Microsoft’s encryption know-how for Windows is named Bitlocker. It’s nice know-how that, when used on a partition, can defend your privateness. Nonetheless, in the event you’re utilizing Linux alongside Windows, it’s possible you’ll be upset to know that there isn’t any assist for Bitlocker partitions out of the field on most trendy Linux-based working programs. As a substitute, in order for you to access Windows Bitlocker partitions in Linux, you need to use the third-party device Dislocker.
Set up Dislocker on Linux
Dislocker doesn’t come pre-installed on any Linux distribution. So, earlier than we get into how to use this software program, we should exhibit how to set up it.
To put in the Dislocker software program on Linux, open up a terminal window by urgent Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard. Then, from there, observe the command-line directions outlined under that match your Linux working system.
Ubuntu
sudo apt set up dislocker
Debian
sudo apt-get set up dislocker
Arch Linux
When you’re on Arch Linux and need to use Dislocker, you need to set up the software program instantly from the Arch Linux Person Repository (AUR). To begin the set up course of, set up each the Git and Base-devel packages utilizing the Pacman command.
sudo pacman -S git base-devel
After you’re accomplished putting in the packages, use the Git command to obtain the Trizen AUR helper and set up it. Trizen will make organising Dislocker way more simple, as it is going to mechanically acquire and set up all dependencies mechanically.
git clone
As soon as the information are completed downloading, use the CD command to transfer the terminal session into the “trizen” listing.
cd trizen
Compile the Trizen app with the makepkg command.
makepkg -sri
When Trizen is about up in your Arch Linux system, you should use it to set up the Dislocker software.
trizen -S dislocker
Fedora
sudo dnf set up dislocker
OpenSUSE
Dislocker shouldn’t be out there to customers on OpenSUSE Linux, sadly. When you’d like to set up the app, contemplate downloading the Fedora RPM bundle right here. Or compile the supply code situated here.
Arrange Dislocker
Now that Dislocker is put in in your Linux PC, we should set it up. To begin, create a brand new mount folder the place the Bitlocker partition might be accessible when the decryption course of is full. Utilizing the next mkdir command, create the “bl-mount” folder.
sudo mkdir -p /media/bl-mount
After creating the “bl-mount” folder in the media listing, one other folder wants to be created. Title this folder “bitlocker.” Just like the one earlier than it, the “bitlocker” folder wants to go in the media listing. Utilizing the mkdir command, create the brand new folder.
sudo mkdir -p /media/bitlocker/
As soon as each folders are in the media listing, you’ll be able to examine to see if the folders are the place they’re supposed to be by transferring into the listing with CD and operating the LS command to view the contents of “media.”
cd /media/ ls
Access Bitlocker partition
The Bitlocker folders are all arrange and prepared to use with the Dislocker software program. Now it’s time to use the Dislocker software program to decrypt and mount the partition in your Linux system. Comply with the step-by-step directions under.
Step 1: run the lsblk command to discover the partition label of your Bitlocker Windows partition. On this instance, the partition is /dev/sdc1. Yours might differ.
Need assistance discovering out what your Bitlocker Windows partition is? Comply with our information on how to discover arduous drive data on Linux for assist.
lsblk
Step 2: Utilizing the dislocker command, decrypt the partition. Hold in thoughts that /dev/sdc1 is an instance. Please ensure that to change it to the precise partition label of your personal Bitlocker Windows partition or the command won’t work.
sudo dislocker -V /dev/sdc1 -u -- /media/bitlocker
Step 3: After coming into the command from Step 2, some textual content will seem that claims, “Enter the user password.” Enter the password for the Windows account you used to encrypt your partition and press the Enter key to proceed.
Step 4: Utilizing the dislocker command, mount the Bitlocker Windows partition in the /media/bl-mount folder. Please perceive that if the filesystem is soiled, the Dislocker software program will mechanically mount your partition in “read-only” mode. To repair the read-only difficulty, a chkdsk must be run on the drive.
sudo mount -o loop /media/bitlocker/dislocker-file /media/bl-mount
Unmounting a Bitlocker Windows partition in Linux
Unmounting a Bitlocker encrypted Windows partition on Linux isn’t so simple as specifying the partition. As a substitute, you need to unmount the mount folder that the partition is loaded to.
Notice: make certain to shut all information, folders, applications or purposes on the Bitlocker Windows partition earlier than making an attempt to unmount it or it’s possible you’ll expertise information loss.
To unmount the partition, use the umount command.
sudo umount /media/bl-mount
If the partition refuses to unmount, attempt utilizing the “-f” command-line change.
sudo umount /media/bl-mount -f
