How to Fix the BitLocker Drive That is Already Unlocked

Many users have encountered an error message stating that their hard drive is locked when, in fact, it has already been unlocked. Interestingly, some individuals have found a workaround by right-clicking and selecting the Open option from the context menu to access their drives.

Encountering BitLocker already unlocked message

If you see the message “The drive protected by BitLocker is already unlocked” while trying to access an unlocked partition on your device running Windows 11 or 10, consider the following solutions:

1. Restart your computer or Windows Explorer
2. Toggle the BitLocker auto-unlock setting
3. Disable and then re-enable BitLocker
4. Repair system image files
5. Clear the File Explorer cache
6. Check for Windows Updates
7. Modify File Explorer settings

Each solution is explored in more detail below:

1] Restart your computer or Windows Explorer

The initial approach involves restarting your system or Windows Explorer itself. To restart Windows Explorer, adhere to these steps:

1. Launch Task Manager.
2. Find Windows Explorer listed under the Processes tab.
3. Right-click on it and choose Restart.

Check if the issue remains after this operation.

2] Toggle the BitLocker auto-unlock feature

Consider turning off and then back on the BitLocker auto-unlock feature. You can do this by navigating to the BitLocker Drive Encryption section in the Control Panel and selecting the Turn off auto-unlock option. After restarting your computer, activate the feature again.

3] Disable and re-enable BitLocker

If the previous steps didn’t resolve the issue, try to disable and then re-enable BitLocker, utilizing either the Control Panel or Command Prompt.

4] Repair your system image files

Corrupted system image files might be the source of this problem. Use the tools available in Windows 11, such as System File Checker and DISM, to scan and rectify your system image files.

5] Clear File Explorer cache

Next, you can clear the cache of File Explorer. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on the three dots in the ribbon and select Options.
3. In the Folder Options window, navigate to the General tab and check all boxes in the Privacy section.
4. Finally, click Clear.

6] Check for pending Windows Updates

Be sure to manually check for Windows Updates to install the latest fixes for your operating system. Access Windows 11 Settings, select the Windows Update category on the left, and click on the Check for updates button. Download and install any available updates.

7] Adjust File Explorer options

If the issue continues, open File Explorer and verify whether the “Launch Folder Windows in a Separate Process” option is active. If so, disable it. Follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select the three dots on the ribbon and then click on Options.
3. Go to the View tab, scroll down, and uncheck the “Launch Folder Windows in a Separate Process” box.

That should resolve your issue. Best of luck!

How to disable BitLocker?

You can turn off BitLocker for your drives using either the Control Panel or the Command Prompt. To do this via the Control Panel, navigate to System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption and choose Turn off BitLocker. Be aware that this action will trigger the decryption process for your drives, which may take some time.

How can I verify if BitLocker is unlocked?

To check the BitLocker status on your device, open an elevated Command Prompt and enter manage-bde -status. Press Enter to display the results.