Can I lock a folder with Bitlocker without creating a whole partition?

TheCars said:

Is there a way I can password protect a folder with Bitlocker without having to create a whole new partition on the drive? I just want that one folder to be encrypted while the rest of my C drive is accessible. I don't want it to create a whole separate virtual disk if possible.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

No that is not possible.

When you say virtual disk, you mean a new partition with a drive letter I think.

A virtual hard drive is completely different but may meet your needs. This is a file (bit like an iso file but writeable) that contains data.

You can create a virtual hardrive (vhdx file) that resides on C drive and bitlock that drive without creating a new partition.
It will be seens as a separate drive with its own letter.

Only minor thing, is you have to mount the vhdx each time you log on, but you can do this with a simple batch file running via task scheduler.

TheCars said:

So there's no way to just lock a folder behind bitlocker? It always needs to make a new drive with its own letter that appears separate in file explorer?

Q1: Nope.

Q2: Yep but that can be a virtual drive vdhx file on C drive.

Why not just bitlock whole of C drive - that is more secure, as user can only access data if they know your Windows password.