At this point, you can click the Browse button to select the SAM registry hive on your system drive. Look for ' Percentage Encrypted' and wait for it to reach 0.0% (fully decrypted).Īfter turning off BitLocker, close the Command Prompt. You can repeatedly type the following command to check the decryption progress. Depending on the size of the drive, this could take a while. Next, execute the following command to decrypt your system drive. After pressing Enter, you have to enter your Bitlocker user password. If you can remember the password you set during BitLocker setup, type the following command.

Tip: You can open the BitLocker recovery key file with Notepad and paste the key on the command line. Manage-bde -unlock C: -RecoveryPassword your_BitLocker_recovery_key Now you need to use your BitLocker recovery key to unlock the encrypted system drive (usually C:). In the screenshot above, BitLocker has encrypted the system volume C: and it is currently locked.

Run the following command to check the BitLocker status for all drives connected to your computer: Click the Options button and then choose ' Launch Command Prompt' from the popup menu. You'll come to the main interface of PCUnlocker. After booting from the CD/USB, you'll see the message ' Please select your Windows SAM registry file' on the screen as the system drive stays encrypted and inaccessible. Next, insert the CD or USB into your BitLocker-protected computer. How to Reset Windows Password on BitLocker Encrypted Driveĭownload the ISO image of PCUnlocker Enterprise which adds BitLocker support, and then burn it to a CD or install it onto your USB flash drive using the third-party software ISO2Disc.

The good news is that if you have your BitLocker recovery key, you can use PCUnlocker to decrypt your hard drive and then reset Windows password you've lost or forgotten.

As a result, you're unable to access any system files even if you boot with a Live CD, not to mention resetting your forgotten Windows password. Lost admin password on a Windows PC that uses BitLocker drive encryption? When BitLocker is enabled on your hard drive, all your files will be encrypted.

Bitlocker password recovery tool