Share via

How to turn BitLocker back on after turning it off to access external drive

Anonymous
2018-10-05T05:59:36+00:00

This seems like something that should be incredibly easy, but it isn't.

I have a BitLocker protected external drive connected to my computer. When I unlock it in order to access it, I do not see any way to lock it up again other than to physically disconnect and reconnect it. This seems like a really dumb way to do it, but I do not see any other way. When I right click on the unlocked drive and go to Manage BitLocker, the only thing that looks like it might be the way to do it is "Turn on auto-lock" but when I click that, absolutely nothing happens. The drive remains unlocked.

Can anyone help?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

6 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-10-05T10:22:47+00:00

    Leave it to Microsoft to make something that should be simple complicated.

    In case anyone is interested, I've figured this out myself, and here's the solution:

    To relock an unlocked Bitlocker drive in Windows 10 without restarting or reconnecting USB:

    If necessary, run as administrator by typing CMD in the search field, then right click on the cmd.exe icon and choose Run as Administrator

    Then open the Command Prompt and type:

    manage-bde -lock drive letter:

    (This is the correct command. What is included in the Bitlocker instructions I was referred to is wrong.)

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-10-05T13:30:20+00:00

    I'm talking about encrypting something for the first time. I'm talking about unlocking a drive that has already been encrypted and then locking it again. I already have the encryption key.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. VARADHARAJAN K 9,676 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-10-05T10:16:11+00:00

    I would you to recommend use bitlocker UI application to enable encryption because it will display recovery key after completion of process.

    I enabled bitlocker through cmd,   but it given recovery key, so I disabled again

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2018-10-05T09:25:20+00:00

    Thanks, but I'm still confused. I can't believe how complicated this. Why can't it just be a right click menu option? I have gone through the massive amount of info in the page you have sent me to, and as far as I can tell, I have to open the Command Prompt, and type 

    manage-bde driveletter -lock

    Seriously? How is anyone supposed to know that? And is that even correct? The instructions don't actually say to enter this in the Command Prompt. Is that correct? If so, that's kind of dumb. I'm familiar with the Command Prompt, but I suspect a large percentage--maybe the majority--of Windows users have no idea what it is.

    And these instructions don't even work. The drive letter in my case is G, so I'm entering 

    manage-bde G -lock

    and what I get is

    ERROR: Invalid Syntax.

    "g" was not understood.

    Type "manage-bde -?" for usage.

    What the hell does that mean?

    Rather than referring me back to this page, can you please just tell me what to do?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. VARADHARAJAN K 9,676 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-10-05T07:52:59+00:00

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments