Windows 10 reports “The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked” but does not allow access to...
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When accessing an external drive with BitLocker / BitLocker "auto-unlock" enabled, occasionally Windows 10 reports, in the top left of the screen, that "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked" but File Explorer does not allow access to the files on the drive.
In File Explorer, the drive also appears with "Locked" icon, despite the fact that "auto-unlock" is enabled and Windows 10 is reporting the drive is unlocked when you click on it.
windows-10 windows-explorer bitlocker
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
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down vote
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When accessing an external drive with BitLocker / BitLocker "auto-unlock" enabled, occasionally Windows 10 reports, in the top left of the screen, that "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked" but File Explorer does not allow access to the files on the drive.
In File Explorer, the drive also appears with "Locked" icon, despite the fact that "auto-unlock" is enabled and Windows 10 is reporting the drive is unlocked when you click on it.
windows-10 windows-explorer bitlocker
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
1
Possible duplicate of Explorer shows unlocked bitlocker encrypted drive as locked in Windows 10
– Gaia
Oct 17 '17 at 15:23
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
When accessing an external drive with BitLocker / BitLocker "auto-unlock" enabled, occasionally Windows 10 reports, in the top left of the screen, that "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked" but File Explorer does not allow access to the files on the drive.
In File Explorer, the drive also appears with "Locked" icon, despite the fact that "auto-unlock" is enabled and Windows 10 is reporting the drive is unlocked when you click on it.
windows-10 windows-explorer bitlocker
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
When accessing an external drive with BitLocker / BitLocker "auto-unlock" enabled, occasionally Windows 10 reports, in the top left of the screen, that "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked" but File Explorer does not allow access to the files on the drive.
In File Explorer, the drive also appears with "Locked" icon, despite the fact that "auto-unlock" is enabled and Windows 10 is reporting the drive is unlocked when you click on it.
windows-10 windows-explorer bitlocker
windows-10 windows-explorer bitlocker
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
asked Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
670421
1
Possible duplicate of Explorer shows unlocked bitlocker encrypted drive as locked in Windows 10
– Gaia
Oct 17 '17 at 15:23
add a comment |
1
Possible duplicate of Explorer shows unlocked bitlocker encrypted drive as locked in Windows 10
– Gaia
Oct 17 '17 at 15:23
1
1
Possible duplicate of Explorer shows unlocked bitlocker encrypted drive as locked in Windows 10
– Gaia
Oct 17 '17 at 15:23
Possible duplicate of Explorer shows unlocked bitlocker encrypted drive as locked in Windows 10
– Gaia
Oct 17 '17 at 15:23
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
To fix:
- Hit
to open the Startmenu; - Type:
Bitlocker(don't worry about clicking anywhere before you type) then hit Enter; You should see this menu:
Click "Turn off auto-unlock" for the affected drive in this menu, to turn auto-unlock off (note there will be a slight delay after you turn it off):
Then, click the same option again to re-enable "auto-unlock." The drive should be accessible in File Explorer again, with no errors thrown by Windows 10.
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
I don't understand this answer. You indicated in your question, that auto-unlock was already enabled, so why is the solution to this problem to enable auto-unlock?
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
The problem is that Windows does not allow you to access the drive. The solution is to turn "auto-unlock" off and then on again.
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
I obviously understand that.
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:49
Then how can I clarify my answer?
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:53
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I've had a similar experience, where the drive shows as locked, but selecting the drive reports the error "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked". After a small amount of experimentation, it appears that the Explorer shell is a little confused and shows the drive as locked when it isn't.
The result of the confusion is that Explorer sets "Unlock Drive" as the default action for the drive, rather than the usual "Open"; selecting the drive in the folder list on the left, or double-clicking it, will attempt the unnecessary "Unlock Drive" action.
Whilst Explorer is in the state, however, you can right-click the drive, and select "Open" and it will then happily show you the contents of the drive (even though it still thinks its locked). Alternatively, you can use Task Manager to kill explorer.exe and then start a new instance of it - the newly instantiated Explorer should show the drive correctly as Unlocked and allow you to interact with it as normal.
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
To fix:
- Hit to open the
Startmenu; - Type:
Bitlocker(don't worry about clicking anywhere before you type) then hit Enter; You should see this menu:
Click "Turn off auto-unlock" for the affected drive in this menu, to turn auto-unlock off (note there will be a slight delay after you turn it off):
Then, click the same option again to re-enable "auto-unlock." The drive should be accessible in File Explorer again, with no errors thrown by Windows 10.
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
I don't understand this answer. You indicated in your question, that auto-unlock was already enabled, so why is the solution to this problem to enable auto-unlock?
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
The problem is that Windows does not allow you to access the drive. The solution is to turn "auto-unlock" off and then on again.
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
I obviously understand that.
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:49
Then how can I clarify my answer?
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:53
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
To fix:
- Hit to open the
Startmenu; - Type:
Bitlocker(don't worry about clicking anywhere before you type) then hit Enter; You should see this menu:
Click "Turn off auto-unlock" for the affected drive in this menu, to turn auto-unlock off (note there will be a slight delay after you turn it off):
Then, click the same option again to re-enable "auto-unlock." The drive should be accessible in File Explorer again, with no errors thrown by Windows 10.
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
I don't understand this answer. You indicated in your question, that auto-unlock was already enabled, so why is the solution to this problem to enable auto-unlock?
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
The problem is that Windows does not allow you to access the drive. The solution is to turn "auto-unlock" off and then on again.
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
I obviously understand that.
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:49
Then how can I clarify my answer?
