This article shows you how to disable the Windows data encryption feature called BitLocker. BitLocker is a feature built into most Pro, Education, and Enterprise versions of Windows 10. If you are unable to decrypt your computer's hard drive, you will need to enter the BitLocker recovery key first in order to disable this Windows feature.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use Windows Settings
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Launch the Settings app by clicking on the icon
It features a gear and is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu. The Windows "Settings" screen will appear.
Step 3. Click the System icon
It features a stylized computer monitor and is located in the upper left of the "Settings" window.
Step 4. Click on the Device Encryption tab
It is displayed on the left side of the "System Settings" window.
If the voice Device encryption is not present, try clicking on the tab System information located in the lower left corner of the window and look for the "Device Encryption" section. If this search is also unsuccessful, it means that BitLocker is not present on your computer.
Step 5. Click the Deactivate button
It is displayed in the center of the page.
Step 6. Click the Deactivate button again when prompted
In this way the BitLocker program will decrypt all the data on the system hard drive. This step can take several hours to complete.
You may need to provide the system administrator account password or security PIN for BitLocker to be disabled
Method 2 of 3: Using the Control Panel
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
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If you are using Windows 7, you will need to click on the multicolored icon located in the lower left corner of the desktop
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Step 2. Search for the BitLocker program
Type the bitlocker keyword into the "Start" menu. The list of results produced by the search will be displayed.
If you are using Windows 7, you will need to use the search bar at the bottom of the "Start" menu
Step 3. Click on Manage BitLocker
It should have appeared at the top of the "Start" menu. The BitLocker Control Panel page will be displayed.
Step 4. Locate the correct hard drive
Scroll through the list of storage drives connected to your computer to find the one on which to disable BitLocker.
Skip this step if you used BitLocker to encrypt the computer's only hard drive
Step 5. Click the Disable BitLocker link
It is located in the lower right of the "BitLocker" section.
Step 6. Click the Disable BitLocker button when prompted
In this way the BitLocker program will decrypt all the data on the selected hard drive. This step can take several hours to complete.
- You may need to provide the system administrator account password or security PIN for BitLocker to be disabled.
- If you are using Windows 7 you will need to click on the button Decrypt drives.
Method 3 of 3: Unblock BitLocker
Step 1. Retrieve the recovery key
When you turned on BitLocker encryption on your computer, you were given a 48-digit recovery code to use if you forget or lose your program's security password. In order to unlock BitLocker and have access to the computer, you will need to recover this code:
- If you printed the BitLocker recovery key, look for it in the same place where you keep all your important documents.
- If you have saved the recovery code as a file on a USB drive, connect it to a computer you have access to and open the file to be able to view the key.
- If this is a corporate computer and BitLocker has been activated by network administrators or IT colleagues, contact them and follow the instructions they will give you to retrieve the key.
Step 2. Start your computer if necessary
If the system is off, turn it on so that the BitLocker unlock screen can appear.
If your computer is already on and the BitLocker screen is already on the screen, skip this step
Step 3. Wait for the BitLocker screen to appear on the screen
It may take several minutes.
Step 4. Press the Esc key
This will tell the program that you want to enter the BitLocker recovery key instead of typing the security password.
Step 5. Enter the BitLocker recovery key
Enter the 48-digit code into the text field displayed at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Press the Enter key
The code you typed will be sent to the program.
Step 7. Follow the instructions that will appear on the screen
Depending on your computer, you may need to perform other operations after entering the recovery key. After following the instructions given to you, you will be free to disable BitLocker from the Windows "Settings" menu.
