Guide to Format a BitLocker USB? Your Guide Here

In this EaseUS guide, you'll learn how to format a BitLocker USB drive. You'll quickly master the steps needed to restore your USB drive to a normal, usable state. Whether you're looking to remove encryption or simply reset the drive, this straightforward tutorial makes the process simple, efficient, and hassle-free, ensuring your device is ready for future use. We'll also suggest the best methods if you've forgotten the password. So, read this guide thoroughly.

Can I Format a BitLocker USB Drive?

Yes, you can format a BitLocker USB drive. Microsoft provides users with several options to format a BitLocker-encrypted USB drive and restore their storage devices to a normal, usable state. However, formatting will erase all existing data on the BitLocker drive. To avoid data loss, we recommend USB owners back up or clone the data on another USB drive or hard drive before proceeding with formatting.

Here are four ways to format a BitLocker USB drive:

1. 1. Use Windows File Explorer
2. 2. Use USB Formatter Software
3. 3. Use Disk Management
4. 4. Use CMD Command Prompt

For Windows beginners, we suggest using Method 1 and Method 2 as they offer quick and easy ways to restore a BitLocker USB to its normal state. If you're more tech-savvy or prefer a more complex approach, Method 3 and Method 4 are advanced options worth trying. Also, don't forget to share this guide online to help more of your friends mastering the tips to unlock and format their BitLocker encrypted USB drives, and other devices:

If you've forgotten the password to your BitLocker-encrypted USB drive or SD card, you can follow this guide for detailed steps on how to format the drive with or without the password. 

1. Use Windows File Explorer

Windows File Explorer is the built-in file management tool for Windows users. It provides a user-friendly way to navigate your files and manage storage devices, including formatting them. This method is ideal for beginners, as it is the simplest way to format a BitLocker USB.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. First, we need to unlock the Bitlocker USB drive. Connect it to your PC and open the Windows File Explorer.

Step 2. Find and double-click on the encrypted USB and type your password.

Step 3. Click "Unlock".

Step 4. After unlocking it, right-click on it and choose "Format".

Step 5. Check the "Quick Format" option in the format window, select the appropriate file system (choose NTFS for internal hard drives, FAT32 for USB/SD cards under 32GB, or exFAT for larger external drives), and then click "Start." Wait a few moments and let it complete the process.

2. Use USB Formatter Software

For a more efficient way to format a BitLocker-encrypted USB, use EaseUS Partition Master. This software offers a powerful formatting feature that allows users to easily remove BitLocker encryption and restore their USB drive, even if the password has been forgotten or lost.

EaseUS Partition Master simplifies the formatting process for users who might struggle with more technical methods. Additionally, it offers advanced partitioning and storage management features, making it a versatile tool for managing USB drives.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Select the USB drive to format.

Connect the USB drive or pen drive to your computer. Download and launch EaseUS partition software. Right-click the USB drive you intend to format and choose "Format".

Step 2. Set the drive letter and file system on USB.

Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. Check "Yes" to confirm formatting USB.

Click "Yes" if you see the Warning window. If you have important data on it, back up the data in advance.

Step 4. Apply the changes.

Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button first, and then click "Apply" to format the USB drive.

3. Use Disk Management

Disk Management is another built-in Windows tool for managing disks and partitions. It gives users more control over their storage devices to create and delete partitions, format drives, and more. It's a powerful option if you need more flexibility in managing your BitLocker USB.

To format a BitLocker USB using Disk Management, first unlock it by following steps 1 to 3 from Method 1 and then follow the steps:

Step 1. Press Win+X and click Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click on the BitLocker USB drive and choose "Format".

Step 3. Choose the File System, checkbox "Perform a quick format" and click "OK" to format a BitLocker USB or SD card.

4. Use CMD Command Prompt

CMD Command Prompt offers an advanced way to format a BitLocker USB drive, ideal for users familiar with the command line. It provides precision and control, making it a flexible choice for managing your USB drive. Besides, you can use Diskpart via Command Prompt to clear BitLocker encryption, even if you've forgotten the password.

Let's first clear BitLocker encryption if you don't remember the password or recovery key:

Note: We recommend making every effort to recover your password and unlock the drive, as this process will erase both the partition and data on the BitLocker drive.

Step 1. Open Windows Search, type "CMD" right-click on Command Prompt, and choose "Run as administrator."

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter.

Step 3. Enter the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

• list disk
• select disk * (replace * with the number of your BitLocker drive)
• list partition
• select partition * (replace * with the partition number of your BitLocker drive or USB)
• delete partition override

Step 4. Type exit to close the Diskpart utility.

Now, let's format the BitLocker USB using Command Prompt again. Follow the steps:

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Type diskpart and press Enter.

Step 3. Enter the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

• list disk
• select disk * (replace * with the disk number of your BitLocker drive)
• select disk * (replace * with the disk number of your BitLocker drive)
• create partition primary size=111000 (replace 111000 with the USB storage size in MB)
• list partition
• select partition * (replace * with the volume number of your BitLocker drive)
• format fs=ntfs quick

Step 4. Once DiskPart confirms that the format is complete, type exit and press Enter to close DiskPart.

Conclusion

Formatting a BitLocker-encrypted USB drive can be straightforward if you follow the right steps. Remember to always back up your BitLocker recovery key or password to avoid data loss. If you forget your password, you can use one of the four methods outlined above to format your USB drive.

For the simplest and quickest solutions, we recommend using Method 1 (Windows File Explorer) or Method 2 (EaseUS Partition Master). EaseUS Partition Master is particularly versatile, offering not only a powerful formatting tool but also features like DiskMark and Disk Health to test and manage your USB drive's performance and condition effectively.

If you prefer more advanced techniques, Method 3 (Disk Management) and Method 4 (CMD Command Prompt) provide additional options for experienced users.

FAQs About Formatting BitLocker USB

Do you have more queries about formatting a BitLocker USB? Check out the FAQs below!

1. Is it possible to bypass BitLocker to format a drive?

You cannot bypass BitLocker encryption directly. To format a BitLocker-encrypted drive, you must first unlock it with the password or recovery key. If you don't have these, you can use Diskpart via Command Prompt to clear the encryption and format the drive, which will erase all data.

2. Will formatting remove the BitLocker encryption?

Yes, formatting a BitLocker-encrypted drive will remove the encryption. When you format the drive, it deletes all existing data, including the encryption and its protection. Therefore, it is crucial to back up any important data before formatting.

3. Can I format the BitLocker drive from BIOS?

No, you cannot format a BitLocker-encrypted drive directly from the BIOS. The BIOS does not have the capability to handle BitLocker encryption or formatting operations. To format a BitLocker-encrypted drive, you need to use an operating system tool like Windows File Explorer, Disk Management, or Command Prompt.