BitLocker Protection - Suspend or Resume in Windows 8

How to Suspend or Resume BitLocker Protection of a Drive in Windows 8

information   Information
When you turn on BitLocker Drive Encryption for a OS drive, fixed data drive, or removable data drive to help protect the files on them, you could temporarily suspend BitLocker protection—for example, if you need to install new software (ex: motherboard firmware) that BitLocker might otherwise block—and then resume when you're ready.

This tutorial will show you how to suspend or resume BitLocker protection of an unlocked encrypted OS drive, fixed data drive, or removable data drive in Windows 8.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

Note   Note
Suspending BitLocker protection for a drive does not decrypt (turn off BitLocker) it.

When you suspend BitLocker protection for an OS drive, it will remain unlocked and unprotected until you either manually resume BitLocker protection for the OS drive or it'll resume BitLocker protection automatically the next time you restart the PC.

When you suspend BitLocker protection for a data drive, it will remain unlocked and unprotected until you manually resume BitLocker protection for the drive. This is even after you restart the PC.





OPTION ONE

To Suspend or Resume BitLocker Protection of Windows 8 Drive


NOTE: This option can only be used on the Windows 8 OS drive. For other drives, see OPTION TWO below instead.
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​
2. To Suspend BitLocker Protection of Windows 8 OS Drive
A) Do step 2B, 2C, or 2D below for how you would like to start.​
B) Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on BitLocker Drive Encryption icon, and go to step 2E below.​
C) In File Explorer, open Computer, right click or press and hold on the encrypted Windows 8 drive, click/tap on Manage BitLocker, and go to step 2E below. (see screenshot below step 2D)​
D) In File Explorer, open Computer, select (highlight) the encrypted Windows 8 drive, click/tap on Manage (Drive Tools) tab, click/tap on BitLocker icon in the ribbon, click/tap Manage BitLocker, and go to step 2E below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_Suspend-1.jpg
E) Under Operating system drive, click/tap on the arrow to expand the Windows 8 OS drive, and click/tap on the Suspend protection link. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_Suspend-2.jpg
F) If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.​
G) Click/tap on Yes, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_Suspend-3.jpg
3. To Resume BitLocker Protection of Windows 8 OS Drive
A) Do step 3B, 3C, 3D, or 3E below for how you would like to start.​
B) On your desktop, click/tap on the BitLocker icon in the taskbar notification area, and go to step 3C2 below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_Resume-1.jpg
C1) Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on BitLocker Drive Encryption icon, and go to step 3D below.​
C2) Under Operating system drive, click/tap on the arrow to expand the Windows 8 OS drive, and click/tap on the Resume protection link, and go to step 3F below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_Resume-3.jpg
D) In File Explorer, open Computer, right click or press and hold on the encrypted Windows 8 drive, click/tap on Resume BitLocker protection, and go to step 3F below. (see screenshot below step 2D)​
E) In File Explorer, open Computer, select (highlight) the encrypted Windows 8 drive, click/tap on Manage (Drive Tools) tab, click/tap on BitLocker icon in the ribbon, click/tap Resume BitLocker protection, and go to step 3F below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_Resume-2.jpg
F) If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.​
4. The Windows 8 OS drive will now have it's BitLocker protection suspended or resumed.​






OPTION TWO

Suspend or Resume BitLocker Protection of Drive in Command Prompt


NOTE: This option can be used on any unlocked BitLocker encrypted OS drive, fixed data drive, or removable data drive.
1. Open an elevated command prompt, and do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.​
2. To See the Current Protection Status of a Drive
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Substitute F in the command below with the drive letter you want to suspend or resume BitLocker protection of.​
manage-bde -status F:
B) You will now see the current Protection Status of the drive (ex: F: ) as either Protection On (resumed) or Protection Off (suspended). (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_Suspend_Resume_CMD-1.jpg
C) Go to step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.​
3. To Suspend BitLocker Protection of a Drive
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Substitute F in the command below with the drive letter you want to suspend BitLocker protection of.​
manage-bde -protectors -disable F:
BitLocker_Suspend_Resume_CMD-2.jpg
4. To Resume BitLocker Protection of a Drive
NOTE: If you like, you could also use step 3 in OPTION ONE above to resume BitLocker protection of the drive.​
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Substitute F in the command below with the drive letter you want to resume BitLocker protection of.​
manage-bde -protectors -enable F:
BitLocker_Suspend_Resume_CMD-3.jpg
5. The drive will now have it's BitLocker protection suspended or resumed.​

That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • BitLocker_Suspend.png
    BitLocker_Suspend.png
    17.9 KB · Views: 282
Last edited:
Back
Top