Hello,
thank you for posting on the Microsoft Community Forums.
Here are some steps you can try to ensure the drive is properly relocked:
- Make sure you are running the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by typing
cmd
in the search bar, right-clicking on Command Prompt, and selecting "Run as administrator". Then, use the following command: manage-bde -lock E: -ForceDismount
Ensure that you replace E:
with the correct drive letter of your external USB SSD.
- Double-check that you are using the correct drive letter for your external USB SSD. Sometimes, the drive letter might change when you reconnect the drive.
- You can also try using the BitLocker management interface to lock the drive. Go to “Control Panel -> System and Security -> BitLocker Drive Encryption”, and look for options to manage your BitLocker To Go drive.
- If the above steps do not work, you can try physically disconnecting the USB drive and then reconnecting it. This should automatically lock the drive.
- Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve issues with BitLocker. After restarting, check if the drive is locked.
You can also refer to this thread: How to turn BitLocker back on after turning it off to access external - Microsoft Community.
Hope it helps.
Best regards,
Lei