Each Windows 10 and Windows 11 have a safety function known as BitLocker. BitLocker is a file encryption software that may password shield your Arduous disk drives and SSD. Home windows 11 additionally has an addon known as BitLocker To Go, which covers the detachable drives.
Whereas BitLocker is a good safety function, when you unlock a locked drive, you’ll be able to’t shut it once more and not using a restart. Restarting Home windows to lock a protected drive isn’t the best choice, particularly in the event you usually go away your PC unattended.
BitLocker Supervisor additionally doesn’t give you an choice to lock an unlocked drive. Therefore, you have to depend on Command Immediate or PowerShell to immediately lock a BitLocker encrypted drive with out restarting your Home windows 10/11 laptop.
Additionally learn: How to Change the BitLocker Password in Windows 11
3 Methods to Lock BitLocker Encrypted Drive in Home windows
Subsequently, if you’re on the lookout for methods to lock the BitLocker encrypted drive with out restarting Home windows, you might be studying the proper information. Beneath, we’ve shared a step-by-step information on locking the BitLocker encrypted drive with out restart. Let’s get began.
1) Lock BitLocker Encrypted Drive utilizing a Bat File
You possibly can create a Bat file for locking a particular Bitlocker encrypted drive in your Home windows 11 laptop. Right here’s what you have to do.
1. First, right-click anyplace in your desktop and choose New > Textual content Doc.
2. On the Textual content doc, enter manage-bde -lock G:
Essential: Substitute G with the precise drive letter you need to lock.
3. As soon as performed, click on the File button and choose Save As.
4. Title it Lock Drive.bat and click on on the Save button on the file identify.
5. Now, if you wish to lock an unlocked BitLocker encrypted drive, right-click on the Bat file you’ve created and choose Run as administrator.
That’s it! That is how one can lock the BitLocker encrypted drive with out restarting on Home windows 10 and 11.
2) Lock a BitLocker Drive utilizing Command Immediate
You can too use Command Immediate utility to lock a BitLocker encrypted drive. Right here’s methods to lock a BitLocker drive utilizing Command Immediate on Home windows 10/11.
1. Click on on the Home windows Search and kind in Command Immediate. Proper-click on the Command Immediate and choose Run as administrator.
2. On the Command Immediate, execute the command:
manage-bde -lock <drive letter>: -ForceDismount
Be aware: Substitute <drive letter> with the drive you need to lock.
3. As soon as performed, press the Enter button in your keyboard to lock the protected drive with out restarting.
3) Lock BitLocker Encrypted Drive utilizing PowerShell
Just like the Command Immediate, you’ll be able to even make the most of the PowerShell utility to lock an unlocked Bitlocker drive. It’s essential comply with among the easy steps we’ve shared under.
1. First, click on on the Home windows search and kind in PowerShell. Subsequent, right-click on the Powershell app and choose Run as administrator.
2. On the Powershell, sort Lock-BitLocker -MountPoint "<drive letter>:" -ForceDismount
and hit the Enter button.
Be aware: Substitute <drive letter> with the precise drive letter you need to lock.
That’s it! It will lock the unlocked Bitlocker drive in your Home windows PC.
Additionally learn: How to Force Delete Undeletable Files in Windows 11
So, these are the few greatest strategies to lock the BitLocker drive in Home windows 10/11 with out restart. If you understand another methods to lock a BitLocker drive, tell us within the feedback under.