How to Add Turn Off BitLocker to the Drive Context Menu in Windows 10
In previous articles, we have reviewed how to turn on or off BitLocker for a fixed or removable drive in Windows 10. As you may remember, disabling the BitLocker feature requires opening the classic Control Panel. You can get it done much faster by adding a special context menu.
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BitLocker was first introduced in Windows Vista and still exists in Windows 10. It was implemented exclusively for Windows and has no official support in alternative operating systems. BitLocker can utilize your PC's Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to store its encryption key secrets. In modern versions of Windows such as Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, BitLocker supports hardware-accelerated encryption if certain requirements are met (the drive has to support it, Secure Boot must be on and many other requirements). Without hardware encryption, BitLocker switches to software-based encryption so there is a dip in your drive's performance. BitLocker in Windows 10 supports a number of encryption methods, and supports changing a cipher strength.
Note: In Windows 10, BitLocker Drive Encryption is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. BitLocker can encrypt the system drive (the drive Windows is installed on), and internal hard drives. The BitLocker To Go feature allows protecting files stored on a removable drives, such as a USB flash drive.
Note: In Windows 10, BitLocker Drive Encryption is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. BitLocker can encrypt the system drive (the drive Windows is installed on), and internal hard drives. The BitLocker To Go feature allows protecting files stored on a removable drives, such as a USB flash drive. The user can configure the encryption method for BitLocker.
We are going to add a new context menu entry for drives encrypted with BitLocker. Here is how it looks:
To Add Turn Off BitLocker Context Menu in Windows 10,
- Download the following Registry files (in a ZIP archive): Download Registry Files.
- Extract its contents to any folder. You can place the files directly to the Desktop.
- Unblock the files.
- Double click on the
Add Turn off BitLocker Context Menu.regfile to merge it. - Move the
disable-bde.cmdfile into the C:\Windows\ folder.
- Click on the 'Continue' when/if prompted to approve.
You are done! Now, right-click on your encrypted drive, and select 'Turn off BitLocker' from the context menu. The drive will be decrypted with BitLocker.
How it works
The batch file runs the manage-bde -off <drive letter>: command we have reviewed earlier. The context menu entry uses PowerShell to launch it as Administrator.
To Remove BitLocker Lock Drive Context Menu in Windows 10,
- Double-click on the file
Remove Turn Off BitLocker Context Menu.regincluded in the ZIP archive above. - Delete the file
c:\Windows\disable-bde.cmd.
That's it!
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