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What Causes BitLocker Encryption Failure?HOT
How to Fix BitLocker Encryption FailedHOT
ConclusionHOT
FAQs of BitLocker Encryption FailedHOT
About the Author
Hot Topics
Updated on Apr 28, 2025
BitLocker is a Microsoft built-in disk encryption tool for securing sensitive data on Windows PCs. However, users often encounter the frustrating "BitLocker failed to encrypt the drive" error, which halts the encryption process and leaves data vulnerable. This comprehensive guide provided by EaseUS will walk you through understanding the root causes of this error and provide actionable solutions to resolve it.
BitLocker encryption failure can occur due to several reasons:
📌TPM Issues: The TPM must be properly configured and enabled for BitLocker to function correctly. If the TPM is not recognized or is disabled, BitLocker will fail to encrypt the drive.
💻Operating System Issues: The operating system must be up to date and properly configured for BitLocker. Incompatibilities or outdated software can cause encryption failures.
🔔File Corruption/Hard Drive Errors: The hard drive must be free from errors and meet BitLocker's requirements for encryption. If the drive is corrupted or does not meet these requirements, encryption will fail.
🎓Incorrect BitLocker Configuration: Incorrect settings or missing prerequisites in the BitLocker configuration can prevent successful encryption.
🎭Insufficient Disk Space: BitLocker requires free space to create encryption metadata.
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BitLocker encryption fails to encrypt your drive? This section will show you available solutions. Before that, you'd better make a full backup of your important data.
BitLocker has specific requirements to ensure that it can function correctly and provide robust encryption for your data. Here are some of the key requirements:
Below is how to check TPM status:
Step 1. Press Win + R, type tpm.msc, and check TPM status.
Step 2. Open System Information (msinfo32) and confirm Secure Boot State is "On."
If requirements aren't met, upgrade hardware or adjust firmware settings.
EaseUS Partition Master Free is an advanced and comprehensive disk management tool that offers advanced features for managing BitLocker and troubleshooting BitLocker encryption issues. Whether you need to encrypt a new drive, decrypt an existing one, or fix a failed encryption, EaseUS Partition Master offers the tools and flexibility to get the job done efficiently.
Here is how it can assist you in Bitlocker Encryption:
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, enter the Partition Manager section to locate the BitLocker encrypted partition. Click the BitLocker icon to bring up the BitLocker Manager.
Step 2. Click the Turn On button in BitLocker Manager.
Step 3. After the bitlocker indicates the drive, choose how you want to unlock this drive.(If you choose to use a password to unlock the drive, enter your password.)
Step 4. Then, choose how do you want to back up your recovery key.
Step 5. Choose how much of your drive to encrypt.
Step 6. Choose which encryption mode to use.
Step 7. When the "Are you ready to encrypt this drive" window prompt, choose "Start encrypting."
Step 8. Wait till the Bitlocker encryption is complete.
For users who want to explore more about EaseUS Partition Master, check the posts below:
Alternative Way: Run CMD to Turn On Bitlocker
If you are not tech-savvy, you can run the manage commands to force BitLocker to encrypt your disk:
Step 1. Open Command Prompt as administrator. To force encryption, type the following commands:
manage-bde -on C: -used
🛎️You May Interested in: How to Disable Bitlocker in CMD
Checking Group Policy settings is crucial for ensuring that BitLocker encryption functions correctly across an organization. To verify if the Group Policy settings for BitLocker are correctly configured, follow these steps:
Step 1. Press "Windows + R" and open the Local Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
Step 2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Ensure policies are set correctly to allow encryption.
To enable BitLocker without a TPM, you need to modify the Group Policy settings to allow BitLocker to function without a TPM. This involves enabling the option to use BitLocker with a password or a USB startup key instead of relying on a TPM for key storage and authentication:
Step 1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Step 2. Go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Operating System Drives.
Step 3. Double-click Require additional authentication at startup.
