What is Bitlocker? Easy-to-follow guide on enabling and disabling Bitlocker on your computer

Bitlocker is a security solution for drives and data on the Windows 10 operating system. Instead of having to use folder encryption software or search for ways to hide files, Bitlocker is the most powerful and effective choice. To understand more about how to use it, please refer to the article below!

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Since its introduction by Microsoft, decoding Bitlocker has been impossible. This security system prevents others from accessing or extracting data even when the hard drive is stolen or lost.

What is Bitlocker? Benefits of securing data with Bitlocker

BitLocker on Windows 10 is a data security and encryption tool that protects information on your computer from unauthorized access. After applying this encryption method, your computer will still function as normal.

The main function of BitLocker is to provide a layer of protection for your data files. The data will be encrypted on the drive, and others cannot read them without the appropriate login information, such as a Windows password.

Thanks to Bitlocker, even if the computer is infected with malware, hackers cannot easily access or modify the data on the computer. BitLocker complies with basic encryption standards, ensuring compatibility and information security. This is crucial for businesses.

BitLocker integrates tightly with Active Directory and provides flexible management capabilities. Administrators can set their own security policies and remotely monitor encryption status. In case the computer is old or malfunctioning, even if the drive is deleted or inserted into another computer, the data cannot be read, reducing the risk of destruction or data loss. BitLocker has the feature to encrypt external storage devices such as USB or external hard drives, ensuring the highest level of data security while on the move.

Enabling BitLocker does not require much cost but provides good security. BitLocker will automatically unlock the drive when you enter your Windows password. Note that to use BitLocker, the computer chip must support Trusted Platform Module 1.2.

Simple guide to enable/disable BitLocker

How to enable BitLocker

  • Step 1: Go to Settings and click on the search box (Find a setting).
  • Step 2: Type the keyword “Bit” in the line “Manage BitLocker.”

  • Step 3: Select “Turn on BitLocker”.

  • Step 4: Choose “Save to a file” to save the key.

  • Step 5: Click on “Encrypt used disk space only” > Select “Next”.

Next, select “New encryption mode” > Click “Next”.

Then, click “Start encrypting” to complete.

How to disable BitLocker

  • Step 1: Go to Settings and click on the search box (Find a setting).
  • Step 2: Type the keyword “Bit” and select “Device encryption setting”.

Tick “Device encryption” to turn it off and click “Turn off” to complete the process of disabling BitLocker.

Disable BitLocker using Local Group Policy Editor

This is another method that helps you disable BitLocker with a few simple steps.

  • Step 1: Search and select “Edit Group Policy”.
  • Step 2: Pay attention to the left menu table → First select “Computer Configuration” → Then select “Administrative Templates” → Select “Windows Components” → “BitLocker Drive Encryption” → Find “Fixed Data Drives” → Then double-click on “Deny write access to fixed drives not protected by BitLocker”.

  • Step 3: The settings panel will appear → Choose “Not Configured” or “Disable” → Then click “Apply” or “OK” to save the changes you just made.

After completing the steps, try restarting your computer to ensure that you have successfully turned off BitLocker!

How to disable BitLocker Services

With just 3 simple steps, you can disable BitLocker more easily as follows:

  • Step 1: First, press the Windows + R key combination → Enter “services.msc” → Press the Enter button.

  • Step 2: In the Services window → Find and double-click on “BitLocker Drive Encryption Service”.

  • Step 3: Next, in the “Startup Type” section, choose “Disable” → Finally, click “Apply” and then “OK”.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has provided you with more information about BitLocker and how to enable/disable BitLocker on your computer.

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Frequently asked questions

BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature included with certain versions of Microsoft Windows. It’s designed to protect data by providing encryption for entire volumes. BitLocker can be used to encrypt the hard drive of a lost or stolen device, making it impossible for unauthorized individuals to access the data stored on it.

BitLocker uses an encryption key, which is used to encrypt and decrypt data. This key is generated and protected by a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which is a secure cryptoprocessor that stores encryption keys. When BitLocker is enabled, the TPM seals the encryption key to the specific device, ensuring that the key is only released to the authorized operating system.

The main benefit of BitLocker is enhanced data security. By encrypting the entire disk, BitLocker provides an additional layer of protection against data theft or loss. It also offers improved data recovery options, as the encrypted data can be recovered even if the hard drive is damaged or corrupted.

To enable BitLocker, you’ll need to open the BitLocker Drive Encryption control panel and turn on the feature for the desired drive. You’ll then be prompted to choose how to unlock the drive during startup. You can use a password or a smart card, or you can have BitLocker unlock the drive automatically.

Disabling BitLocker is simple. Just open the BitLocker Drive Encryption control panel again and turn off the feature for the desired drive. You’ll be asked to provide a reason for disabling BitLocker, and then the decryption process will begin. Once it’s complete, your drive will no longer be encrypted.

Yes, BitLocker has specific system requirements. It’s available on certain editions of Windows, including Pro and Enterprise editions. Your device also needs a TPM version 1.2 or higher, and certain hardware configurations may require a compatible Trusted Computing Group (TCG)-compliant BIOS or UEFI firmware.

Yes, BitLocker can be used with external hard drives and USB drives. However, you’ll need to format the drive using the NTFS file system and enable the ‘Encrypt contents to secure data’ option in the drive’s properties.

If you forget your BitLocker password or lose your recovery key, you’ll need to use the BitLocker Recovery Password to unlock your drive. This password is generated when you set up BitLocker and should be stored in a secure location. Without the recovery password or key, you may not be able to access your encrypted data.