I just got a new Windows laptop after using an older one for a decade, and I'm really unfamiliar with Bitlocker, TPM, and Secure Boot. I don't plan to use Bitlocker at all. My laptop runs Windows 11 Pro, and I set up a local account using the `oobebypassnro` command without any issue. I've checked the status, and it shows an almost complete encryption, but the protection is currently off. Here's the relevant output:
- Conversion status: Encryption in progress
- Percentage encrypted: 94%
- Protection status: Protection off
- Lock status: Unlocked
- Key protectors: None found
From what I gather, it looks like the drive is nearly fully encrypted, but it won't ask for a decryption key if needed since the protection is off. Am I reading this right? If I disable it using the `manage-bde -off` command, will I avoid the issues I've heard about regarding Bitlocker activating after updates? I just want to make sure I won't get stuck in a situation where I don't know what to do.
3 Answers
I would recommend still keeping an eye on that key code, though—it's a good safety measure, just in case something goes wrong down the line!
You're mostly correct! Since Bitlocker is showing as off, you won't need a recovery key right now. Once the encryption is complete, you can turn off Bitlocker completely, and the key would usually be saved under a Microsoft account, but since you're using a local account, it's wise to save that key yourself just in case you ever change your setup later.
Just keep in mind that even though you won’t need a key now, having a backup of it can save you headaches in the future!
Yeah, if you want to disable Bitlocker, just use the command `manage-bde -off C:` like you mentioned. And no, you won’t need the key to turn it off unless you’re trying to do it on a different drive. So you should be all good!
That makes sense! It’s good to know that even without linking it to an MS account, I can still manage the keys. Thanks for the clarification!