Is Data Recoverable After Being Deleted From a BitLocker-Encrypted Drive?

This question needs to be answered in two scenarios. If you just move it to the Recycle Bin, it is possible to recover the data deleted from the BitLocker-encrypted drive. However, if you delete it from the Recycle Bin or using the "Shift + Delete" shortcut key, it will become more difficult to recover it. Next, I will explain how to recover deleted data in detail.

Recover Data from Recycle Bin

Step 1: Unlock BitLocker-encrypted drive using your password or recovery key.

Note: If the BitLocker drive is locked, then the file deleted from this drive will not be displayed in the Recycle Bin.

Step 2: Open Recycle Bin and locate to the file you want to recover.

Step 3: Double-click it and select "Restore" option from the pop-up window.

Step 4: The file will be restored to its original position.

Recover Data Using Data Recovery Tool

If you empty your Recycle Bin or delete files using the "Shift + Delete" shortcut key, it will be difficult to recover the data. In such cases, a dedicated third-party data recovery software designed for recovering data from BitLocker-encrypted drives can be an alternative. You can find such tools on the internet.

Caution: In order to maximize the success rate of data recovry, try to recover files immediately and do not write anything to the target drive.

Note: Especially for SSDs, the TRIM command makes it difficult or impossible to recover data. The deleted data will be deleted thoroughly within a short period of time after it was deleted.

For Reference: Based on my test results using R-STUDIO Technician to recover data on SSDs, if BitLocker encrypts a non-OS drive, the recovery success rate of accidentally deleted files is still high as long as no new files have been written. However, when recovering data from the OS drive, I can only recover the file names, and the contents are missing.(In a short time.)

Conclusion

In summary, it is not always possible to recover data deleted from a BitLocker-encrypted drive. If you can find the file in the Recycle Bin, the recovery process is very easy. However, if you delete data permanently, some third-party software will be needed to recover it. And in this case, there is no guarantee that the data can be recovered.

Just moving unwanted files to the Recycle Bin is a better way to handle these files on a BitLocker-encrypted drive. These files in the Recycle Bin are not accessible until you unlock the BitLocker-encrypted drive, which ensures the security of the deleted data. What's more, if you delete files accidentally, you can recover them easily in this case. Hope this information is helpful to you.