The document explains how to lock and unlock BitLocker drives on Windows 10 without restarting the system. It details two methods: using the command prompt and through Isumsoft BitLocker Reader software. Each method includes step-by-step instructions for effectively locking or unlocking a BitLocker-encrypted drive.

1. How to Lock/Unlock BitLocker
Drive without Restarting

2. BitLocker is a great encryption tool integrated into
Windows 10, but we can’t use it to lock a BitLocker
encrypted drive because Microsoft hasn’t provided this
feature so far. If you want to lock BitLocker drive to
prevent unauthorized access data on a volume that
uses BitLocker Drive Encryption, you can use one of the
following ways to lock the BitLocker drive without
restarting the system.
• Option 1: Lock BitLocker drive with CMD
• Option 2: Lock BitLocker drive with iSumsoft
BitLocker Reader

3. How to lock/unlock BitLocker drive with CMD
Locks a BitLocker-protected drive to prevent access to it unless the
unlock key is provided. Before locking the BitLocker drive with CMD,
please make sure that the BitLocker password has been set for that
drive and the auto-lock function has been turned off. After shutting
down the system, the drive will automatically lock itself.
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as administrator.

4. Step 2: Type the following command and hit Enter.
Replace d: in the command with the drive letter of
BitLocker drive you want to lock.
manage-bde -lock d: -forcedismount

5. Step 3: Close the Command Prompt. Your BitLocker drive
is now locked and you’re unable to access it without
providing your BitLocker password.
Note: If you want to unlock a BitLocker drive from an
elevated Command Prompt. Just type this command
and press Enter.
manage-bde -unlock d: -password
When prompted, type the BitLocker password for this
drive and hit Enter. It will unlock your drive
immediately.

6. How to use iSumsoft BitLocker Reader to
lock/unlock a BitLocker drive
iSumsoft BitLocker Reader is a popular third-party encryption software
which is designed to manage Bitlocker drive on Windows OS. It has a
powerful function-Lock Drive can help you easily and effectively lock and
unlock BitLocker encrypted drives in the graphical user interface (GUI).
You can use the following steps to lock a BitLocker encrypted drive
without restarting your Windows PC.

7. Step 1: Download and install iSumsoft BitLocker Reader on your PC. After installation, launch
this tool.
Step 2: Right-click the BitLocker encrypted drive you want to lock, and select “Lock Drive“.

8. Step 3: When the operation completes successfully, the drive is locked
without requiring you to restart the computer.
Note: Unlocking a BitLocker drive is also easy to make it. Right-click on the BitLocker
encrypted drive, and then choose Unlock Drive from the context menu.

9. Enter your BitLocker password or recovery key, and click Unlock. The
drive is now unlocked and you can access the files on it.

10. See Also
https://www.isumsoft.com/windows-10/lock-bitlocker-drive-
without-restarting-windows-10.html