The BitLocker Encryption on This Drive isn't Compatible with Your Version of Windows

Vili S 26

I was transfering data from my SSD to a HDD on my old Windows 10 home PC, during the process my pc froze which made me have to restart it, after booting my pc I got an error saying that my drive might be damaged or isn't working properly. I then saw that bitlocker was automatically enabled on that hard drive. I never had it enabled before.

When I click on the drive it says: "The BitLocker Encryption on This Drive isn't Compatible with Your Version of Windows." I also can't have the recovery key anyways since I never turned bitlocker on by myself. I have important work and data on that hard drive which is now blocked by your incorrectly working security system.

I've also tried switching the hard drive to my new Windows 11 PC but I get the same notification as previously mentioned when trying to open it.

Please let me have a solution that gets rid of this automated bitlocker as fast as possible, thanks.

Reza-Ameri 16,831 Reputation points

2021-12-15T16:49:11.393+00:00

This is not a normal behavior because Home edition of the Windows won't support BitLocker and you won't be able to use it.
Have you encrypted the disk using other device?
Are you sure it is not using different encryption tools?
Was there any Blue Screen error during the process?
Did you copy files or cut them?
Vili S 26 Reputation points

2021-12-15T20:53:13.367+00:00

First I switched my hard drive from my old Windows 10 pc to my new Windows 11 pc (then the drive was working without any problems), but then I put the same hard drive back inside my old computer for some file transfering (copying files from my old SSD to another drive).

During the file transfering from SSD to HD my screen went white like it wasn't responsing. I pressed restart and the "restarting pc" text was stuck on my screen which made me have to turn off my pc using the physical power button. There was no blue screen.

After the restart I got the error that it was bitlocked. Even on my old PC I got the same error "The BitLocker Encryption on This Drive isn't Compatible with Your Version of Windows" as on my new PC.

So maybe my drive had bugged when switching in between of these 2 windows versions, but so far I haven't got a solution for this and I think there are other people currently stuck at the same position.

I have not touched any of my bitlocker settings on both PC's before this.
Reza-Ameri 16,831 Reputation points

2021-12-16T15:25:28.057+00:00

Are you able to boot into Windows?
If yes, do you see a lock icon in your hard disk?
Does it prevent you from booting into the Windows?
Do you have any backup of those data?
Vili S 26 Reputation points

2021-12-16T22:08:18.4+00:00

Yes I am able to boot into Windows, everything is working normally except I cant open my hard drive because its bitlocked. The drive has a yellow bitlock icon. I don't have backup of the drive's data.
I didnt do backup because first time I switched the hard drive to this new Windows 11 PC I had all my data accessible, that time I just wanted to make sure that the drive works in my new PC so I can go back to my old PC to transfer some old SSD files to the drive.
MMK 1 Reputation point

2022-05-31T11:34:06.383+00:00

Windows 10 Home does support Bitlocker and can encrypt your hardrive silently and store a recovery key to Microsoft account or Azure AD device object if the device is AAD registered.

Try command: manage-bde -status

If you get
......Percentage Encrypted: 100,0%
......Protection Status: Protection Off
your harddrive is encrypted but a clear key is used. You should be able to boot from that HDD without a key.

If you get
......Percentage Encrypted: 100,0%
......Protection Status: Protection On
you need a recovery key. Check your Microsoft account or Azure AD account if you have for example installed O365 from your school account.

More info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-device-encryption-overview-windows-10#bitlocker-device-encryption
Con Phillips 1 Reputation point

2022-09-24T12:23:02.603+00:00

I have this problem as well. In my case, it occurred after having to restore my machine from Windows 11 back to Windows 10 following my ill-fated migration to Windows 11.
Bogus Love 0 Reputation points

2023-01-19T00:23:54.4933333+00:00

any solution? i have same problem. my hdd drive dont work with win 7, 8.1, 10. no comment

7 answers

Vili S 26 Reputation points

2022-05-31T11:41:23.997+00:00
I tried manage-bde -status and it says:

"Disk volumes that can be protected with
BitLocker Drive Encryption:
Volume D: [Label Unknown]
[Data Volume]

Size: Unknown GB BitLocker Version: None Conversion Status: Unknown Percentage Encrypted: Unknown%

ERROR: An error occurred (code 0x80070057):"

It stays locked.
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2 people found this answer helpful.
erbrma 1 Reputation point

