[7 Fixes] BitLocker Decryption Stuck in Windows 11/10

How long does BitLocker take to decrypt Windows 11/10?

How long does BitLocker take to decrypt?  Many users may be curious when they are encrypting their storage drives. The specific BitLocker encryption and decryption time depends on the amount of data that has been encrypted or decrypted, the speed of your computer, and whether the process is interrupted. (Interruptions include the computer shutting down or going to sleep.)

According to Microsoft, it usually takes one minute to encrypt or decrypt per 500 MB. So theoretically speaking, 500 GB would take approximately 17 hours, 1 TB would take approximately 33 hours, and 2 TB would take approximately 67 hours.

Why BitLocker decryption stuck Windows 11?

If your Bitlocker decryption time has far exceeded the above value, or BitLocker decryption stuck Windows 11 for a long time, this situation is usually related to a variety of common reasons:

◕ Hard drive failure

◕ Temporary software glitch

◕ Disk or file corruption

◕ Outdated operating system

◕ PC operations interrupted during BitLocker encryption or decryption

These issues not only raise concerns about potential data loss but can also lead to other complications. For example, many Dell users are having trouble updating their BIOS due to an alert that reads: "MS Windows BitLocker drive encryption/decryption is currently in progress."

Thankfully, fixing this error involves seven established methods that can effectively resolve such issues. Let’s dive into these solutions.

How to fix BitLocker decryption stuck Windows 11/10?

To resolve BitLocker decrypt stuck issues, the first step may be to restart your computer and let the process complete. If decryption persists, employing these six methods can help resolve the issue.

Way 1. Pause and resume BitLocker decryption

Many users have found an easy way around BitLocker drive decryption issues by pausing and then resuming the process. To achieve this:

Step 1. Access BitLocker settings by typing "BitLocker" in the search bar and selecting "Manage BitLocker" from the top results.

Step 2. Identify the encrypted drive and click "Suspend protection". Confirm by clicking "Yes" to pause encryption.

Step 3. To start over, repeat the above steps and select "Resume protection", then select "Yes". This allows you to restart the decryption process and verify whether the BitLocker decryption issue still exists.

Way 2. Close unnecessary programs in Task Manager

Additionally, trying to resolve BitLocker drive decryption issues requires closing all non-essential programs and features. This action is intended to alleviate system resource limitations that may hinder the decryption process. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Type "Task Manager" in the Start taskbar. Click "Task Manager".

Step 2. In the Processes tab, right-click the unwanted program and select "End Task".

Repeat this process to close any other potentially interfering programs.

Way 3. Turn BitLocker decryption off and on

If pause/resume and stop tasks progress cannot work, try turning BitLocker protection off and on to resolve the Bitlocker freezes after the password issue. Here's the process:

Step 1. Open Settings and type "encryption" Then click "Manage BitLocker".

Step 2. In the popup, click "Turn Off BitLocker", and then confirm your selection in the dialog box.

Step 3. Restart your computer. To turn BitLocker encryption on, follow the same steps.

Way 4. Use CMD manage-bde

If you are having trouble with BitLocker decryption through the Control Panel, trying to unlock the drive with a password through Command Prompt may provide a solution. Here is a comprehensive guide:

Step 1. Press the "Win + R" keys to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2. Type "cmd", and then press "Ctrl + Shift + Enter" to run Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 3. Click "Yes" to confirm.

*Replace "C" with the appropriate drive letter you want to unlock:

manage-bde -unlock C: -rp

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, enter the following command and press the "Enter" key.

Step 3. Then, execute the following command to disable BitLocker encryption for drive C:

manage-bde -protectors -disable C:

Way 5. Check the encrypted drive for errors

To resolve BitLocker decryption issues caused by hard drive failure, it becomes crucial to perform a thorough scan to check bad sectors. Here is a guide:

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as mentioned earlier.

Step 2. Type "chkdsk g: /f /r /x" and hit Enter. (Replace "g" with the letter of your encrypted USB drive.)

This command line is supposed to check and repair your encrypted storage device. If it still fails, you might have to delete a partition.

Way 6. Use Diskpart

DiskPart is used as a command-line utility, not for scanning drives, but for performing tasks such as creating, formatting, and deleting partitions, volumes, or entire disks. It is best to use this as the last resort when other remedies fail as it has the potential to result in permanent data loss.

