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Open BitLocker Encrypted Devices on macOS

·347 words·2 mins
Macos Linux Bitlocker Dislocker Macos Encrypted
Feature image: Encryption
Table of Contents

Access BitLocker-Encrypted USB Drives on macOS Using UTM and Debian #

macOS does not natively support Microsoft’s BitLocker encryption, making it challenging to access BitLocker-encrypted USB drives. However, with free tools like UTM (a virtual machine app) and Dislocker (an open-source BitLocker implementation) running under Debian, you can unlock and access your data. This guide walks you through the process step by step.

Requirements #

  • Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or newer)
  • macOS 12 or later
  • UTM (free VM app)
  • BitLocker-encrypted USB SSD or flash drive
  • Basic terminal knowledge

Step-by-Step Guide #

1. Install UTM #

UTM lets you run full Linux distributions on macOS without kernel extensions or system tweaks.

2. Set Up a Debian VM (ARM64) #

  • Open UTM and create a new Virtual Machine
  • Select Virtualize > Linux
  • Download a Debian ARM64 ISO, e.g. Debian 12.11.0 ARM64 Netinst
  • Create a new Linux VM (virtualized)
  • Allocate at least 2 GB RAM; default values are fine for other settings
  • Boot the VM and complete the Debian installation (choose a graphical interface like Xfce)

3. Install Dislocker Inside Debian #

Once Debian is running, open a terminal and install Dislocker:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install dislocker

4. Attach the USB Drive to the VM #

  • Plug your BitLocker-encrypted USB drive into your Mac and grant access if prompted

    macOS permission
    Allow access to the disk.

  • In UTM, select your running VM and go to USB Devices

    UTM Devices
    UTM Devices (Extreme SSD is the BitLocker-encrypted device)

  • Select your USB drive (e.g., “SanDisk Extreme SSD”)

    UTM USB Access
    Allow UTM to access the disk.

  • The disk should now be accessible inside Debian.

  • Wait a few seconds for the encrypted device to appear on the Debian desktop.

  • Double-click the disk icon and enter your BitLocker password

    Dislocker Password
    Enter the password.

  • You should now see the decrypted data in the file browser

    Decrypted Disk
    Decrypted disk contents.

Finished! #

You now have access to your BitLocker-encrypted files on macOS via a virtualized Debian system.

To transfer files between the Debian VM and your Mac, use UTM’s shared folder feature: UTM Shared Folders Guide.