Failed to Open BitLocker Control Panel Tool on Windows 11? Fix It Fast!

BitLocker Dilemma: I Need Help!

BitLocker is a great encryption tool used to protect your data by encrypting the entire drive. However, while using it, you may encounter issues, such as “Failed to open BitLocker control panel tool on Windows 11”, leaving you feeling frustrated and confused. Wonder know why this happens and how to fix it? Keep reading this article to know more details.

What can cause "Failed to open BitLocker control panel tool" on Windows 11?

BitLocker not functioning properly can arise from various reasons. Here are several frequently discussed ones:

► Incompatible Operating System: BitLocker is not supported by your operating system. For instance, BitLocker encryption cannot be enabled if you are using a PC with Windows Home Editions.

► BitLocker Drive Encryption Service Not Enabled: If the BitLocker drive encryption service is not enabled properly, you are not allowed to access or set up BitLocker.

► System Files Corruption: Some crucial system files related to BitLocker have been corrupted for some reasons, preventing you from launching the tool.

How to fix the BitLocker Error on Windows 11?

After understanding the causes of the “Failed to open BitLocker control panel tool” on Windows 11, it is crucial to learn how to resolve this issue. The solutions vary depending on the situations where BitLocker is set up. Here are three practical ways you can refer to.

Fix 1. Check your operating system

Sometimes, the BitLocker encryption feature cannot function normally because your operating system doesn’t support it, such as on Windows Home Editions or older Windows Editions. So, when you receive the error message 'Failed to open the BitLocker Control Panel tool with error code 0x80004005', first check whether BitLocker is supported on your PC.

Here are the steps to check if BitLocker is supported:

Step 1: Press Windows + S keys to open the Windows search box.

Step 2: Type System Information in the search box and choose Run as administrator.

Step 3: Find Device Encryption Support here. If the value is Meets prerequisites, it means your PC supports BitLocker. If not, you need to install an appropriate operating system or enable BitLocker using third-party tools.

Fix 2. Check if BitLocker Drive Encryption Service is enabled

If your OS supports BitLocker, consider checking if the BitLocker Drive Encryption Service is enabled in advance. Without this service activated, you are unable to access or set up BitLocker to encrypt your drives.

Follow these steps to enable the BitLocker Drive Encryption Service:

Step 1: Press Windows + R keys to open the Run Command box.

Step 2: Type services.msc in the search box and press Enter key.

Step 3: Locate BitLocker Drive Encryption Service here and double-click it.

Step 4: Click on Start > Apply > OK in turn to enable it.

Step 5: Finally, restart your PC to see whether the error is fixed.

Fix 3. Run SFC and DISM scans in Command Prompt

Issues such as “Failed to open BitLocker control panel tool on Windows 11” might arise from the corruption in some essential system files related to BitLocker. File corruption can happen inevitably during regular tasks, leading to the malfunction of some important functions or software. Fortunately, you can repair these issues by running SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Development Imaging Service and Management Tool) scans in Command Prompt:

Step 1: Press Windows + S keys to open the Windows search box.

Step 2: Type cmd in the search box and choose Run as administrator.

Step 3: Type the following command into the window and hit the Enter key. It will check the integrity of the system image and repair issues automatically.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 4: Input the following command into the window and hit Enter key to run the SFC to repair any corrupted or missing system files.

sfc /scannow

Step 5: After finishing, restart your PC to check if you can open the BitLocker control panel.

An easier way to manage the BitLocker

Is there an easier way to manage the BitLocker encryption? Absolutely! AOMEI Partition Assistant, all-in-one BitLocker management software, allows you to effortlessly handle BitLocker encryption on the Home and other supported Windows system versions. With this tool, you can enable BitLocker encryption, turn off BitLocker, back up the recovery key and even change your BitLocker password.

How to enable the BitLocker

Step 1: Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant (PA) first. 

Step 2: Open PA, and select BitLocker under the Tools tab. Here you are allowed to choose the drive you want to encrypt.

Step 3: Locate the drive you would like to encrypt with BitLocker and click Turn on BitLocker.

Step 4: Set a password and confirm it, and then click Next.

How to disable the BitLocker

Step 1: Locate the encrypted drive you would like to decrypt and click the Turn off BitLocker option.

Step 2: You are allowed to use a password or recovery key to decrypt the drive. Please select either way as needed.

If you select "Use password to decrypt the drive", enter the right password and click the Decryption button.

If you select "Use recovery key to decrypt the drive", enter the recovery key that you have saved beforehand and then click the Decryption button.

Step 3: After the decryption is comple, select the Completed option to close the interface. Now, your BitLocker encryption on the drive has been removed.

Pro Tip: Windows 11 24H2 enables BitLocker by default

Starting from the Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft is reducing the hardware requirements for BitLocker device encryption, opening it up to more devices. In this version, devices are no longer required to have Hardware Security Test Interface (HSTI) and modern standby capabilities. And the Direct Memory Access (DMA) protection interface is no longer checked, and device manufacturers no longer need to add related settings in the registry.

Enabling BitLocker encryption by default in Windows 11 24H2 can bring us potential risks, such as boot failure. Therefore, it is advised to turn off automatic device encryption during installation. 

Final Words

BitLocker is an excellent encryption tool used to protect your drives from data loss, but you may encounter issues, such as “Failed to open BitLocker control panel tool on Windows 11” while using it. This post explores several common reasons for this error and provides a comprehensive guide to resolving this painful issue.

Alternatively, you can also handle BitLocker with professional software like AOMEI Partition Assistant for enhanced functionality and ease of use. This powerful tool can also assist you in resolving various other drive-related issues you might face, including cloning hard drives without data losing or allocating free space to C: drive.