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
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   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

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1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 for how you would like to start.​

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2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on BitLocker Drive Encryption icon, and go to step 5 below.​

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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)​

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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)​

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5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​

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6. To Turn Off Auto-unlock of a Data Drive​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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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)​

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7. To Turn On Auto-unlock of a Data Drive​

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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)​

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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.​

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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.

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1. Open an elevated command prompt.​

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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.​

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manage-bde -status E:​

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3. You will now see the current Automatic Unlock status of the data drive (ex: E: ) as either enabled or disable. (see screenshot above)​

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4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.​

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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.​

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A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below.​

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manage-bde -autounlock -disable E:​

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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.​

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A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below.​

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manage-bde -autounlock -enable E:​

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7. When successfully finished, you can now close the command prompt if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Turn On or Off BitLocker for Windows 8 OS Drive with or without TPM
• How to Copy the BitLocker Startup Key for the OS Drive in Windows 8
• How to Turn On or Off BitLocker for Fixed Data Drives in Windows 8
• How to Turn On or Off BitLocker To Go for Removable Data Drives in Windows 8
• How to Choose BitLocker Drive Encryption Method and Cipher Strength in Windows 8
• How to Back Up the BitLocker Recovery Key of a Drive in Windows 8
• How to Unlock a Drive using BitLocker Recovery in Windows 8
• How to Use BitLocker Repair Tool to Recover a Drive in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Add "Lock Drive" to Unlocked BitLocker Drives Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change or Reset the BitLocker Password of a Drive in Windows 8
• How to Allow or Prevent Standard Users from Changing BitLocker Password or Pin in Windows 8
• How to Check BitLocker Status of Drive in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[talha2092]

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

 

[Brink]

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?

 

[HectorMA1979]

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?

 

[Brink]

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.