How to Solve No Option to Turn off BitLocker in Windows 11 Home?

Generally speaking, BitLocker is only available in specific Windows versions, like Windows Pro, Education, Enterprise editions. That’s why you find Windows 11 home BitLocker missing. However, there’re also multiple ways to help you directly disable BitLocker in windows 11 home.

Method 1: Disable BitLocker via Control Panel on PCs with BitLocker Encryption

You can connect your USB drive to the computer that supports BitLocker and disable it by following these steps using the Control Panel:

Step 1 Press "Windows + S" to open the search bar. Type "Control Panel" and press Enter. Then click on System and Security.

Step 2 Under the BitLocker Drive Encryption section, click on Manage BitLocker.

Step 3 In BitLocker Drive Encryption windows, locate the drive to decrypt. Click "Turn off BitLocker" option next to the drive.

Step 4 A confirmation window will appear, warning you that disabling BitLocker will decrypt your drive. Click Turn off BitLocker again to proceed.

Step 5 The decryption process will begin at instant. It may take some time depending on the size of your drive and the amount of data stored on it. Ensure that you do not unplug your USB drive to avoid data loss.

Method 2: Disable BitLocker Using Command Prompt with Manage-bde

Another way is to directly disable BitLocker with command line in Windows 11 Home through the Command Prompt.

Step 1 Type "cmd" in the Windows Search box, and then select Run as administrator.

Step 2 Execute the following command to check the status of BitLocker on your drive:

Step 3 To disable BitLocker, use the following command:

Step 4 Wait until the process is complete.

Method 3: Remove BitLocker from Drive with PowerShell Command

You can remove BitLocker encryption Windows 11 from a drive using PowerShell. Here’s how you can do it step by step:

Step 1 Press "Win + X" and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.

Step 2 Before starting, check whether BitLocker is enabled on this drive with following command:

Step 3 To disable BitLocker on a specific drive, use the following command, replacing "e" with the letter of the drive you want to decrypt:

Step 4 Once the process is complete, run the "Get-BitLockerVolume" command again to ensure the drive is no longer encrypted. The Protection Status should show as Off.

Method 4: Deactivate Windows 11 BitLocker with iSunshare BitLocker Genius

For users on Windows 11 Home, where BitLocker management options are limited, you can use third-party tools like iSunshare BitLocker Genius to remove BitLocker encryption from USB drive. This method provides an easy-to-use interface and simplifies the process.

Step 1 Download and install iSunshare BitLocker Genius to your PC.

Step 2 Launch BitLocker Genius. You’ll see a list of all your drives, including the ones encrypted with BitLocker.

Step 3 Right-click on the drive you want to decrypt, click the Turn off BitLocker option.

Step 4 Choose to enter the BitLocker Password or Recovery Key, then click on Decrypt button. This will begin the decryption process.

Step 5 When decrypting BitLocker, do not unplug your USB drive. Once the decryption is complete, you will be able to access your files in External Drives without needing to enter password first.