I am using Windows 10 with BitLocker enabled. Recently, I noticed a drive notification stating "BitLocker Waiting for activation". I have tried restarting the computer and checking the system settings, but the issue persists. I am not very familiar with BitLocker configuration and management, so I am unsure how to properly resolve this issue. Any helps thanks.
This "BitLocker waiting for activation" notification means that some features of BitLocker encryption have not been fully activated or configured. And it is usually accompanied by yellow triangle warning, which indicate your drive is encrypted by BitLocker, but BitLocker protection is not turned on yet.
Before start, you should confirm the status of BitLocker drive.
Step 1 Type "cmd" in the search box and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as admin.
Step 2 Run the following command:
manage-bde -status
Step 3 Compare the status between the drive awaiting BitLocker Activation and the drive with already BitLocker encrypted.
We can see that these two drives mainly differ in their Protection Status and Key Protectors. And both of them are BitLocker-encrypted. Then we know where to start in resolving this BitLocker drive waiting for activation issue.
Step 1 Based on the BitLocker drive's status, if the Key Protectors show "None Found", you should execute one of the following command options or both of them to enhance the BitLocker security.
manage-bde -protectors -add -recoverykey d:/test g:
Note: The d:/test is the folder to store the recovery key file. And remember to replace g: with your own drive letter.
manage-bde -protectors -add -password g:
Note: Type the BitLocker password twice. And note that the password is invisible at this time, don't make the mistake of thinking that you didn't enter successfully.
Step 2 Then run the command below. If there is at least one key protector, you can skip the command above, run the BitLocker manage-bde command directly in an Elevated Command Prompt:
manage-bde -on g:
Ignore the note message, and then back to the BitLocker Drive Encryption panel, you will see the "BitLocker waiting for activation" error message is gone.
BitLocker Drive Encryption panel provides a concise interface for you to configure BitLocker Settings.
Step 1 Type Control Panel in the search box, and then select view by "Large icons".
Step 2 Click on "BitLocker Drive Encryption" option to access to BitLocker Drive Encryption panel.
Step 3 Here, locate the drive that BitLocker waiting for activation. Click on the "Turn on BitLocker" beside the drive.
Step 4 Follow the wizard to finish the BitLocker configuration. Until it finished, this yellow triangle and message warning will automatically disappear.
Step 1 Open an elevated Command Prompt.
Step 2 Type the following command to turn off BitLocker and get the drive to decrypted.
manage-bde -off g:
Step 3 Wait the decryption process to complete. Once finished, this error message will also no longer appear.
Enable BitLocker via cmd is indeed a faster way compared to activate it through Control Panel. However, you should examine whether your Windows is compatible with BitLocker first.
Lydia
Actually the BitLocker Yellow Triangle Warning is a notice or warning that BitLocker was not activated. It’s not in BitLocker Drive Protection yet.
Lydia
BitLocker is a built-in encryption feature in Windows that helps protect data by encrypting entire volumes. Managing and automating BitLocker can greatly simplify encryption tasks.
Benjamin
Yes, through the Group Policy Editor, you can access more detailed BitLocker settings. When storing BitLocker keys in Active Directory, it needs BitLocker Group Policy Settings.
Lydia
