A blue, glowing shield with a padlock on it, representing tech and data security, encryption, and online privacy.
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Windows 10 and eleven'south BitLocker feature, for Professional and Enterprise editions, encrypts your drive to help keep your data secure. If you don't want this encryption for some reason, it'due south easy to disable BitLocker and decrypt your bulldoze. We'll evidence you lot how to do that.

Is Disabling BitLocker Safety?

If you're concerned about privacy and security, know that removing BitLocker encryption makes your drive information more than accessible in certain situations. For example, if y'all use a dual-boot PC, the other operating system can access the data stored on your drive if you've disabled BitLocker. Too, if your laptop gets stolen or y'all lose it, whoever has information technology can access the unencrypted information on your machine's drive.

If your concern is with remote hackers and thieves accessing your bulldoze's information while y'all're connected to the internet, keep in heed that BitLocker doesn't protect against that; your data is already decrypted while yous're using the machine. It's the job of your firewall, your antivirus software, and yourself as the user to protect you from online threats. A person or another operating organisation with concrete access to your device volition be your primary concern if you choose to proceed.

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Turn Off BitLocker Encryption on Windows x or 11

To disable BitLocker on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you'll follow these steps. We used a Windows 11 PC below to demonstrate the steps, only Windows x is most the aforementioned.

To go started, open the "Showtime" menu, search for "Control Panel," and select "Control Panel" in the search results.

Select "Control Panel" in the search results.

When Control Panel opens, click "Organization and Security."

Choose "System and Security."

On the "System and Security" folio, cull "BitLocker Bulldoze Encryption."

Select "BitLocker Drive Encryption."

Side by side to the drive where you've enabled BitLocker, click "Turn Off BitLocker."

Select "Turn Off BitLocker."

Select the "Plow Off BitLocker" option.

Windows will at present start decrypting the contents of your drive, which can accept quite some time, especially if your drive has a lot of content on information technology. In the meantime, you can continue to work with your files as usual.

Your bulldoze is now decrypted and yous can access the data on information technology however you desire.


If you're looking for an alternative to BitLocker, consider using Veracrypt, which is a gratuitous and open-source encryption tool.

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