[SOLVED] How to Access BitLocker Drive on Mac Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur

Portable and USB flash drives are frequently utilized for data backup and transfer purposes. To prevent unauthorized access to these drives, Microsoft introduced a data encryption feature called BitLocker following the launch of Windows Vista. Nevertheless, BitLocker is not currently available for Mac users.

This article delves into how to access BitLocker drives on a Mac. Find swift solutions here.

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Help! I Can't Access My BitLocker-Encrypted Drive on a Mac

Here's a user scenario from the Microsoft Q&A platform:

"Hello, I recently encrypted my USB drive with BitLocker on my Windows 10 PC. When I attempted to access the drive on my MacBook Pro, it stated that the drive was unreadable. Various forums suggest using third-party software for decryption, but I'm hesitant to trust these programs. Is there any method to access my USB drive on my Mac without relying on external software? Thank you!"

When you insert a BitLocker-encrypted drive into a Mac, you'll see the message "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer." Ignore this notification and continue reading to learn how to access a BitLocker drive on macOS.

What is BitLocker and a BitLocker-Encrypted Drive?

On the Windows operating system, BitLocker is a robust and complimentary encryption utility. Once an external hard drive or USB flash drive is protected with BitLocker, users can rest assured that their data is secure from breaches. Access to the encrypted drive is only possible with the pre-configured password.

The BitLocker-encrypted drive was created on a Windows system, and there is no equivalent BitLocker application available for Mac users to unlock an encrypted drive. Consequently, when users attempt to transfer their data and files using a BitLocker-encrypted USB drive, they will encounter difficulties in directly accessing the drive on a Mac.

How to Access a BitLocker Drive on a Mac

You can watch this video and follow the tutorial to access and open a BitLocker-encrypted drive on a Mac:

• 00:20 - Download and install the BitLocker for Mac utility
• 01:24 - Unlock the Drive
• 01:32 - In File Manager
• 03:12 - Mount the drive in the Finder
• 03:48 - Questions

Method 1: Access BitLocker-Encrypted USB Drive on Mac with VirtualBox

You're utilizing VirtualBox, similar to tools from Vmware, as a means to access data, allowing you to connect your BitLocker-encrypted drive within a VirtualBox environment. Hence, we recommend installing the Windows 10 operating system on your local Mac using VirtualBox. This enables you to run certain programs that wouldn't otherwise be possible, such as accessing a USB drive that has been encrypted with BitLocker.

Step 1. Launch it if you've already installed Windows 10 in VirtualBox on your Mac.

Step 2. If VirtualBox does not recognize your BitLocker drive on Mac, it is probable that your machine is missing the VirtualBox Extension Pack. To resolve this issue, disable the security and privacy setting in your Mac's System Preferences.

Step 3. Next, connect your Mac device with the USB drive. Since only one local operating system can recognize a USB drive at a time, your USB flash drive will initially be detected by your macOS rather than Windows in VirtualBox. To change this, you can safely eject your USB drive from your macOS. After doing so, VirtualBox will then recognize your USB drive, and it will become visible within the Windows operating system.

Step 4. After the Windows OS in VirtualBox detects your USB drive, use the BitLocker To Go tool that comes with Windows 10 to unlock your BitLocker-encrypted drive.

Step 5. You can copy, move, transfer, and delete files or folders on your USB flash drive.

[Bonus Tip] VMware Data Recovery with Software

When using VMware, similar to VirtualBox, to install an operating system incompatible with macOS, a few VMware files are generated and stored locally on the hard drive. If the virtual machine's settings are altered or if VMware files become damaged or missing, data on the virtual hard drive might be lost. So, the question is, how can you recover these files?

You can utilize Data Recovery Wizard tools to recover data from VMware.

• Recover lost or deleted files, including VMware files, images, music, and emails.
• Mac Trash Recovery to restore data from memory sticks, flash drives, hard drives, and VMware disks.
• Support data recovery from accidental deletion, hard drive failures, power issues, and system crashes.

You can download the tool "Data Recovery Wizard for Mac". After installation, follow the steps outlined below.

Step 1. Select the drive to be scanned Choose the storage drive that you want to scan for the desired action or data recovery. This could be your primary hard disk, an external USB drive, a memory card, or any other storage device connected to your computer.

