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Manage-bde: unlock

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2

Unlocks a BitLocker-protected drive by using a recovery password or a recovery key. For examples of how this command can be used, see Examples.

Syntax

manage-bde -unlock {-recoverypassword <Password>|-recoverykey <PathToExternalKeyFile>} <Drive> [-computername <Name>] [{-?|/?}] [{-help|-h}]

Parameters

Parameter Description

-recoverypassword

Specifies that a recovery password will be used to unlock the drive.

<Password>

Represents the recovery password that can be used to unlock the drive.

-recoverykey

Specifies that an external recovery key file will be used to unlock the drive.

<PathToExternalKeyFile>

Represents the external recovery key file that can be used to unlock the drive.

<Drive>

Represents a drive letter followed by a colon.

-computername

Specifies that Manage-bde.exe will be used to modify BitLocker protection on a different computer. You can also use -cn as an abbreviated version of this command.

<Name>

Represents the name of the computer on which to modify BitLocker protection. Accepted values include the computer's NetBIOS name and the computer's IP address.

-? or /?

Displays brief Help at the command prompt.

-help or -h

Displays complete Help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following example illustrates using the -unlock command to unlock drive E with a recovery key file that has been saved to a backup folder on another drive.

manage-bde –unlock E: -recoverykey "F:\Backupkeys\recoverykey.bek"

Additional references