To use DiskPart to delete a BitLocker encrypted partition, follow these steps:

Step 1. Navigate to "Start" > "Command Prompt" and enter as an administrator.

Step 2. Type "diskpart" and press "Enter".

Step 3. After DiskPart starts, execute the listed commands one by one. Click "Enter" after each command.

◆ list disk

◆ select disk 1 (1 stands for the hard disk where the encrypted partition is located.)

◆ list partition

◆ select partition 1  (1 stands for the encrypted partition you want to delete.)

◆ delete partition override

Once the process completes successfully, type the "exit" command and press the "Enter" key to exit Diskpart.

Way 7. Upgrade to Windows 11/10 higher versions

Outdated Windows versions can also cause BitLocker decryption issues when trying to decrypt external storage such as USB drives or external hard drives. This issue occurs because BitLocker To Go is designed for encrypting and decrypting removable drives and only runs on Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions. If your system is running on Windows 10 Home, you will need to upgrade to a supported version or decrypt the drive on a different computer to resolve this issue.

Try the best Windows BitLocker to encrypt and decrypt easily

BitLocker is an integrated and powerful feature in Windows to protect files. However, it is still not available in Windows 10 and Windows 11 Home editions.

For these users who want to protect their data from unauthorized access, try AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. It is an easier and more versatile BitLocker tool, ensuring you quickly encrypt data and manage BitLocker on all Windows systems.

★What makes BitLocker Encryption in AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional stand out?

Compatible: it supports almost all editions of Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 including the Windows 11/10 Home Editions.

Comprehensive: it integrates all BitLocker functions within one APP, such as backup recovery key, changing password, encrypting/decrypting data, locking/unlocking the drive, and turning on/off BitLocker.

Easy to operate: it provides step-by-step guides and an intuitive user-friendly interface.

Secure: it uses an AES encryption algorithm fully compatible with the Microsoft BitLocker.

Here are the step-by-step instructions to encrypt a drive using BitLocker in AOMEI Partition Assistant:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

Step 2. Right-click the disk partition you want to encrypt and click the "BitLocker" >"Turn on BitLocker".

Step 3. All drives on the system are displayed. Please find the partition you want to BitLocker encrypt and click on the "Turn on BitLocker" option. (Here we take drive D as an example)

Step 4. Set and confirm password. (Password should consist of 8-256 digits, letters, and symbols.) Click "Next" to continue.

Step 5. Choose a method to back up your recovery keys. You can choose to "Save to a file" or "Print the recovery key". Then click the "Next" button.

Step 6. The application will automatically establish a Windows PE environment on the computer. 

Step 7. Once it is successfully constructed, the PC is going to reboot into the Windows PE mode for encryption of the drive. After the encryption process is finished, you will get an encryption complete box, in which you can click "OK" to restart your machine.

Step 8. Encrypting the drive may take some time. Please do not exit the software, remove the drive, or switch off the power until the process is completed.

Step 9. When the encryption procedure is finished, please press "Completed".

Now your drive has been successfully encrypted.

Conclusion

Finding that BitLocker decryption stuck Windows 11/10 can be nerve-wracking, but with the methods above, there's no need to panic. While Windows 11/10 Home Editions lack the BitLocker decryption feature, don't hesitate to try the best easy alternative - AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional to protect your data from unauthorized access. Apart from encrypting/decrypting data, it also manages BitLocker options more easily.

This versatile encryption tool also allows you to resize encrypted partitions without losing data. Other pragmatic functions such as allocating free space during cloning and moving installed programs to free up space in C drive enable you to maximize computer performance with ease. Windows Server users can choose the Server Edition as well.

FAQs on BitLocker decryption

Q1. Can I shut down my PC while BitLocker is decrypting?

Yes, you can. BitLocker's encryption and decryption processes have the handy feature that if the computer is shut down or goes into hibernation, it can be resumed from the point of interruption. This continuation occurs seamlessly during the next Windows boot, ensuring that encryption or decryption progress is not lost even in the event of a sudden power outage.

Q2. How do I check the BitLocker decryption process?

To check the BitLocker decryption process, see the following steps:

1. Open the command prompt as administrator.

2. Type the following command: manage-bde -status C: (replace "C" with the appropriate drive letter).

3. This command will display the BitLocker status and details about the decryption progress.

Q3. Can I use my PC while BitLocker is encrypting?

Yes, of course. You can continue to use your computer while BitLocker encrypts the disk. You can even pause the process if you wish.