How to remove padlock Icon from drives in Windows？

The presence of a padlock icon on hard drives in the Windows 10 File Explorer indicates that the hard drive has been encrypted using BitLocker or Device Encryption programs.

BitLocker, which is available in Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 10, enables users to encrypt hard drives to safeguard their data. The built-in encryption program adds a padlock icon on hard drives within File Explorer, allowing users to quickly identify which hard drives are protected by BitLocker.

The lock indicates that the drives are encrypted. An unlocked state grants access to the data stored in the hard drive. Depending on the encryption status of the hard drive, users may observe one of three corresponding icons on the drives.

Locked padlock: BitLocker enabled and locked state: Volume is inaccessible. You will need to type the BitLocker password to open the drive and access the data in it.

Unlocked padlock: BitLocker enabled but unlocked state: Hard Drive is encrypted and keys are protected. You don’t have to enter the BitLocker password to open it.

Unlocked padlock with yellow warning triangle: BitLocker is inactive or the protection is temporarily suspended: Hard Drive is encrypted but everyone has access. This icon is also used to indicate the BitLocker is pre-provisioned. You can resume the BitLocker on the drive or disable the BitLocker for the drive to remove the icon.

How to Check if a Drive or Folder is Encrypted?

To check if a drive or folder is encrypted with BitLocker or EFS, you can follow these steps:

• Right-click on the drive or folder and select Properties.
• If the drive is encrypted with BitLocker, you will see a BitLocker tab in the Properties window. Click on it and you will see the encryption status and options for the drive.
• If the folder is encrypted with EFS, you will see an Advanced button in the General tab of the Properties window. Click on it and you will see the encryption status and options for the folder.

Solution 1: Resume BitLocker protection for hard drive

Right-click on the hard drive and click Resume BitLocker protection option. Alternatively, you can restart the computer once to automatically resume the BitLocker protection.

Solution 2: Disable BitLocker protection for hard drive

1. Right-click on the hard drive for which you want to turn off the BitLocker protection and click Manage BitLocker option to open the BitLocker Drive Encryption window.
2. Click on Turn off BitLocker link.
3. Click Turn off the BitLocker button to turn off the BitLocker encryption for the drive when confirmation dialog shown.
4. Windows 10 might take minutes to hours to decrypt the drive, depend on the size of the data and drive.

How to Remove Padlock Icon from Drives in Windows 10?

There are two ways to remove the padlock icon from drives in Windows 10, depending on whether the drive is encrypted with BitLocker or EFS.

Method 1: Remove Padlock Icon from BitLocker Encrypted Drives

To remove the padlock icon from BitLocker encrypted drives, you need to disable BitLocker for the drive. However, this will also decrypt the drive and make it vulnerable to unauthorized access. Therefore, you should only do this if you are sure that you do not need encryption for the drive. To disable BitLocker for a drive, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the drive and select Manage BitLocker.
2. In the BitLocker Drive Encryption window, click on Turn off BitLocker for the drive.
3. Click on Turn off BitLocker again to confirm.
4. Wait for the decryption process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of the drive and the amount of data on it.
5. After the decryption is done, you will see a message saying that BitLocker has been turned off for the drive. Click on Close.
6. The padlock icon should disappear from the drive.

Method 2: Remove Padlock Icon from EFS Encrypted Folders

To remove the padlock icon from EFS encrypted folders, you need to disable EFS for the folder. However, this will also decrypt the folder and make it vulnerable to unauthorized access. Therefore, you should only do this if you are sure that you do not need encryption for the folder. To disable EFS for a folder, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the folder and select Properties.
2. Click on the Advanced button in the General tab of the Properties window.
3. Uncheck the box that says Encrypt contents to secure data and click on OK.
4. You will see a confirmation window asking if you want to apply the changes to the folder only or to the folder, subfolders, and files. Choose the option that suits your needs and click on OK.
5. Wait for the decryption process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of the folder and the amount of data in it.
6. After the decryption is done, you will see a message saying that the attributes for the folder have been changed. Click on OK.
7. The padlock icon should disappear from the folder.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Will removing the padlock icon affect the performance of my drive or folder?

Answer: No, removing the padlock icon will not affect the performance of your drive or folder. The padlock icon is just a visual indicator of the encryption status of your data. It does not affect the speed or functionality of your drive or folder.

Question: Will removing the padlock icon delete or corrupt my data?

Answer: No, removing the padlock icon will not delete or corrupt your data. The data will remain intact and accessible after the decryption process. However, you should always backup your data before making any changes to the encryption settings of your drive or folder, in case of any unexpected errors or interruptions.

Question: Can I restore the padlock icon if I change my mind?

Answer: Yes, you can restore the padlock icon if you change your mind. You just need to enable BitLocker or EFS for the drive or folder again, following the same steps as above, but in reverse. However, you should be aware that encrypting your data again will take some time and may affect the performance of your drive or folder temporarily.

Summary

In this article, you learned how to remove the padlock icon from drives in Windows 10, without affecting the encryption status of your data. You also learned the difference between BitLocker and EFS, and how to check if a drive or folder is encrypted with either method. You also learned the pros and cons of removing the padlock icon, and how to restore it if you change your mind.