Unlock BitLocker Encrypted Fixed or Removable Data Drive in Windows 10

BitLocker Drive Encryption is a data protection feature that integrates with the operating system, both fixed and removable drives, to address unauthorized access threats. In this article, we show you how to use password or recovery key to unlock a BitLocker encrypted drive in Windows 10 by using the following methods:

1. Unlock Encrypted BitLocker Drive Through File Browser
2. Unlock Encrypted BitLocker Drive through Control Panel
3. Unlock the encrypted BitLocker drive through a command prompt.

1) Unlock the fixed or removable BitLocker drive via the file explorer

Open This PC in the file explorer (Win + E).

To unlock the fixed or removable locked BitLocker drive that you want, right-click the drive, and then click Unlock the player.

AT Unlock the data reader with BitLocker password, do the following-

Enter the password to unlock this drive, click Open.

The player is now unlocked.

AT Unlock the data reader with BitLocker recovery key, do the following-

Click on More options link.

At the next prompt, click the button Enter the recovery key link.

At the next prompt, note the Key ID (for example., "BED9A0F3") to help identify the recovery key for this player.

Now go to the place where you saved the BitLocker recovery key for this drive. Find the 48-digit recovery key that matches its key ID for this drive (for example, "BED9A0F3").

Now type the 48-digit recovery key for this drive. Click on Open.

The player is now unlocked.

2) Unlock the fixed or removable BitLocker drive via the control panel

Open the Control Panel (icons view), then click the button BitLocker Drive Encryption icon.

Click on Unlock the player link to the locked fixed or removable data reader you want to unlock.

AT Unlock the data reader with BitLocker password, do the following:

• Repeat the same steps as above.

AT Unlock the data reader with BitLocker recovery key, do the following:

• Repeat the same steps as above.

3) Unlock the BitLocker Drive through a Command Prompt

Open a command prompt with privileges.

AT Unlock the data reader with BitLocker password, do the following-

Type the command below in the elevated command prompt and press Enter.

manage-bde -unlock : -password

When prompted, type the BitLocker password for this drive and press Enter.

Note: Substitute in the above command with the actual drive letter (ex: "D") of the fixed or removable drive you wish to unlock. For example:

manage-bde -unlock E: -password

The player is now unlocked. You can now exit the high command prompt environment.

AT Unlock the data reader with BitLocker recovery key, do the following-

Type the command below in a command prompt with elevated privileges and press Enter.

manage-bde -protectors -get :

Note the first section of numbers (for example, "BED9A0F3") for the Digital password ID. This is the key ID that makes it easier to identify the recovery key for this drive.

Note: Substitute in the above command with the actual drive letter (eg, "E") of the fixed or removable drive to unlock. For example:

manage-bde -protectors -get E:

Now go to the place where you saved the BitLocker recovery key for this drive, as above. Find the 48-digit recovery key that matches its key ID for this drive (for example, "BED9A0F3").

Now type the command below in the elevated command prompt and press Enter.

manage-bde -unlock : -rp 

Replace in the above command with the actual drive letter (eg: "E") of the fixed or removable drive you wish to unlock. Also, substitute in the command above with the 48-digit recovery key. For example:

manage-bde -unlock E: -rp 100540-511302-514019-403139-717607-056287-378620-228338

The player is now unlocked. You can now exit the high command prompt environment.

Thus, you can unlock a fixed or removable BitLocker encrypted drive in Windows 10.