How to Change BitLocker Password in Windows 11

This article explains how to change the BitLocker password for a drive in Windows 11.

BitLocker helps protect computer data so only authorized users can access it. New files created on a BitLocker-enabled drive will also be protected.

Users can protect external, fixed, and operating system drives using BitLocker. When you enable BitLocker to protect the OS drive, it automatically unlocks the drive at startup using a TPM chip.

When the drive is protected with BitLocker, you must confirm the password to lock it when you want its content. The password used to encrypt the drive is the same password that must be used to unlock it.

Windows lets you change the BitLocker password on a protected drive. However, the drive must be unlocked before you can do so.

Change BitLocker password in Windows

As mentioned above, users can change the BitLocker password in Windows. There are multiple ways to do it.

Here’s how to do it.

Change BitLocker password from File Explorer

First, open File Explorer.

Then, right-click the BitLocker-protected drive and click “Show more options -> ‘Change BitLocker password.”

Next, enter the old and new passwords twice and confirm the change.

Change the BitLocker password from the Control Panel

Another way to change the BitLocker password is to use the Control Panel app.

Here’s how to do it.

First, open the Control Panel app.

Then, navigate to the path below.

Control Panel -> System and Security -> BitLocker Drive Encryption

Select the drive on the BitLocker Drive Encryption page in the Control Panel. Then, click the “Change password” link on the desired drive.

Enter the old password, then the new password twice, and confirm the change.

Change BitLocker password using the Terminal app

Yet another way to change the BitLocker password is to use the Windows Terminal app.

Here’s how to do that.

First, launch the Windows Terminal app as administrator.

Then, use the command format below to change the drive.

manage-bde -changepassword <drive letter>:​

Replace <drive letter:> with the BitLocker drive letter on Windows.

Example:

manage-bde -changepassword E:

Type the old password, enter it, and confirm a new password.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Changing the BitLocker password in Windows 11 is essential for maintaining the security of your data
• Multiple methods, including File Explorer, Control Panel, and Terminal app, provide flexibility in changing the BitLocker password
• Ensure the drive is unlocked before initiating the password change process
• It’s crucial to use strong, unique passwords for enhanced security
• Periodically changing the BitLocker password can further strengthen the protection of your data