How to Add 'Lock Drive' to Context Menu of BitLocker Encrypted Drives in Windows 10
You can use BitLocker Drive Encryption to help protect your files on an entire drive. BitLocker can help block hackers from accessing the system files they rely on to discover your password, or from accessing your drive by physically removing it from your PC and installing it in a different one. You can still sign in to Windows and use your files as you normally would.
BitLocker can encrypt the drive Windows is installed on (the operating system drive) as well as fixed data drives (such as internal hard drives). You can also use BitLocker To Go to help protect all files stored on a removable data drive (such as an external hard drive or USB flash drive).
You can choose how you want to unlock an encrypted data drive: with a password or a smart card. For removable data drives encrypted with BitLocker To Go, you can set the drive to automatically unlock when you sign in to the PC. For fixed data drives, you can also set the drive to automatically unlock when you unlock the PC, if you prefer, as long as the operating system drive is BitLocker-protected.
To lock a fixed data drive encrypted by BitLocker, you could restart the computer unless you set the drive to automatically unlock when you sign in next.
To lock a removable data drive encrypted by BitLocker, you could disconnect the drive or restart the computer unless you set the drive to automatically unlock when you connect the drive or sign in next.
This tutorial will show you how to add Lock Drive to the context menu of all unlocked fixed and removable drives encrypted by BitLocker to be able to lock the drive on demand in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to add, use, or remove the "Lock Drive" context menu.
The Lock Drive context menu can be handy since it allows you to lock the drive without having to disconnect it or restart the computer. The drive will remain locked until you manually unlock it.
If you turn on automatically unlock for a fixed data drive or removable data drive encrypted by BitLocker, then the drive cannot be locked until you turn off automatically unlock for the drive.
Contents
- Option One: To Add Lock Drive to Context Menu of Encrypted Fixed and Removable Data Drives
- Option Two: To Remove Lock Drive from Context Menu of Encrypted Fixed and Removable Data Drives
EXAMPLE: "Lock Drive" context menu
1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
2 Save the .zip file to your desktop.
3 Unblock the .zip file.
4 Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the Add_lock-bde.reg and lock-bde.vbs files to your desktop.
5 Move the lock-bde.vbs file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder, and click/tap on Continue to approve. (see screenshot below)
6 Double click/tap on the Add_lock-bde.reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You can now delete any remaining files on your desktop if you like.
1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
2 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
3 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
4 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
5 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
6 Open the C:\Windows\System32 folder, and delete the lock-bde.vbs file.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Lock BitLocker Encrypted Drive in Windows
- How to Unlock a Fixed or Removable BitLocker Drive in Windows
- How to Turn On or Off BitLocker for Fixed Data Drives in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off BitLocker for Removable Data Drives in Windows 10
- How to Check Status of BitLocker Drive Encryption for Drive in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Auto-unlock for BitLocker Drive in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Change BitLocker Password Context Menu in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Change BitLocker PIN Context Menu in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove 'Manage BitLocker' Context Menu from Drives in Windows
- How to Add or Remove Resume BitLocker Protection Context Menu in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove 'Turn off BitLocker' Context Menu from Drives in Windows
- How to Add or Remove 'Turn on BitLocker' Context Menu from Drives in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Unlock Drive Context Menu in Windows
- How to Add 'Suspend BitLocker protection' to Context Menu of Drives in Windows
- How to Create BitLocker Encrypted Container File with a VHD or VHDX File in Windows