How To Erase Bitlocker Encrypted Drive On Windows 10

Fortunately, if you must erase a drive and BitLocker is getting on the way, there’s a workaround using a Linux-based utility called GParted, which can help you delete and format any drive regardless if it’s using encryption. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to wipe a drive when you can’t turn off encryption on Windows 10.

How to delete BitLocker encrypted drive using GParted

If you still can’t erase the BitLocker encrypted drive, you can use third-party tools like GParted to delete it.

Creating a GParted bootable USB

To create a GParted bootable media, connect a USB flash drive with at least 2GB of space to a different device, and follow these steps: Once you’ve completed the steps, tuxboot will create a bootable media with the GParted files, which you can use to boot your computer to wipe out the encrypted drive in question. Tuxbox tool creating a GParted bootable drive

Using GParted to delete a BitLocker drive

To use GParted to delete a drive using BitLocker, connect the USB flash drive with GParted to your device, and then use these steps: After completing the steps, the Linux-based tool will wipe everything on the drive you selected regardless if it’s encrypted or not. Start GParted GParted keymap settings Select a language to start GParted Start GParted with graphical UI Selec the BitLocker drive in GParted Delete BitLocker partition using GParted Commit GParted changes to disk Confirm GParted settings

Formatting a drive using GParted

Once the process completes, you can use GParted to create a new NTFS partition, or you can proceed with the installation of Windows 10, which now will work. Or if you were deleting a secondary drive, you can boot into Windows 10 again, and use Disk Management (as shown above) to format the drive normally. To use GParted to format a drive, use these steps: Exiting the tool is as simple as, clicking the GParted button from the top-left corner, and clicking the Quit option. Then double-click the Exit button and click the Shutdown button. Create new partition using GParted All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk. Always backup of your device and files before making any changes. Privacy policy info.