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I am having no luck in trying to figure out why the Microsoft Windows Bitlocker Drive Encryption app will not recognize a new Seagate external (USB) hard drive. I have other external drives (Toshiba, HP) and have had no problems with them. When I bring up the Bitlocker control window (under System and Security), that drive does not appear in the Removable data drive section. Also, in File Explorer under the "Drive Tools" tab the Bitlocker button is not functional. There are no problems with the drive as I have successfully copied files to it. I'm lost so would appreciate any guidance.
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.
I also had the same problem, not only with Seagate external USB drives, but also with some USB flash drives not being recognized by Bitlocker. I found that in each of these cases, for whatever reason, the volume partitions were marked as "active" in Disk Management. I was able to use Diskpart at the command prompt to change the relevant volume to "inactive." I then removed and reinstalled the device and Bitlocker was then able to recognize them.
Hope this helps.
It would help all of us unnerds if the nerds / experts of this community always sanctions their adwise by references or explicit and exhaustive; complete commands.
More of wikipedia style and less of social internet pals showing of.
eg:
https://kb.paragon-software.com/article/1136
To remove Active flag:
diskpart
list disk
Remember the desired disk number
select disk #
where # is the desired disk number
list partition
Remember the desired partition number
select partition #
where # is the desired partition number
inactive
Et voilà!
This works perfectly with an additional line from GeneAT's comment before
8 "remove and reinstall the device" (i.e. plug it back in)
"and Bitlocker was then able to recognize them."
Sorry to be a complete dolt, but I've never used Disk Management and Diskpart before. I'm having the same problem as others with an external drive and would like to make the changes you have suggested but not quite sure how.
Had the same issue and this tip worked.
Thank you