> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gandyhacks.gitbook.io/gandyhacks-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gandyhacks.gitbook.io/gandyhacks-docs/individual-guides/bitlocker.md).

# BITLOCKER

## [**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USk2ke14NRo**](#https-www.youtube.com-watch-v-usk2ke14nro)

### Method 1: Turn off BitLocker from Windows Settings

For Windows 11 Home or devices using **Device Encryption**:

1. Open **Settings**
2. Go to **Privacy & security**
3. Click **Device encryption**
4. Turn **Device encryption** off
5. Wait for Windows to finish decrypting the drive

Microsoft lists Device Encryption under Windows Settings and notes that it can be turned on or off from there.

### Method 2: Turn off BitLocker from Control Panel

For Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education:

1. Press **Start**
2. Search **Manage BitLocker**
3. Open **BitLocker Drive Encryption**
4. Find your main drive, usually **C:**
5. Click **Turn off BitLocker**
6. Confirm the warning
7. Wait until decryption is complete

Do not restart or shut down the PC while decryption is running unless Windows says it is safe.

### Method 3: Turn off BitLocker using CMD

Open **Command Prompt as Administrator**, then run:

```
manage-bde -status
```

This shows which drives are encrypted.

To turn off BitLocker on the C: drive:

```
manage-bde -off C:
```

To check progress:

```
manage-bde -status C:
```

Microsoft’s `manage-bde -off` command decrypts the drive and turns off BitLocker; once decryption finishes,

### Method 4: Turn off BitLocker using PowerShell

Open **PowerShell as Administrator**, then run:

```
Get-BitLockerVolume
```

To disable BitLocker on C::

```
Disable-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:"
```

To check progress:

```
Get-BitLockerVolume -MountPoint "C:"
```

Microsoft says `Get-BitLockerVolume` shows BitLocker volume information, and `Disable-BitLocker` disables BitLocker and starts decrypting the volume.

Suspend vs turn off BitLocker

Suspending BitLocker is not the same as turning it off.

Use suspend when you are doing a BIOS update, TPM change, Secure Boot change, or hardware change and want to avoid recovery key prompts:

manage-bde -protectors -disable C: -RebootCount 1

Resume BitLocker:

manage-bde -protectors -enable C:

Suspending BitLocker does not decrypt the drive. It only temporarily makes the key available so Windows can boot normally during changes. Microsoft’s PowerShell documentation explains that suspension does not decrypt data on the volume.

Best simple command

For most people, this is the easiest command:

manage-bde -off C:

Then check progress:

manage-bde -status C:

Wait until it says the drive is fully decrypted. After that, BitLocker is off.


---

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