Step 4. Select Enabled and check Allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM.
Step 5. Click "Apply" and "OK," then restart.
BitLocker needs space for encryption metadata. If your drive doesn't have enough space, you can follow this tutorial to free up disk space easily and quickly:
Step 1. Clean temporary files with Disk Cleanup (search this utility in the Start menu).
Step 2. Uninstall unused applications or move files to an external drive.
Step 3. Ensure at least 10% free space on the drive.
Secure Boot ensures only trusted software runs at startup, but it can conflict with BitLocker. Reboot your computer and disable Secure Boot in BIOS as follows:
Step 1. Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI (press F2, Delete, or F10 during boot).
Step 2. Find Secure Boot under the Security tab and disable it.
Step 3. Save changes and attempt encryption again.
Re-enable Secure Boot after successful encryption.
BitLocker encryption errors are solvable with methodical troubleshooting. You can secure your data and avoid future issues by following these steps—from freeing disk space to updating firmware. Always back up critical data before attempting fixes, and don't hesitate to seek professional help for hardware-related problems.
1. What causes BitLocker issues?
The following reasons may lead to Bitlocker issues: Insufficient disk space, TPM misconfigurations or firmware issues, Secure Boot incompatibility, corrupted system files or disk errors, outdated drivers/BIOS, conflicts with third-party software, Group Policy restrictions, improper disk partitioning (such as missing boot partition or non-NTFS format), hardware encryption conflicts, interrupted encryption processes (power loss), or dual-boot configurations.
2. How to fix BitLocker could not encrypt one or more drives on this computer?
To fix the issue where BitLocker cannot encrypt one or more drives on your computer, follow these steps:
3. How can I solve the BitLocker encryption key cannot be obtained?
If you encountered the "BitLocker encryption key cannot be obtained" or "BitLocker could not be enabled. C was not encrypted" error, check the step-by-step guide below:
💡Extended Reading: Bitlocker Encryption Key Cannot Be Obtained? Fix It Here!
How Can We Help You
Roxanne is one of the main contributors to EaseUS and has created over 200 posts that help users solve multiple issues and failures on digital devices like PCs, Mobile phones, tablets, and Macs. She loves to share ideas with people of the same interests.
Cici is the junior editor of the writing team of EaseUS. She accepted the systematic training on computers at EaseUS for over one year. Now, she wrote a lot of professional articles to help people resolve the issues of hard drive corruption, computer boot errors, and disk partition problems.
It won't hot image your drives or align them, but since it's coupled with a partition manager, it allows you do perform many tasks at once, instead of just cloning drives. You can move partitions around, resize them, defragment, and more, along with the other tools you'd expect from a cloning tool.
Read MoreI love that the changes you make with EaseUS Partition Master Free aren't immediately applied to the disks. It makes it way easier to play out what will happen after you've made all the changes. I also think the overall look and feel of EaseUS Partition Master Free makes whatever you're doing with your computer's partitions easy.
Read MorePartition Master Free can Resize, Move, Merge, Migrate, and Copy disks or partitions; convert to local, change label, defragment, check and explore partition; and much more. A premium upgrade adds free tech support and the ability to resize dynamic volumes.
Read MoreIt won't hot image your drives or align them, but since it's coupled with a partition manager, it allows you do perform many tasks at once, instead of just cloning drives. You can move partitions around, resize them, defragment, and more, along with the other tools you'd expect from a cloning tool.
Read MoreI love that the changes you make with EaseUS Partition Master Free aren't immediately applied to the disks. It makes it way easier to play out what will happen after you've made all the changes. I also think the overall look and feel of EaseUS Partition Master Free makes whatever you're doing with your computer's partitions easy.
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Sign up to our newsletter, stay updated on news and exclusive offers from EaseUS. Don't worry, if you change your mind, you can unsubscribe at any time, free of charge. We value your privacy (Privacy Policy).