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:53
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
To fix:
- Hit to open the
Startmenu; - Type:
Bitlocker(don't worry about clicking anywhere before you type) then hit Enter; You should see this menu:
Click "Turn off auto-unlock" for the affected drive in this menu, to turn auto-unlock off (note there will be a slight delay after you turn it off):
Then, click the same option again to re-enable "auto-unlock." The drive should be accessible in File Explorer again, with no errors thrown by Windows 10.
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
To fix:
- Hit to open the
Startmenu; - Type:
Bitlocker(don't worry about clicking anywhere before you type) then hit Enter; You should see this menu:
Click "Turn off auto-unlock" for the affected drive in this menu, to turn auto-unlock off (note there will be a slight delay after you turn it off):
Then, click the same option again to re-enable "auto-unlock." The drive should be accessible in File Explorer again, with no errors thrown by Windows 10.
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
edited Jun 29 '17 at 14:51
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
answered Jun 29 '17 at 14:46
PatKilg
670421
670421
I don't understand this answer. You indicated in your question, that auto-unlock was already enabled, so why is the solution to this problem to enable auto-unlock?
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
The problem is that Windows does not allow you to access the drive. The solution is to turn "auto-unlock" off and then on again.
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
I obviously understand that.
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:49
Then how can I clarify my answer?
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:53
add a comment |
I don't understand this answer. You indicated in your question, that auto-unlock was already enabled, so why is the solution to this problem to enable auto-unlock?
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
The problem is that Windows does not allow you to access the drive. The solution is to turn "auto-unlock" off and then on again.
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
I obviously understand that.
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:49
Then how can I clarify my answer?
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:53
I don't understand this answer. You indicated in your question, that auto-unlock was already enabled, so why is the solution to this problem to enable auto-unlock?
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
I don't understand this answer. You indicated in your question, that auto-unlock was already enabled, so why is the solution to this problem to enable auto-unlock?
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
The problem is that Windows does not allow you to access the drive. The solution is to turn "auto-unlock" off and then on again.
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
The problem is that Windows does not allow you to access the drive. The solution is to turn "auto-unlock" off and then on again.
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:48
I obviously understand that.
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:49
I obviously understand that.
– Ramhound
Jun 29 '17 at 14:49
Then how can I clarify my answer?
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:53
Then how can I clarify my answer?
– PatKilg
Jun 29 '17 at 14:53
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I've had a similar experience, where the drive shows as locked, but selecting the drive reports the error "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked". After a small amount of experimentation, it appears that the Explorer shell is a little confused and shows the drive as locked when it isn't.
The result of the confusion is that Explorer sets "Unlock Drive" as the default action for the drive, rather than the usual "Open"; selecting the drive in the folder list on the left, or double-clicking it, will attempt the unnecessary "Unlock Drive" action.
Whilst Explorer is in the state, however, you can right-click the drive, and select "Open" and it will then happily show you the contents of the drive (even though it still thinks its locked). Alternatively, you can use Task Manager to kill explorer.exe and then start a new instance of it - the newly instantiated Explorer should show the drive correctly as Unlocked and allow you to interact with it as normal.
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I've had a similar experience, where the drive shows as locked, but selecting the drive reports the error "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked". After a small amount of experimentation, it appears that the Explorer shell is a little confused and shows the drive as locked when it isn't.
The result of the confusion is that Explorer sets "Unlock Drive" as the default action for the drive, rather than the usual "Open"; selecting the drive in the folder list on the left, or double-clicking it, will attempt the unnecessary "Unlock Drive" action.
Whilst Explorer is in the state, however, you can right-click the drive, and select "Open" and it will then happily show you the contents of the drive (even though it still thinks its locked). Alternatively, you can use Task Manager to kill explorer.exe and then start a new instance of it - the newly instantiated Explorer should show the drive correctly as Unlocked and allow you to interact with it as normal.
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I've had a similar experience, where the drive shows as locked, but selecting the drive reports the error "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked". After a small amount of experimentation, it appears that the Explorer shell is a little confused and shows the drive as locked when it isn't.
The result of the confusion is that Explorer sets "Unlock Drive" as the default action for the drive, rather than the usual "Open"; selecting the drive in the folder list on the left, or double-clicking it, will attempt the unnecessary "Unlock Drive" action.
Whilst Explorer is in the state, however, you can right-click the drive, and select "Open" and it will then happily show you the contents of the drive (even though it still thinks its locked). Alternatively, you can use Task Manager to kill explorer.exe and then start a new instance of it - the newly instantiated Explorer should show the drive correctly as Unlocked and allow you to interact with it as normal.
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
I've had a similar experience, where the drive shows as locked, but selecting the drive reports the error "The drive protected by Bitlocker is already unlocked". After a small amount of experimentation, it appears that the Explorer shell is a little confused and shows the drive as locked when it isn't.
The result of the confusion is that Explorer sets "Unlock Drive" as the default action for the drive, rather than the usual "Open"; selecting the drive in the folder list on the left, or double-clicking it, will attempt the unnecessary "Unlock Drive" action.
Whilst Explorer is in the state, however, you can right-click the drive, and select "Open" and it will then happily show you the contents of the drive (even though it still thinks its locked). Alternatively, you can use Task Manager to kill explorer.exe and then start a new instance of it - the newly instantiated Explorer should show the drive correctly as Unlocked and allow you to interact with it as normal.
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
edited Nov 30 at 11:14
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
answered Nov 27 at 11:56
Jason Musgrove
1754
1754
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Possible duplicate of Explorer shows unlocked bitlocker encrypted drive as locked in Windows 10
– Gaia
Oct 17 '17 at 15:23