How to Turn Off BitLocker in Windows 10

To turn off BitLocker in Windows 10, select Start, type BitLocker, and open Manage BitLocker. Next to the drive, select Turn off BitLocker, then confirm. Windows decrypts the drive, which can take a while, but you can keep using your PC.

Applies to: Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. For Windows 10 Home, see the Device encryption section. Checked against Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn on September 27, 2026.

You need an administrator account. Before you start, back up the drive’s recovery key in case something goes wrong. If your PC belongs to a school or workplace, BitLocker may be required, so check with your IT department first.

Save your recovery key first

If something goes wrong partway through, Windows can ask for the 48-digit recovery key. Make sure you have it before you start.

• In Manage BitLocker, select Back up your recovery key, then save it to your Microsoft account, save it to a file on another drive, or print it.
• If you sign in with a Microsoft account, the key may already be saved. Check your Microsoft account’s recovery keys page.
• To see it from a command, open an admin Command Prompt and type manage-bde -protectors -get C:. The key is listed under Numerical Password.

Turn off BitLocker in Control Panel

1. Select Start, type BitLocker, and select Manage BitLocker. You can also go to Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
2. Find the drive. C: is under Operating system drive, other internal drives are under Fixed data drives, and USB drives are under Removable data drives.
3. Select Turn off BitLocker next to that drive.

4. Select Turn off BitLocker again to confirm.

5. Wait while the drive decrypts. You can check progress in the same window. When it’s done, the drive shows BitLocker off.

If you only need BitLocker out of the way for a short time, such as for a BIOS update, select Suspend protection instead. It turns back on after you restart. On a newer PC, the steps are in our guide on how to remove BitLocker in Windows 11.

Turn off BitLocker with a command

1. Right-click Start and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Type manage-bde -off C: and press Enter. Use the letter of the drive you want to decrypt.
3. To check progress, type manage-bde -status.

For more on opening an admin window, see how to run as administrator in Windows 10.

Turn off BitLocker with PowerShell

1. Right-click Start and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Type Disable-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:" and press Enter. Change the letter for a different drive.
3. To check progress, type Get-BitLockerVolume. The drive is done when VolumeStatus shows FullyDecrypted.

Turn off Device encryption (Windows 10 Home)

Windows 10 Home doesn’t have BitLocker Drive Encryption, but some PCs use Device encryption, which is built on BitLocker. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Device encryption and select Turn off. If you don’t see Device encryption, your PC doesn’t have it.

If BitLocker won’t turn off

• Turn off BitLocker is grayed out or missing: your organization may manage BitLocker through policy. Ask your IT team before changing it.
• The drive is locked: unlock it first by selecting Unlock drive and entering the password or recovery key.
• Decryption seems stuck: keep the PC plugged in and awake. If you restart, decryption picks up where it left off. Run manage-bde -status to see the percentage.
• Access denied in Command Prompt: the window isn’t running as administrator. Close it and open an admin window.

Frequently asked questions

Will turning off BitLocker delete my files?

No. It decrypts the drive and leaves your files where they are. Keep a backup anyway; see how to back up Windows 10.

Why can’t I find Manage BitLocker?

It’s only in Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. On Home, look for Device encryption instead.

Can I protect just a few files instead?

Yes. See how to encrypt a file or folder in Windows 10.

How long does decrypting take?

It depends on how big and fast the drive is and how much data is on it. A small SSD may finish in minutes, while a large hard drive can take hours. You can use the PC while it works.

Can I turn BitLocker back on later?

Yes. Open Manage BitLocker and select Turn on BitLocker. Save the new recovery key it gives you, since the old one won’t work anymore.

Should I suspend or turn off BitLocker?

Suspend it for short jobs like BIOS or firmware updates, since it comes back on its own after a restart. Turn it off only if you want the drive unencrypted for good.

Microsoft’s guides are BitLocker Drive Encryption, Device Encryption in Windows, and manage-bde off. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: how to lock the d Drive in Windows 10 with BitLocker.