I’m having trouble unlocking my BitLocker-encrypted external drive on my Mac, even though I’m entering the correct password.
The drive is a 1TB WD Elements HDD connected via USB. I used to access it on an Intel-based Mac with a dedicated BitLocker tool, but that solution no longer works for me on Apple Silicon.
My MacBook Pro has an M5 chip and runs macOS 27. I’m wondering whether this is a compatibility issue with the new macOS version or whether there’s another reason the drive won’t unlock.
Has anyone found a reliable way to open and access a BitLocker-encrypted external drive on a modern Apple Silicon Mac? I’d appreciate any suggestions.
This sounds like a compatibility problem, especially if the same drive worked on your old Intel Mac.
Apple Silicon itself doesn’t automatically prevent access to BitLocker drives, but the app you used may rely on components or system extensions that don’t work with your current Mac or macOS version.
I’d start by checking the drive on a Windows computer. If the password unlocks it there, you can rule out a basic password problem. If you don’t have access to Windows, make sure you have the BitLocker recovery key before trying other tools.
On the Mac side, look for a BitLocker for Mac that explicitly supports Apple Silicon and your installed macOS Golden Gate. I have used iBoysoft BitLocker for Mac for years. This BitLocker for Mac software is always updated promptly following the release of a new system to ensure compatibility. It supports macOS 27 Golden Gate and Apple Silicon Macs.
Also, don’t initialize, erase, or reformat the drive if macOS prompts you to do so. That won’t solve the encryption issue and could put your data at risk.
If you share the name of the app you previously used and the exact error message you’re getting now, people may be able to tell whether it’s a software compatibility issue or something specific to the drive.