[2026] How to Unlock BitLocker from CMD in 2 Proven Ways?

How to Unlock BitLocker in CMD with Password?

If you still have the BitLocker password but can’t access your encrypted drive, you can easily unlock BitLocker using CMD (Command Prompt). Here’s how to unlock BitLocker with cmd and the password.

• Search for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-click on the Command Prompt app, and choose "Run as administrator". This will grant you the necessary permissions to make changes to your system.
• Now, type the following command into the Command Prompt:

  manage-bde -unlock E: -password

  

  Make sure to replace E: with the drive letter of your BitLocker encrypted drive.

• Enter your BitLocker password when prompted and press "Enter". If the password is correct, your drive will be unlocked, and you’ll have full access to your files.

This method is ideal when you know the password but can't access the drive through normal means. It's a quick way to unlock BitLocker using CMD without recovery key and regain access to your encrypted data.

Warning

When you unlock a BitLocker drive using your password or recovery key, it only stays unlocked for the current session, which is called a temporary unlock. Once you restart or shut down your computer, the drive will automatically lock again, and you’ll need to enter the password or recovery key to access it next time.

How to Unlock BitLocker from CMD with Recovery Key?

If you can't remember the password, the next step it to unlock your encrypted drive using the BitLocker recovery key, which serves as a backup when the password is unavailable.

Here's how to unlock BitLocker from CMD without password but recovery key:

• Open Command Prompt and click "Run an administrator."
• Next, type the following command into the Command Prompt window to unlock your drive using the recovery key:

  manage-bde -unlock L: -RecoveryPassword YOUR-RECOVERY-KEY

  Here, replace L: with the letter of the locked drive, and YOUR-RECOVERY-KEY with your actual 48-digit recovery key. After entering the command, press "Enter". This will prompt your computer to verify the recovery key and unlock the drive.

  

Notes

After unlocking your BitLocker drive, you might want to disable protection for easier access or completely remove encryption. Depending on your goal, you can enter the prompt you want.

• To temporarily disable protection, you should enter this prompt: manage-bde -protectors -disable X:
• To turn off BitLocker, you should enter this prompt: manage-bde -off X:

This command will begin decrypting your drive, allowing you to access your files without needing a password or recovery key in the future. But if you find your Bitlocker recovery key not working, you should double-check the key you just entered and try again.

How to Recover BitLocker Files When CMD Unlock Fails?

Using Command Prompt to unlock BitLocker can work, but it doesn’t always go smoothly. A small mistake in the command, a missing parameter, or an incorrect key can cause the process to fail.

And even if the command runs successfully, it only helps unlock the drive. It doesn’t help if your goal is to recover important files. If you’re looking for a simpler way to get your data back, 4DDiG BitLocker Data Recovery can be a better option.

It lets you skip all the tricky command-line steps and scan your BitLocker-encrypted drive directly, allowing you to recover documents, photos, videos, and more from corrupted, inaccessible, or accidentally formatted drives—even if the key or password isn’t working.

• Select the BitLocker-encrypted Drive to Scan

  After installing and opening 4DDiG, you’ll see a list of all your drives. Look for the BitLocker-encrypted drive you want to recover, it will have a lock icon, then click it to start scanning.

  
• Scan BitLocker Without Unlocking

  There will be a prompt asking you to enter the password or recovery key to unlock the drive. If you can't find your recovery key or password, try "Automatic Unlock", which will scan your Microsoft account or your drive to find any credentials, then unlock the drive instantly.

  

  If no password or recovery key is available, just select "Scan without unlocking". 4DDiG will automatically scan the encrypted drive and let you retrieve your important files without unlocking it.

  
• Select and Preview Scanned Files

  The software will start scanning the BitLocker device for all your lost data. When the process completes, you can use the Filter or Search feature to quickly locate your lost files.

  
• Recover Files from BitLocker-encrypted Drive

  Click the "Recover" button to get back your files from the BitLocker-encrypted partition on Windows. You can then save the recovered data to your local disk or Cloud storage.

  

FAQs About Unlocking BitLocker Using CMD

1. How to get the BitLocker key from CMD?

To get the BitLocker key, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type:

manage-bde -protectors -get C: (replace C: with your drive letter). The recovery key will display.

2. How to unlock a drive locked by BitLocker in CMD?

To unlock a locked drive, open Command Prompt as an admin and type:

manage-bde -unlock C: -password (replace C: with your drive letter), then enter your password when prompted.

3. How do I get the BitLocker recovery key if I am locked out?

If locked out, you can find the recovery key on your Microsoft account page or in your saved backup file. If you set up a recovery key, it should be saved there.

Final Words

This article has introduced how to unlock BitLocker from CMD by using a pssword and a recovery key. Besides, you can also learn how to recover data from BitLocker-encrypted drive when it becomes inaccessible with Tenorshare 4DDiG Data Recovery.

With its powerful features, you can get back all your important files quickly and securely under any circumstances.