10: Lock BitLocker Encrypted Drive in Windows

How to: Lock BitLocker Encrypted Drive in Windows

How to Lock BitLocker Encrypted Drive in Windows


BitLocker Drive Encryption is a data protection feature that integrates with the operating system and addresses the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately decommissioned computers.

BitLocker can encrypt the drive Windows is installed on (the removable data drive (such as an external hard drive or USB flash drive).

You can choose how you want to unlock an encrypted data drive: with a password or a smart card. For removable data drives encrypted with BitLocker To Go, you can set the drive to automatically unlock when you sign in to the PC. For fixed data drives, you can also set the drive to automatically unlock when you unlock the PC, if you prefer, as long as the operating system drive is BitLocker-protected.

To lock a fixed data drive encrypted by BitLocker, you could sign in next.

To lock a removable data drive encrypted by BitLocker, you could disconnect the drive or sign in next.

This tutorial will show you how to manually lock a fixed or removable drive encrypted by BitLocker in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to manually lock a drive.



Note For Windows 7, BitLocker Drive Encryption is only available in the Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise editions.

For Windows 8/8.1, BitLocker Drive Encryption is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.

For Windows 10, editions.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: Lock a BitLocker Encrypted Drive using Context Menu
• Option Two: Lock a BitLocker Encrypted Drive in Command Prompt
• Option Three: Lock a BitLocker Encrypted Drive in PowerShell

EXAMPLE: Locked BitLocker encrypted drive









OPTION ONE [/i] Lock a BitLocker Encrypted Drive using Context Menu
1. For how, see: How to Add 'Lock Drive' to Context Menu of BitLocker Encrypted Drives in Windows 10









OPTION TWO [/i] Lock a BitLocker Encrypted Drive in Command Prompt
1. Open an elevated command prompt.

2. Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow manage-bde -lock "<drive letter>:" -ForceDismount

*note Substitute <drive letter> in the command above with the actual drive letter (ex: "D") of the unlocked encrypted drive you want to lock.

For example: manage-bde -lock "D:" -ForceDismount

*tip You can check the status of BitLocker for the drive at anytime.




3. You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.





OPTION THREE [/i] Lock a BitLocker Encrypted Drive in PowerShell
*note To see more Disable-BitLocker command usage options, see: Disable-BitLocker - Microsoft Docs
1. Open an elevated Powershell.

2. Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Lock-BitLocker -MountPoint "<drive letter>:" -ForceDismount

*note Substitute <drive letter> in the command above with the actual drive letter (ex: "D") of the unlocked encrypted drive you want to lock.

For example: Lock-BitLocker -MountPoint "D:" -ForceDismount

*tip You can check the status of BitLocker for the drive at anytime.




3. You can now close the elevated PowerShell if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Turn On or Off BitLocker for Fixed Data Drives in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off BitLocker for Removable Data Drives in Windows 10
• How to Check Status of BitLocker Drive Encryption for Drive in Windows 10
• How to Suspend or Resume BitLocker Protection for Drive in Windows 10
• How to Add 'Lock Drive' to Context Menu of BitLocker Encrypted Drives in Windows 10
• How to Unlock a Fixed or Removable BitLocker Drive in Windows
• How to Unlock an OS Drive Encrypted by BitLocker in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Unlock Drive Context Menu in Windows
• How to Turn On or Off Auto-unlock for BitLocker Drive in Windows 10
• How to Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with a VHD or VHDX File in Windows

:)

 

BitLocker Encrypted Hard Drive to MAC

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. I regret the inconvenience caused to you. Let me help you.



I suggest you to perform below mentioned steps to disable BitLocker.

To disable BitLocker I would suggest you try the following steps and see if it helps.

• 
  Press Windows key + X and click on
  Control Panel.
  
• 
  Change View by from Category
  to Large Icons/Small Icons.
  
• 
  Click on BitLocker Drive Encryption and click on
  Turn BitLocker Off.
  
• 
  Follow on screen instructions. Click on Decrypt the Drive
  when the message appears.
  

I would suggest you click on the link below and refer the following article.

