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Fixing BitLocker password prompt screen problem on Windows 10

‘There are no secrets

that time does not reveal’

Jean Racine

It is common knowledge that you should keep your data safe from prying eyes. To this end, you will do well to encrypt your drive with BitLocker – this will bring your security to a whole new level.

The trouble is, using BitLocker is not always a seamless experience: the encryption product in question often has issues that prevent its smooth operation. Thus, BitLocker users often report the following problems:

  • What if BitLocker does not prompt for a password in Windows 10?
  • How to get rid of a blue screen in BitLocker?
  • Why does BitLocker ask for a recovery key instead of password?

The good news is, we have drawn up a list of proven and easy-to-implement tips on how to eliminate the problems described above and get your BitLocker in tip-top shape. We recommend you to start with the first solution on the list and move on until you get things right. By the end of this article, you will have surely resolved your issue.

  • Enter your password or PIN blindly

If you see a solid blue screen and no place where to input your password or PIN instead of a regular BitLocker prompt, there is no need to panic – you can literally log in blindly. Strange as it may seem, this trick actually worked for many users, so it is certainly worth a try.

  • Switch back to the legacy boot menu

You can try to work around the BitLocker password prompt screen problem on Windows 10 by enabling the legacy Windows 7 boot menu:

  1. Open an elevated command prompt window: type cmd into Search, press Enter, locate Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
  2. Type bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy and hit Enter to execute the command.
  3. Close your elevated command prompt window and reboot your Windows.

Although now your screen might seem less appealing, BitLocker screen issues should be here no more.

  • Uninstall and reinstall the problematic update

Keeping your system up to date is surely a winning strategy. However, the catch is, things often go astray: a promising update can cause multiple headaches instead of bringing developments and improvements. For instance, one of the updates you have recently installed on your PC might be behind your BitLocker nuisance. In a scenario like this, you should remove and reinstall the update in question. Below you can see the instructions that you should follow:

  1. Press the Windows logo key and the I key to open the Settings app.
  2. Click Update & Security.
  3. Select View your update history.
  4. Click Uninstall updates.
  5. Locate the problematic update and double-click it.

After removing the update, you should restart your computer. Then move on to suspend your BitLocker protection:

  1. Press the Windows logo key and the S key to invoke the Search app.
  2. Type in BitLocker and press Enter.
  3. Select Manage BitLocker from the list of results.
  4. Select Suspend protection.

Now it is time to reinstall the update you have done away with:

  1. Run the Settings app and click Update & Security.
  2. Click on Check for updates. The missing update will be reinstalled on your computer.
  3. Restart your PC.

Finally, open Manage BitLocker again and enable its protection.

  • Disable Fast Startup

This fix proves its worth in scenarios where users have Fast Startup enabled for faster bootups. Although the option in question is pretty helpful, it often triggers BitLocker issues, so it is a good idea to check if that is actually your case. As such, we recommend you to disable Fast Startup:

  1. Open the Search app by pressing the Windows logo key + S key shortcut.
  2. Type power settings and hit Enter.
  3. Select Power & sleep settings.
  4. Navigate to the Related settings section and select Additional power settings.
  5. In the Power Options window, click Choose what the power button does.
  6. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  7. Deselect Turn on fast startup (recommended).
  8. Click Save changes.

Then you should open your BIOS settings and disable Fast Startup from there. For this, you might need to use your manual since tweaking BIOS on different PCs requires different instructions. Now that the Fast Startup feature is off, your BitLocker should work the way it is supposed to.

  • Update your BIOS

Updating your BIOS might prove useful in eliminating the issues affecting BitLocker. To go about this task, check your motherboard manual for the necessary instructions. Make sure to follow them carefully – you can damage your computer otherwise. So, we advise extreme caution. You should disable BitLocker after updating your BIOS and re-enable it to see if your issue has gone.

  • Disable Secure Boot

If updating your BIOS has failed to produce the desirable result, we recommend you to disable your Secure Boot feature in your BIOS options. Search your manual for the necessary details and make sure to proceed with caution to avoid jeopardizing your computer.

  • Fix your boot-time font files

The problem you are struggling with might be a consequence of corrupt boot-time font files. And here is a path you should go with to get rid of the annoying issue:

  1. Suspend BitLocker: open the Search app, tap in BitLocker, hit Enter, then select Manage BitLocker, and click Suspend protection.
  2. Open an elevated command prompt window: press the Window key + X shortcut and select Command Prompt (admin).
  3. Input bfsvc.exe %windir%\boot /v and hit Enter.

Wait for the all-clear to proceed and close Command Prompt. Check if the manoeuvre has proved helpful.

  • Unlock your encrypted data

All to no avail? Then let’s try to unlock your encrypted data so that you can access your Windows 10 again:

  1. Restart your PC a few times at boot. This will bring aboutAutomatic Repair.
  2. Go to Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Command Prompt.
  3. You can try running any of the following commands (make sure to choose the letter of the drive you wish to unlock):
    • manage-bde -protectors – disable C:
    • manage-bde -status c:
    • manage-bde -unlock c: -rp <your 48-digit recovery password>
    • manage-bde -protectors -disable c:
  4. Press Enter.
  5. Then run wpeutil reboot.
  6. Hit Enter.
  7. Exit Command Prompt.

Finally, restart your PC and check if things are in order now.

  • Prevent boot shutdowns

If your computer shuts down on the BitLocker password prompt screen, we recommend you to do the following:

  1. Open your Command Prompt outside Windows (see the previous fix for step-by-step instructions).
  2. Type bcdedit /set {bootmgr} bootshutdowndisabled 1.
  3. Press Enter.

You should not experience BitLocker password prompt screen shutdowns anymore.

  • Decrypt your hard drive on another computer

If you have made this far and yet your BitLocker issues persist, your best bet might be decrypting your hard drive on another computer. Here is what you should do:

  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug it from the power outlet.
  3. Carefully remove the hard drive.
  4. Connect it to another PC.
  5. Decrypt the hard drive.
  6. Remove the drive and insert it back into your PC.
  7. Update your system: open the Settings app (press the Windows logo key + I shortcut), select Update & Security and click Check for updates.

After updating the system, encrypt your hard drive with BitLocker and see how things go.

  • Scan your PC for malware

If your BitLocker keeps acting weird despite all your troubleshooting tricks, malicious software might be at work. This means you should scan your system for threats and invaders and eliminate them as soon as possible.

For this purpose, you can use the built-in Windows Defender tool:

  1. Click on the Windows logo icon to open the Start menu.
  2. Click the Settings gear.
  3. Select Update & Security.
  4. Click Windows Defender.
  5. Select the Open Windows Defender link.
  6. Go to the left pane and click on the shield icon.
  7. Click Advanced scan. Choose Full scan.

That said, you are free to use a third-party tool. Make sure to opt for a product that is up to date, trustworthy and powerful. For instance, we advise using Auslogics Anti-Malware: this software creates an environment where malware cannot exist.

Hopefully, your BitLocker headaches are over. If you need extra assistance or have any ideas regarding BitLocker, do not hesitate to post your comments below. We are always glad to hear from you!