How to read BitLocker Drive on my Mac?

BitLocker is Microsoft’s encryption feature for Windows systems, offering strong data protection by encrypting entire drives. However, if you try to open a BitLocker-encrypted drive on a Mac, you'll quickly find that macOS doesn’t natively support BitLocker. When connected, the drive may appear as unreadable or not even mount at all. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can access BitLocker-encrypted drives on a Mac using third-party tools and workarounds.

Why Can't macOS Read BitLocker Drives?

macOS does not have built-in support for the BitLocker encryption standard. It can recognize NTFS file systems in read-only mode but will not prompt for or accept BitLocker credentials. This makes direct access impossible without help from third-party software.

Solutions to Access BitLocker Drives on macOS

1. Use Third-Party Software

There are several reliable third-party applications that allow Mac users to unlock and access BitLocker drives:

iBoysoft BitLocker for Mac

Offers read/write access to BitLocker-encrypted drives.

Prompts for the BitLocker password or recovery key.

Works with external HDDs, SSDs, and USB drives.

M3 BitLocker Loader for Mac

Simple interface with full read and write capabilities.

Supports mounting BitLocker drives just like regular Mac volumes.

Allows unlocking with password or 48-digit recovery key.

Hasleo BitLocker Anywhere for Mac

Provides basic access for reading files.

Supports macOS Monterey and earlier versions.

Note: These tools are not free, though most offer trial versions or limited functionality for evaluation.

2. Use a Windows Virtual Machine

If you don’t want to rely on third-party tools, another option is to run Windows on your Mac using virtualization software like:

Parallels Desktop

VMware Fusion

VirtualBox

Once Windows is running, you can plug in the BitLocker drive and access it natively through the Windows environment. This option is best if you frequently work with BitLocker drives and already use Windows software on your Mac.

3. Ask a Windows User to Decrypt or Transfer

If you don’t need continuous access and just want the files, you can ask someone with a Windows PC to:

Decrypt the drive (if permitted).

Copy the files to an unencrypted, macOS-compatible format like exFAT or FAT32.

Share the data via a USB drive or cloud storage.

Precautions When Using BitLocker Drives on Mac

Never format the drive on Mac, as it may erase all encrypted data.

Always eject safely to avoid corruption.

When using third-party tools, ensure they come from reputable developers to avoid malware or data loss.

Conclusion

While macOS doesn’t support BitLocker by default, you can still access BitLocker-encrypted drives using third-party apps or by running Windows in a virtual environment. For occasional use, tools like iBoysoft or M3 BitLocker Loader are convenient. If regular access is needed, consider virtualization or decrypting the drive via Windows.