Scenario 12: Turning Off BitLocker Drive Encryption (Windows 7)

Scenario 12: Turning Off BitLocker Drive Encryption (Windows 7)

(You can refer the steps in the above link as they are applicable for Windows 10 as well)



Check if it helps.



I hope the information helps. Please keep us posted on the issue. We will be happy to assist you accordingly.

Thank you.

 

Bitlocker Drive Encryption(Not Responding) at 84.5%

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

We understand your concern, as you are trying to encrypt the complete hard drive with BitLocker Drive Encryption and now it’s not responding as well.



We would suggest you to refer this
BitLocker: Use BitLocker Drive Encryption Tools to manage BitLocker article and check manage-bde section, if that helps to make the changes.



However, for further queries we would suggest you to post your query in

TechNet forums, where we have experts and support professionals who are well equipped with the knowledge on BitLocker to assist you with the appropriate troubleshooting steps.



Aditya Roy

Microsoft Community – Moderator

 

Got locked by BitLocker Drive Encryption

I forgot my PIN and password to log in my laptop and when I try to unlock it through cmd.exe and it said "This drive is locked by BitLocker Drive Encryption." but I lost my recovery password of BitLocker. What can I do to log in again?

 

bitlocker drive encryption recovery key error

"Find my BitLocker recovery key"

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...b-aa71c00ea55e/find-my-bitlocker-recovery-key

How to Unlock a Windows 7 Computer Locked by BitLocker Drive Encryption

BitLocker Drive Encryption - Unlock a Locked Data or Removable Drive - Windows 7 Help Forums

If none of that helps you, the Data is lost.

Cheers.

 

Bitlocker drive got currupted

Hi Rahul,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

From the description, it appears that you were able to recover the data using third party application. So now, are you trying to encrypt/decrypt the bit locker in Windows 10?

I suggest you to check the below steps and see if it helps.

To Encrypt Drive Partition using Bitlocker you need to access BitLocker Encryption Window First. For this,

• 
  Open
  Cortana Search.
  
• 
  Type
  BitLocker in the search field.
  
• 
  And in the search results select
  Manage BitLocker option.
  
• 
  BitLocker
  Drive Encryption window pops up on your screen.
  

How to Encrypt Drive Partition using Bitlocker

• 
  By following the above steps, you are into the
  BitLocker Drive Encryption window.
  
• 
  Now you can see all the drives of your computer listed on that window.
  
• 
  Look for the drive that you want to encrypt and click on
  Turn On BitLocker option of that drive to Encrypt Drive Partition using Bitlocker.
  
• 
  Another
  BitLocker Encryption window will appear on your screen.
  
• 
  Here you will be asked
  How you want to unlock the drive.
  
• 
  You have two options,
  password and smart card. I opted for the password method. So click on
  Use a password to unlock this drive.
  
• 
  It will ask you to provide a strong
  password.
  
• 
  Remember that you will need this password at every stage when you boot
  Windows 10. And also carefully remember the password as with the wrong password you will not be able to use encrypted system correctly.
  
• 
  Click
  Next after entering and confirming the password.
  
• 
  Now you will have to
  back up your recovery key. In future, if you face any difficulty in accessing the encrypted drives then this key will be helpful.
  
• 
  Choose the preferred location and click
  Next.
  
• 
  In the following window, you have decided that
  how much of a drive you will like to encrypt.
  
• 
  Choose the desired option and click
  Next.
  
• 
  The next window will ask
  Are you ready to encrypt the drive.
  
• 
  Click on Start Encrypting
  option.
  
• 
  The process of encryption drive partition is over.
  
• 
  Restart your system.
  
• 
  You will see that encrypted drive is locked.
  
• 
  When you double-click it to open it, you will be asked to provide the
  password.
  
• 
  Enter the
  password and click Unlock.
  
• 
  On the
  Notification Area of the Taskbar, a pop-up box will appear showing you the encryption process going on in the background of the desktop.
  
• 
  After the completion of the encryption, you will be informed about it.
  

Hope it helps.

Let us know the status of the issue.

Thanks.