How to remove the Bitlocker password?

Question

My disks are as follows:

My data drive, D:, is encrypted with BItlocker and a Password. I find that entering the password on each reboot a nuisance and it interrupts the booting process if something on D: has to be accessed. I tried "Remove password", but it responds with:

Is this accurate? I thought there is still the Recovery key.

How do I remove the Password while retaining Bitlocker encryption with Recovery key?

I tried "Turn on auto-unlock" option (listed under my D: drive) but it responds with:

My OS is on my C: drive which is not encrypted. What has OS drive got to do with removing my password on my D: drive?

Bottomline: how do I not have to enter a password on each reboot while having Bitlocker?

***moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Recovery and backup***

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

Based on the description, I understand your question is related to Bitlocker.

According to your description, there is a way you can keep BitLocker on but don't need to enter password on each reboot.

Open Control Panel, click on BitLocker Drive Encryption. Click Change how drive is unlocked at startup for the OS drive you want to configure.

Choose one of the following options:

Unlock with a PIN: Enter a PIN that meets the specified requirements and click Set PIN.

Automatically unlock with TPM: Click Let BitLocker automatically unlock my drive and then click Finish.

Have a nice day. 

Best Regards,

Molly

Answer 2

Molly, thanks but I can't seem to find "Change how drive is unlocked at startup" for the OS drive. As seen in my post, the OS drive has only one option "Turn on BItlocker".

I don't need or want Bitlocker for the OS drive. I just need it for D:.

Answer 3

Hello,

This is strange because only if you encrypted the OS drive, then you will need to enter bitlocker password when startup. Please double check which drive is your OS drive.

Best reagrds,

Molly

Answer 4

My Desktop, among other personal folders, is mapped to a folder on the D: drive. When Windows starts and opens the Desktop, it needs access and hence asks for the password, and the whole booting process is paused until the correct password is provided.

It so happens that the Desktop will always need access to the Bitlocker driver on startup. Even if my Desktop is not on D:, attempting to open any folder on D: will require the password.

I would just like to remove the password on D: and just rely on the Recovery Key to recover, should I ever need that.

Answer 5

Hello,

Try move desktop file folder from drive D back to C, please try not map file folders which need to be used during bootup to drive D with Bitlocker encrypted. Then double check below info:

Run below command to double check drive status:

diskpart 

list volume

Then run this command to check the Bitlocker status of corresponding Drive:

manage-bde -status

manage-bde -status C:

manage-bde -status D:
manage-bde -off D:

Best regards,

Molly