BitLocker helps secure your computer by requiring a personal identification number (PIN) or password to unlock the information that is stored on your computer. The PIN or password requirements are set by your organization and depend on the kind of drive being encrypted. Data on the encrypted drives cannot be viewed without entering the PIN or password. If your computer hardware includes an enabled Trusted Platform Module (TPM), the TPM chip prompts you for your PIN before Windows starts on your computer.

About Your BitLocker PIN and Passwords

Your company specifies the complexity required for your PIN or password. These requirements for your PIN or password are explained during the BitLocker setup process.

The password is used to unlock drives on your computer that do not contain the operating system. BitLocker will ask for your password after the PIN is requested during startup. Each BitLocker protected hard disk on your computer has its own unique password. You cannot unlock a BitLocker protected drive until you provide your password.

Note
Your help desk may set drives to unlock automatically. This eliminates the need to provide a PIN or password to view the information on the drives.

How to Change your PIN or Password

  1. Click Start, and then select Control Panel. This opens Control Panel in a new window.

  2. Select System and Security, and then select BitLocker Encryption Options.

    • To change your PIN, select Manage Your PIN. Type your new PIN into both fields and select Reset PIN.

    • To change your password, select Manage Your Password. Enter your new password into both fields and select Reset Password.

      Note
      To change the password on a BitLocker protected drive, the drive must be unlocked first. If the drive is not unlocked, select Unlock Drive and enter your current password. As soon as the drive is unlocked, you can select Manage your Password to change your current password.

See Also