How to Disable or Remove BitLocker Drive Encryption

Because BitLocker intercepts the boot process and looks for changes to any of the early boot files, it can cause problems in the following nonattack scenarios:

• Upgrading or replacing the motherboard or TPM
• Installing a new operating system that changes the MBR or the Boot Manager
• Moving a BitLocker-encrypted disk to another TPM-enabled computer
• Repartitioning the hard disk
• Updating the BIOS
• Installing a third-party update outside the operating system (such as hardware firmware updates)

To avoid entering BitLocker recovery mode, you can temporarily disable BitLocker, which allows you to change the TPM and upgrade the operating system. When you re-enable BitLocker, the same keys will be used. You can also choose to decrypt the BitLocker-protected volume, which will completely remove BitLocker protection. You can only re-enable BitLocker by repeating the process to create new keys and re-encrypt the volume. To disable or decrypt BitLocker, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the computer as Administrator.
2. From Control Panel, open BitLocker Drive Encryption.
3. To temporarily disable BitLocker by using a clear key, click Suspend Protection and then click Yes. To disable BitLocker permanently, click Turn Off BitLocker and then click Decrypt Drive.