In the main interface of the Data Recovery Wizard, you'll see a list of drives connected to your Mac. Choose the drive from which you need to recover lost or deleted files, and click the "Search for lost files" button.

Note: Before proceeding with data recovery, it's recommended to click "Disk Backup" from the left sidebar to create a backup of your Mac to prevent any potential further data loss. Once the backup is done, the software can retrieve data from the Mac backup, and your computer can resume writing new data.

Step 2. Select the lost data/files

Owning Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, it will instantly scan the selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left panel. If you are searching for specific files, you can sort the results to locate the desired files.

Step 3. Recover Lost/Deleted Data

Once you've located the desired files, preview them and then click "Recover" to commence the retrieval of your deleted/lost Mac files.

Method 2: Install Additional Extension to Access BitLocker

Allowing system extensions enables access to BitLocker's encrypted drive without compromising your Mac's security. Once system extensions are enabled, you can revert the "Security Policy..." setting to its original preference.

Step 1. To unlock the settings, click the "lock button" after launching the security preferences screen.

Step 2. Click "Enable system extensions..." - "Shut down".

Step 3. Boot your Mac into Safe Mode. Click "Options" to continue.

Step 4. Select "Startup Security Utility" from the Utilities menu and then choose "Security Policy..."

Step 5. Choose "Allow user management of kernel extensions from identified developers" and "Reduced Security," then click "OK."

Step 6. Restart your Mac.

Method 3: Open BitLocker Drive on Mac with Dual Boot

Installing Windows using Boot Camp on a Mac is one of the straightforward and convenient methods to access BitLocker on a Mac. With Boot Camp, you can seamlessly run Windows 10 on your Mac, allowing you to easily access your BitLocker-encrypted drive. However, this is不同于 VirtualBox; it's a simpler system that runs directly on your Mac without requiring a virtual machine.

Step 1. Open and launch Boot Camp on your Mac by going to Applications - Utilities and clicking the Continue button.

Step 2. Select the option to load your Windows 10 ISO file.

Step 3. Verify that you have enough space enabled for your Windows partition; you'll need at least 64GB, but Apple recommends 128GB.

Step 4. Click the Install button to begin the process. Boot Camp starts downloading the Windows drivers and creating the partition.

Step 5. Enter your administrator password, then click OK. You can proceed with the Windows installation step by step once the installation screen appears.

Step 6. You should continue with the download and installation of Windows 10 on your computer, which will take some time.

Step 7. Restart your Mac while holding down the Option (Alt) key to begin the conversion to Windows. A prompt will appear, asking you to select the drive from which to boot.

Method 4: Locate Another Computer to Open and Decrypt a BitLocker Drive

Since BitLocker is a Windows-specific technology, its encrypted drives are not compatible with other operating systems like Mac or any others. Consequently, Microsoft does not provide an official solution for this purpose.

The drive should be decrypted in Windows before being used on a Mac. If you don't have access to another PC to do this, try the three methods outlined above.

How to Format a BitLocker Drive on a Mac

Formatting a USB drive with BitLocker enabled on a Mac can lead to an empty drive. It's essential to backup your critical files beforehand.

On a Mac, you can open Disk Utility and erase the BitLocker-encrypted drive just like any other HDD or SSD. When the error message appears, opt for "Initialize" instead. This will lead you to the Drive Utility window, where you can erase the disk and assign a functional file system to it.

Don't Worry if You Accidentally Format a Hard Drive

However, if you accidentally formatted an external hard drive on your Mac while backing up data to Time Machine, don't panic. We highly recommend trying out data recovery software, which has the highest likelihood of successfully recovering formatted hard drives on Mac.

Final Thoughts

You are aware that the BitLocker USB flash drive is solely compatible with Windows operating systems. Neither Microsoft nor Apple provides official solutions for accessing or unlocking BitLocker drives on a Mac. However, you can utilize the steps mentioned above to gain access, unlock, or open a BitLocker drive on a Mac in order to accomplish your objective.

"Open BitLocker Drive on Mac" FAQs

For further assistance, please refer to the following questions and answers below.

