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How to Disable BitLocker in Windows 10 [Quick Guide]
The fastest way to disable the Bitlocker is through Control Panel
7 min. read
Updated onAugust 14, 2024
updated onAugust 14, 2024
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Key notes
Some users have been complaining about an issue regarding BitLocker encryption onWindows 10devices, mainly, an incompatibility between a drive encrypted onWindows 7and later used in a Windows 10 machine.
If you are experiencing this issue, then maybe this guide will give you the solution.
If you have not heard about BitLocker by now, and you want an extra layer of security for your Windows computer, then you should definitely do some research regarding what it can do and how it can protect your files.
But even with its advantages, Microsoft’s encryption feature has some issues when moving drives from Windows 7 computers toWindows 10.
We’ll consider the following scenario: you have been using BitLocker on a Windows 7 computer and you have recently bought a new Windows 10 computer and you want to install your old hard drive into the new tower.
When you try to access the encrypted partitions, Windows 10 advises you to turn off BitLocker ordoes not recognize your password.
There are a few ways around this problem, some being simpler than others, and it is up to you to determine which of them can be of use in your case.
BitLocker is a great way to protect your files, and in this article, we’re going to cover the following issues:
Here’s how you disable BitLocker on Windows 10.
How do I disable BitLocker on Windows 10?
Quick Tip:
While Bitlocker may only be able to encrypt entire drives, there are situations when you don’t need that.
That being the case, if you need a tool that can encrypt only the data that you need, then giveFolder Locka try.
The program can also create encrypted backups as well, so recovery will be made easier.
Other than that, both BitLocker and Folder Lock are very similar since they both offer high levels of encryption, thus improving the security of whatever you have on your drives.
⇒Get Folder Lock
1. Disable BitLocker from Windows 10 Control Panel
Similarly to how you’d go about this problem in Windows 7, it might work to disable BitLocker from Control Panel, assuming you know your passkey and it still works.
After doing that, BitLocker should be permanently disabled for the selected drive.
2. Disable BitLocker from Windows 10 using the Local Group Policy Editor
If the first method is not a viable option for you, then using the Group Policy utility (GPO) might offer the solution.
After doing that, restart your PC and your problem should be resolved completely.
3. Use another PC to disable BitLocker
If both methods have failed, then all you’re left with is installing your encrypted hard drive back to a different computer and going through the methods once again.
In this scenario, method 1 will fix your problem and decrypt your drive, allowing you to use it in your Windows 10 PC.
4. Use Command Prompt
If you’re an advanced user, you can turn off BitLocker by using Command Prompt.
The decryption process will now start. Keep in mind that this process can take a while, so don’t interrupt it.
After the process is finished, your driver will be unlocked and BitLocker will be turned off for that drive.
As you can see, this is a quick and easy way to turn off Bitlocker, and if you’re familiar with Command Prompt, feel free to try this solution.
Working with Command Prompt will be like a walk in the park after you read this guide!
5. Use PowerShell
You can also turn off BitLocker for all drives on your PC using PowerShell. To do that, follow these steps:
If you prefer using command-line tools, you should know that you can turn off BitLocker for specific drive simply by using PowerShell.
By running these two commands you’ll get the list of encrypted volumes and decrypt them with a single command.
Keep in mind that the decryption process can take a while, so don’t interrupt it. Once the drive is decrypted, BitLocker will be turned off for that drive.
6. Disable BitLocker service
If you want to turn off BitLocker, you can do that by disabling its service.
After disabling the BitLocker service, BitLocker should be turned off on your device.
7. Turn off device encryption from the Settings app
If you want to turn off BitLocker, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can do that right from theSettings app. After doing that, BitLocker should be disabled on your PC.
For Windows 11 users, we have a special guide on how toturn off BitLocker on Windows 11, so don’t miss it.
BitLocker can be useful if you want to protect your files from unauthorized access, but if you don’t want to use this feature, you should be able to turn it off by using one of our solutions.
More about the topics:Bitlocker,windows 10
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
