In this post, you can learn how to remove BitLocker in Windows 11 system, and how to permanently disable BitLocker from Windows 11 OS.
BitLocker is a built-in encryption feature in Windows 11 that provides enhanced security for your data by encrypting the system drive or the entire disk. If you're concerned about privacy and security, you should realize that deactivating BitLocker encryption makes your disk data more accessible in some circumstances.
However, there are instances when you may need to turn off BitLocker, such as when troubleshooting or making system changes.
In this part, we’ll show you how to remove and disable BitLocker in Windows 11.
Follow these procedures to deactivate BitLocker on Windows 10 or Windows 11. We used a Windows 11 PC to explain the instructions below, but Windows 10 is almost identical.
Step 1. To get started, open the "Start" menu, search for "Control Panel," and select "Control Panel" in the search results. When Control Panel appears, please click "System and Security".
Step 2. On the "System and Security" page, choose "BitLocker Drive Encryption."
Step 3. Next to the drive where you've enabled BitLocker, click "Turn Off BitLocker."
Step 4. Select the "Turn Off BitLocker" option.
Windows will now begin decrypting the contents of your disk, which may take some time, especially if your drive contains a large amount of data. In the meantime, you may keep working on your files as normal.
You also change Settings to turn off BitLocker.
Step 1. Open Settings on Windows 11 and click on Storage.
Step 2. Under the “Storage management” section, click on Advanced storage settings.
Step 3. Now, click on Disks & volumes and select the drive to turn off encryption.
Step 4. Choose the volume and click the Properties button.
Step 5. Click the “Turn off BitLocker” option from the “Manage BitLocker” page.
Step 6. Under the “Operating system drive” section, click the “Turn off BitLocker” option.
Step 7. Then, click the “Turn off BitLocker” button again and finish the same process like Way 1.
CMD is also available for BitLocker remevol.
Step 1. Run CMD as an administrator. Then type “manage-bde –unlock X: -pw”.
After you enter your password, we can run another command to remove BitLocker.
Step 2. Type manage-bde –off X: and hit Enter. (Replace X with the drive letter of the lockeddrive)
If you don’t want to clock your drive via BitLocker service anymore, you can stop it in the Services.
Step 1. Open Windows Run by pressing the shortcut “Windows key + R” and type msc. Then hit OK.
Step 2. Scroll down and double-click on BitLocker Drive Encryption Service.
Step 3. Set the startup type to Disabled. Click on Apply.
Group Policy Editor can also directly disable BitLocker in Windows OS.
Step 1. Press the Win+R combination and run command “gpedit.msc” to open Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2. Now, please navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Fixes Data Drives. Finally, locate the option Deny write access to fixed drives not protected by BitLocker.
Step 3. Double-click on it. Once there, change the status to Disabled. Finally, press OK and restart the computer.
Some users may have a BitLocker encrypted USB drive and they find their Windows 11 computers can’t remove BitLocker from that drive. This is because BitLocker is not available on Windows 11/10 Home version. So, you can’t manage BitLocker drive on Windows 11 if you’re using Home version system.
In this situation, we suggest you try AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. This robust disk management tool even realizes BitLocker on Windows Home PC. With its Professional edition, Home users can easily protect their privacy via “BitLocker” function which also has key store plans for users to avoid password loss.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the "Tools" main tab and select "BitLocker".
Step 2. Find the encrypted drive you would like to decrypt and click the option "Turn off BitLocker".
Step 3. There are still 2 ways available to decrypt the drive: Use password to decrypt the drive and Use recovery key to decrypt the drive. Please select either way as per your need.
If you select "Use a password to decrypt the drive", please enter the right password and then click the "Decrypt" button.
If you select "Use a recovery key to decrypt the drive", please enter the recovery key saved in the TXT file or printed when you encrypted the drive, and then click the "Decrypt" button.
Step 4. Then, the decryption process will start and it might take time to decrypt the drive. Before the process is finished, please do not terminate the program, remove the portable drive, or turn off the power.
Step 5. Once the decryption process is finished, please click "Completed". Finally, the BitLocker on the drive is decrypted.
If you need to remove BitLocker in Windows 11, there are 6 methods you can try. Windows built-in tools are all helpful, but if they can’t remove BitLocker from your target drive, you can also choose AOMEI Partition Assistant.
In addition, this handy tool has various options for you to manage your computer and disks. You can upgrade to a new disk without reinstalling via disk clone, release C drive space via moving installed apps to another location without reinstalling and cleaning duplicate files, and so on. What’s more, it has the Server edition for Windows Server and advanced users to manage multiple devices without effortness.