1. Does BitLocker work on Mac? No, BitLocker does not work natively on Mac devices. BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature provided by Microsoft for Windows operating systems. It is designed to secure data on Windows PCs by encrypting the entire hard drive. To use BitLocker on a Mac, you would need to have a virtual machine running Windows or use third-party software that supports reading and managing BitLocker-encrypted drives.

The BitLocker USB flash drive is specifically designed to function with Windows operating systems. It is not compatible with Mac systems, and therefore, cannot be accessed or opened using any official software provided by either Microsoft or Apple.

**2. What is the equivalent of BitLocker for Mac?**

The data on your Mac is encrypted by FileVault, ensuring it cannot be accessed without entering the login password. When you enable FileVault, extra security measures are activated to further safeguard your data.

3. How do I enable BitLocker on my Mac? BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that is exclusive to Windows operating systems. It is not available natively on macOS. However, you can use third-party software to achieve similar levels of encryption on your Mac. One popular option is to use Microsoft's own "ExFAT" file system format, which can be read and written by both Windows and macOS, and then encrypt the volume using macOS's built-in FileVault. Here's how to enable FileVault on your Mac: 1. **Open System Preferences**: Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu. 2. **Go to Security & Privacy**: In the System Preferences window, click on the "Security & Privacy" icon. 3. **Unlock for Changes**: Click on the lock icon in the bottom left corner to make changes. You'll be asked to enter your admin password. 4. **Enable FileVault**: In the "General" tab, you should see an option to "Turn on FileVault." Click on this button. 5. **Choose Users**: A dialog box will appear asking you to select the users you want to enable FileVault for. Select the user accounts you wish to encrypt and click "Continue." 6. **Backup Recovery Key**: You'll be prompted to save your recovery key, which you'll need if you ever forget your password. Save it in a safe place or print it out. You can also choose to store the recovery key with Apple ID (if you're comfortable with that). 7. **Encryption Process**: Click "Turn On FileVault" and your Mac will start encrypting the data on your startup disk. This process may take some time, depending on the amount of data you have. Remember that once you've enabled FileVault, you'll need to enter your login password or use Touch ID (if supported) every time you start up your Mac to decrypt the drive. Keep in mind that while FileVault offers robust encryption for macOS, it is not directly equivalent to BitLocker. If you need cross-platform compatibility and encryption similar to BitLocker, you might consider using a third-party tool like VeraCrypt.

You can use the methods to unlock a BitLocker drive on a Mac.

1. Create a virtual machine 2. Perform additional extension 3. Enable dual boot functionality 4. Locate another computer 5. Utilize third-party software tools

4. How do I encrypt a Mac hard drive? To encrypt a Mac hard drive, you can use the built-in feature called FileVault. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. **Open System Preferences**: Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select "System Preferences." 2. **Select "Security & Privacy"**: In the System Preferences window, click on the "Security & Privacy" icon. 3. **Unlock for Changes (if necessary)**: If the padlock at the bottom left is locked, click on it and enter your admin password to make changes. 4. **Enable FileVault**: In the "General" tab, you'll see an option for "FileVault." If it says "Turn On FileVault," click on that button. 5. **Choose Users**: A new window will appear asking you to select which users you want to enable for FileVault. Check the boxes next to the user accounts you wish to encrypt. 6. **Confirm Encryption**: Review the warning message about encryption, then click "Continue" to proceed. 7. **Backup Key**: You'll be asked to save a recovery key. This key can be used to access your data if you forget your password. You can choose to save it to a file or print it out. Keep it secure! 8. **Start Encryption**: After saving the recovery key, click "Encrypt [Your Mac's Name]" to begin the encryption process. This may take some time depending on the size of your hard drive. 9. **Wait for Completion**: While your Mac encrypts the hard drive, it will continue to function normally. You'll see a progress bar indicating the encryption status. 10. **Done**: Once the encryption is complete, your Mac's hard drive will be fully encrypted, and FileVault will be turned on automatically. Remember, after enabling FileVault, always keep your login password and recovery key safe. If you lose both, you won't be able to access your data.

1. Click the Apple icon, then select "System Preferences." 2. Click on "Security & Privacy." 3. Click the "FileVault" tab and turn it on to encrypt the Mac hard drive.