2022-09-06T15:23:26.257+00:00

I have exact same error

Amir Khan 1 Reputation point

2022-10-14T08:20:21.887+00:00

same issue

Tazwar Faiaz 0 Reputation points

2023-02-02T21:18:34.6+00:00

Same issue

SHUBHAM SURYAWANSHI 0 Reputation points

2023-05-18T16:33:04.27+00:00

is issue has been solved? if yes then please let me know . i am also facing same issue

moses mafusire 0 Reputation points

2024-01-22T23:29:17.74+00:00

Hello, were ever able to solve this issue. I have the exact same problem.

claude 67 0 Reputation points

2024-03-04T16:32:52.1866667+00:00

Hi, me to the same issue pls have any one the solution
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ABDELLAH AIT SI AHMED 6 Reputation points

2022-09-03T19:57:40.85+00:00

i have the same problem
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1 person found this answer helpful.
CyberMedics.org 1 Reputation point

2022-10-31T18:19:57.147+00:00

Did anyone find a solution to the bitlocker encryption on this drive isn't compatible?
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Kapil Arya 7,596 Reputation points MVP

2021-12-17T07:23:34.98+00:00

Hello,

Can you confirm if this is Home edition, because usually it doesn't supports BitLocker feature.

If this is a Dell system, there is known issue of automatic BitLocker enabled. Refer this Dell support article for more info:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-in/000124701/automatic-windows-device-encryption-bitlocker-on-dell-systems

Also, see if this fix helps you:

https://www.kapilarya.com/the-bitlocker-encryption-on-this-drive-isnt-compatible-with-your-version-of-windows

Hope this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.
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Vili S 26 Reputation points

2021-12-17T11:40:54.877+00:00

My old PC had Windows 10 Home edition and bitlocker turned on by itself in there. It's not a Dell PC.

My Drive status is now Unknown (Bitlocker-encrypted). It also was RAW type at some point but not anymore. So I think my drive was damaged during the file transfer fail on my old PC and bitlocker thought it was some shady process and became locked by itself. Switching the drive in between of Windows 11 Home and Windows 10 Home may have made the drive bugged. It's definitely a bug/error by Windows and needs to be fixed.

I am the owner of my hard drive but Windows is blocking my access to it. It never should lock me out without my permission, I am missing my work and important data because of this error/bug and need a solution for this.
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Reza-Ameri 16,831 Reputation points

2021-12-17T15:39:23.46+00:00

I advise you to visit the following articles:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/troubleshoot-bitlocker
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/ts-bitlocker-recovery-issues
There are certain troubleshooting steps there and they might help.
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Vili S 26 Reputation points

2021-12-17T21:19:12.08+00:00

I am not sure which one of these troubleshoots to follow. Is anything possible anyways if I dont have the recovery key or password?

Reza-Ameri 16,831 Reputation points

2021-12-18T16:15:59.263+00:00

Your issue is strange because normally when you perform a encryption it will generate the key.
However, as you mentioned you are running a edition of the Windows which is not supporting the BitLocker.
In general you won't be able to open a file without the recovery key.
However, you may follow steps in articles and may be find some clue on how to solve the issue.

Vili S 26 Reputation points

2021-12-19T12:06:16.16+00:00

It became bitlocked probably because the file transfer process failed and the drive got corrupted. So that is a bug on Windows 10 + Bitlocker. It seems that I can't remove the bitlock option from anywhere. Is there any other possible ways to recover the data from the drive?

Reza-Ameri 16,831 Reputation points

2021-12-19T16:01:18.433+00:00

Do you have access to a Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise edition?
If yes, then try and see if you are able to unencrypt it or not.

Vili S 26 Reputation points

2021-12-19T16:29:31.07+00:00

Hi, I don't have access to those different windows versions. I should not have to spend any money in order to get a problem fixed that was caused by Windows/Microsoft.

Vili S 26 Reputation points

2022-09-03T19:59:24.917+00:00

Still no solution

NGO Dac Thuong 1 Reputation point

2022-09-23T07:46:23.163+00:00

Hi. I just got the same problem. I have my external drive connected to my PC. Then the PC crashed for unknown reason. After it restarted, my external drive was bitlocked. Tried to look for solution but so far unsuccessful.
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Hieu Le 1 Reputation point

2022-12-05T09:08:47.157+00:00

i got the same issue. i can open my data before that, but after Update some package of Win11 then got it.
i tried rollback and uninstall package but all not effecting.
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