Can not turn off BitLocker

Question

Lenovo Ideapad 3

Windows 11

Really hoping someone has come across this and found a solution. I am currently trying to turn off BitLocker and have been unsuccessful. There is no setting in the control panel for BitLocker, but I was able to find a setting in system settings. When I click "Turn off BitLocker" I receive the error in the picture below (Failed to open the BitLocker control panel tool. Error code: 0x80004005). Also in system settings is an option for "device encryption settings." When I click on that the screen flashes and system settings closes. Any and all help is appreciated, I'm either really terrible at using Google or this isn't too common of a problem. I was only able to find one other example on this site. Thank you!

Answer 1

Hello,

Here are a few suggestions to help you troubleshoot the issue:

Run BitLocker troubleshooting tool: Windows provides a built-in BitLocker troubleshooting tool that can help identify and resolve common issues. To access it, go to Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption and click on the “Troubleshoot problems with BitLocker” link.

Check for administrative privileges: Ensure that you are logged in with an administrator account or have the necessary administrative privileges to modify BitLocker settings. If not, try logging in with an administrator account and then attempt to turn off BitLocker.

Disable BitLocker using Command Prompt: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following command to turn off BitLocker for the specified drive:

manage-bde -off <drive letter>:

Replace <drive letter> with the actual drive letter of the BitLocker-encrypted drive.

BTW, if your Windows 11 is a Home version, BitLocker w.n’t be available here.

No Option to Turn Off Bitlocker on Windows 11 [Fix] (windowsreport.com)

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

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Answer 2

The error code 0x80004005 is a generic Windows error that can occur for various reasons. In the context of BitLocker, it often indicates a problem with system permissions or a corrupted BitLocker configuration.

Open PowerShell as Admin and type the following command:

Disable-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:"

Replace C: with the drive letter where BitLocker is enabled.

Booting into Safe Mode can help isolate issues with drivers or services that might be causing the error. You may also try resetting TPM.

Answer 3

Hello,

See if this fix helps you:

https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-cant-turn-off-bitlocker-in-windows-11-10

Let us know if this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog by a trusted Microsoft MVP.

Answer 4

Try opening cmd as an administrator (win key+ R, type in cmd, then hold down control, shift, then press enter) and type in the following command:

manage-bde -off <drive letter>

You can also turn it off in control panel.

Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption, then click the link "Troubleshoot problems with BitLocker" to fix problems

Also, in services.msc try right clicking the service, selecting properties, and changing the startup type to Automatic OR Automatic (Delayed Start)I prefer Delayed start.

I hope this works,

PG