Before resizing partitions, installing Linux, or changing UEFI settings, back up important files, verify that you can retrieve the BitLocker recovery key without booting Windows, and check whether protection is active. For Ubuntu’s documented same-disk “alongside Windows” installation, suspending BitLocker is not enough: Ubuntu says Windows must be decrypted so the installer can access the disk data.
What to check before changing anything
- Check encryption and protection status in Windows. Open the BitLocker or Device Encryption settings and confirm the status for the Windows drive. In an elevated Command Prompt,
manage-bde.exe -statusreports BitLocker configuration and protection mode. For Secure Boot integrity-validation details, Microsoft also documentsmanage-bde.exe -protectors -get C:; the drive letter may differ on your system. See Microsoft’s BitLocker FAQ. - Locate the recovery key. Make sure the key for this device is available somewhere other than the encrypted Windows installation—for example, on another device or on paper—so you can retrieve it if Windows will not start. Keep it private. Microsoft explains recovery-key retrieval in its recovery-key guidance.
- Make a separate backup. Copy important files to storage that is not part of the disk you plan to change. Ubuntu warns that installation and changes to disk structure can cause data loss and recommends backing up first: Ubuntu Desktop installation tutorial.
- Choose the intended installation route. Decide whether you want Ubuntu beside Windows on the same disk, Ubuntu on a separate unencrypted disk, or to erase Windows and replace it. The last option removes the existing contents and partition layout; check the selected target disk carefully.
- Record the current boot configuration. Before changing boot order, Secure Boot, firmware settings, or bootloader settings, note the current values and how to restore them. Microsoft’s BitLocker recovery planning guidance describes changes that can lead to recovery.
Choose the install path that fits your disks
| Route | What happens to Windows | BitLocker and disk implications |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu alongside Windows on the same disk | Windows is intended to remain installed. | Ubuntu says its installer cannot safely install alongside a BitLocker-protected Windows installation because it cannot map the encrypted Windows data. Ubuntu documents turning BitLocker off and waiting for decryption to finish before using this route. |
| Ubuntu on a separate, unencrypted disk | The encrypted Windows installation can remain on its disk. | Ubuntu lists a separate unencrypted disk as an alternative to disabling BitLocker on the Windows disk. Confirm the target disk during setup. |
| Erase the disk and install Ubuntu | The existing Windows installation and disk contents are replaced. | This is destructive. Choose it only if you intend to discard Windows and the data on the selected disk. |
These routes follow Ubuntu’s BitLocker installation guidance. Installer behavior can vary by Ubuntu release; check the documentation for the release you plan to install.
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For same-disk Ubuntu, turn BitLocker off—not just suspend it
Suspending and turning off BitLocker are different operations. Microsoft says suspension keeps the data encrypted but permits changes by using a clear key; resuming protection reseals the key to the computer’s current measured boot components. Turning protection off removes it and decrypts the volume. Microsoft describes the distinction in its BitLocker FAQ.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBecause Ubuntu’s same-disk guided installer needs the Windows data to be accessible, Ubuntu documents this sequence:
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- In Windows, turn BitLocker off for the Windows drive.
- Wait for decryption to complete; do not assume that starting decryption means it has finished.
- Restart Windows, sign in, and confirm Windows and your files still work.
- Return to the Ubuntu installer and select the alongside-Windows route only after the drive is decrypted.
Ubuntu cautions that some Windows versions may not allow BitLocker to be enabled again after it has been turned off. Its documentation does not establish a universal edition or device rule, so check your Windows release and any organization-managed device policy before choosing full decryption.
When suspension is appropriate
Suspension is a temporary measure for certain firmware or boot changes; it does not make encrypted Windows data readable to Ubuntu’s installer. If Microsoft’s guidance for the specific change calls for suspension, suspend protection before making that change, then resume it afterward. Microsoft’s BitLocker operations guidance covers managing protection.
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Follow the instructions for your specific device and change rather than treating every BIOS, UEFI, or Secure Boot adjustment alike. Do not turn off BitLocker merely because you are changing a boot setting when suspension is the applicable documented procedure.
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Why a boot change can trigger a recovery prompt
BitLocker can use TPM measurements of the boot process to decide whether the device is starting in an expected state. Microsoft lists changes to boot applications or BCD values, boot order, firmware, TPM measurements, and Secure Boot state or configuration among possible reasons for a recovery prompt. A prompt is a security check; by itself, it does not prove that the disk is damaged. Whether a particular change prompts for recovery depends on the device and its TPM validation profile. See Microsoft’s recovery planning guide and recovery overview.
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If Windows asks for the recovery key
- Use the recovery key for that Windows installation; do not keep making unrelated firmware changes in an attempt to dismiss the prompt.
- After Windows starts, identify what changed. Microsoft recommends checking BitLocker status with
manage-bde.exe -status; event logs can also provide clues about the trigger. Its recovery guide explains diagnosis. - If the change was intentional, follow Microsoft’s device-specific instructions for restoring protection. Microsoft documents suspension and resumption as ways to reset validation after legitimate changes; if the prompt repeats or the cause is unclear, seek device-specific support rather than guessing at more settings.
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