For Ubuntu Desktop, you can’t use the guided same-disk install while BitLocker is enabled. Ubuntu says to turn off BitLocker in Windows so its installer can access and map the Windows disk. If you want to keep BitLocker enabled, Ubuntu documents installing to a separate, unencrypted disk instead. These instructions are specific to Ubuntu Desktop; other Linux installers may differ.
Choose where Ubuntu will be installed
| Installation path | BitLocker requirement | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu and Windows on the same disk | Ubuntu says to turn off BitLocker before installation so the installer can map the disk. | Check whether your exact Windows version and configuration will let you turn BitLocker back on afterward. |
| Ubuntu on a separate, unencrypted disk | Ubuntu says you do not need to disable BitLocker for this arrangement. | Confirm that the installer is targeting the separate disk you intend to use. |
Ubuntu’s installer documentation says that when BitLocker Drive Encryption is enabled, “the installer can’t access the encrypted Windows installation.” Ubuntu’s BitLocker installation guidance explains the same-disk limitation and the separate-disk alternative.
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Before changing BitLocker or boot settings
- Find and verify your BitLocker recovery key. Microsoft describes it as a unique 48-digit numerical password. Keep access to it somewhere other than the Windows installation you are changing. Microsoft’s BitLocker overview explains recovery keys and recovery prompts.
- Check that you can re-enable encryption. Ubuntu warns that some Windows versions may not allow BitLocker to be turned back on after it has been disabled. Its documentation does not identify which versions, so verify support for your Windows edition and configuration before proceeding. Ubuntu’s BitLocker guidance includes this warning.
- Do not assume Secure Boot must be disabled. The cited Ubuntu guidance does not make disabling Secure Boot a general requirement for dual boot. Firmware and boot changes can, however, cause BitLocker to request recovery. Microsoft documents recovery in specific Secure Boot and boot-order scenarios; this does not mean every dual-boot installation will trigger a prompt. Microsoft’s Secure Boot troubleshooting guide covers those scenarios.
Install Ubuntu alongside Windows on the same disk
- In Windows, locate and verify your BitLocker recovery key, then check whether your exact Windows version and configuration support turning encryption back on.
- Turn off BitLocker in Windows if you are proceeding with Ubuntu’s guided same-disk installation. Suspending protection is not the same as turning off encryption: Ubuntu says the installer cannot map the encrypted Windows installation while BitLocker is enabled.
- Restart the Ubuntu installation process using Ubuntu Desktop installation media. Ubuntu’s tutorial describes booting the computer from a USB flash drive. Ubuntu’s installation tutorial covers the installation flow.
- Review the disk choice carefully. If the installer offers only an option to erase the disk, stop if your intention is to preserve Windows. Ubuntu warns that erasing the disk is destructive and Windows data cannot be recovered after choosing that option.
- After installation, be ready to enter the BitLocker recovery key if Windows requests it during startup. A recovery prompt is a security check; by itself, it does not mean the drive has been erased.
- If your Windows version supports it, turn BitLocker back on after confirming that both operating systems start as intended.
Install Ubuntu on a separate disk while keeping BitLocker
Ubuntu documents a separate, unencrypted disk as an alternative that does not require disabling BitLocker on the Windows installation. Boot the Ubuntu installer, identify the separate target disk, and verify the selection before making changes. If the installer does not clearly distinguish the target or proposes erasing the Windows disk, stop rather than guess.
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Ubuntu also documents hardware-backed disk encryption for Ubuntu. If you use that alongside Windows BitLocker, Ubuntu says to store both recovery keys. Ubuntu’s hardware-backed encryption documentation describes that arrangement.
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What a BitLocker recovery prompt means
BitLocker may ask for recovery when it detects a possible unauthorized access attempt. Microsoft says changes to hardware, firmware, or software can prompt for the recovery key. Enter the verified 48-digit key when requested; do not treat the prompt alone as evidence that your files were deleted. If you cannot retrieve the key, avoid further boot or disk changes until you have checked the recovery-key locations associated with your Microsoft account or organization.
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