BitLocker Auto-unlock - Turn On or Off in Windows 8

How to Turn On or Off Auto-unlock of BitLocker Encrypted Data Drives in Windows 8


information   Information
Once a data drive has been protected with BitLocker, access to the drive is authenticated before the contents are displayed.

A fixed data drive that has been encrypted by BitLocker will either automatically be unlocked, or prompt for a smart card or password depending on how you configured it before being unlocked. Encrypted fixed data drives can be configured to automatically unlock when you sign in to Windows 8 after the operating system drive has been unlocked. To be able to automatically unlock fixed data drives, the OS drive that Windows 8 is installed on must also be encrypted by BitLocker.

When removable data drives encrypted by BitLocker are inserted into the computer, you will be prompted to provide a password or smart card. Automatic unlocking for removable data drives can be selected after the drive is encrypted without requiring the OS drive to also be encrypted by BitLocker. A removable data drive can be unlocked on any PC running Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Server 2012, or Windows 8.


This tutorial will show you how to quickly turn on or off auto-unlock of BitLocker protected fixed and removable data drives in Windows 8.






OPTION ONE

To Turn On or Off Auto-unlock of Data Drive in Manage BitLocker Settings


1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 for how you would like to start.​
2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on BitLocker Drive Encryption icon, and go to step 5 below.​
3. In File Explorer, open Computer, right click or press and hold on an unlocked encrypted fixed or removable data drive letter, click/tap on Manage BitLocker, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshots below step 4)​
4. In File Explorer, open Computer, select (highlight) an unlocked encrypted fixed or removable data drive letter you want to encrypt, click/tap on Manage (Drive Tools) tab, click/tap on BitLocker icon in the ribbon, click/tap Manage BitLocker, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshots below)​
Fixed_data_drive_Manage.jpg
Removable_data_drive_Manage.jpg
5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​
6. To Turn Off Auto-unlock of a Data Drive
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Under Fixed data drives or Removable data drives - BitLocker To Go, click/tap on an arrow to expand the data drive letter you want to manage, click/tap on the Turn off Auto-unlock link, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​
Turn_Off_auto-unlock.jpg
7. To Turn On Auto-unlock of a Data Drive
A) Under Fixed data drives or Removable data drives - BitLocker To Go, click/tap on an arrow to expand the data drive letter you want to manage, click/tap on the Turn on Auto-unlock link, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​
Turn_On_auto-unlock.jpg
8. If this was for a fixed data drive, then you may be prompted by UAC to click/tap on Yes (administrators) or enter an administrator's password (standard users) to approve.​
9. When finished, you can close the "BitLocker Drive Encryption" CP window if you like.​





OPTION TWO

To Turn On or Off Auto-unlock of Data Drive in Command Prompt


NOTE: You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
2. In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Substitute E in the command below with the drive letter of the unlocked encrypted fixed or removable data drive that you want to enable or disable auto-unlock for.​
manage-bde -status E:
BitLocker_AutoUnlock-CMD-1.jpg
3. You will now see the current Automatic Unlock status of the data drive (ex: E: ) as either enabled or disable. (see screenshot above)​
4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.​
5. To Turn Off Auto-unlock of a Data Drive
NOTE: This is the default setting. Substitute E in the command below with the drive letter of the unlocked encrypted fixed or removable data drive that you want to enable or disable auto-unlock for.​
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below.​
manage-bde -autounlock -disable E:
6. To Turn On Auto-unlock of a Data Drive
NOTE: Substitute E in the command below with the drive letter of the unlocked encrypted fixed or removable data drive that you want to enable or disable auto-unlock for.​
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below.​
manage-bde -autounlock -enable E:
7. When successfully finished, you can now close the command prompt if you like.​



That's it,
Shawn


 

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I can't Turn off auto-unlock,If I click turn off then open this type window Untitled.jpg...
Plzz Help me eightforums,com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hello Talha, and welcome to Eight Forums. :)

Auto-unlock is for data drives instead of an OS drive. Your OS drive is not encrypted by BitLocker, so there is nothing to be turned off for it.

Are you having some sort of issue with your OS drive?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Say I configured a much more complex password for my data drive, and a simpler one for the system drive. Reason I can't copy and paste during the boot, and I care more about my data than programs I can reinstall anytime. If I enable auto unlock does that render my data drive password useless? Which password is protecting my data?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    AMD
    CPU
    Ryzen 3
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    HyperX
    Graphics Card(s)
    Vega 8
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    Avast
Say I configured a much more complex password for my data drive, and a simpler one for the system drive. Reason I can't copy and paste during the boot, and I care more about my data than programs I can reinstall anytime. If I enable auto unlock does that render my data drive password useless? Which password is protecting my data?

Hello Hector, :)

Each BitLocker encrypted drive will have it's own method of unlocking it.

It depends on how you set to unlock the data drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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