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How to Unlock BitLocker with DOS Command: A Simple Guide
If your drive is encrypted with BitLocker and you’re unable to access it, don’t worry. There’s an easy way to unlock your drive using command prompts. This method is handy if you’ve lost your password or recovery key but still want to access your data. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you through the process.
Acceptable Solution: Unlock BitLocker Drive Using Command Prompt
Before starting, make sure you have your recovery key or password handy. Here’s what you need to do:
-
Open Command Prompt with Administrator Rights
- Click on the Start menu, type
cmd
. - Right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
- Click on the Start menu, type
-
Identify Your Drive Letter
- Type
diskpart
and press Enter. - At the DISKPART prompt, type
list volume
and press Enter. - Find your encrypted drive by looking at the label or size, and note down the drive letter (like D:, E:, etc.).
- Type
exit
to leave DiskPart.
- Type
-
Unlock the Drive with BitLocker Command
-
To unlock the drive, enter the following command:
manage-bde -unlock X: -RecoveryPassword YOUR-RECOVERY-KEY
-
Replace
X:
with your drive letter. -
Replace
YOUR-RECOVERY-KEY
with your actual recovery key — a long string of numbers. -
For example:
manage-bde -unlock D: -RecoveryPassword 123456-789012-345678-901234-567890-123456-789012-345678
-
-
Optional: Remove the Password Requirement
-
If you want the drive to unlock automatically in the future, you can disable the password:
manage-bde -protectors -delete X: -type TPM
-
Or add a new key protector if needed:
manage-bde -changepassword X:
-
-
Verify that the Drive is Unlocked
-
To check if your drive is unlocked, just try to access it through File Explorer.
-
Or, run:
manage-bde -status X:
-
Look for the “Protection Status” — it should be listed as “Off” or “Unlocked”.
-
Additional Tips
- Keep Your Recovery Key Safe: Always store your recovery key securely. It’s the only way to unlock your drive if you forget your password.
- Be Careful with Commands: Using command prompt incorrectly can cause issues, so follow steps carefully.
- Backup Important Data: Once you access your drive, consider backing up critical information.
This approach gives you control over your encrypted drive, helping you regain access without losing your data. When dealing with sensitive information, always handle recovery keys and passwords carefully.