Help with Unbit messages

What each message means and what to do about it.

Download for macOS Unbit

Wrong password

Wrong password. Check for typos and Caps Lock and try again, or unlock with the recovery key instead.

Wrong recovery key

Wrong recovery key. Check all 48 digits – every drive has its own recovery key.

The code isn’t valid

The recovery key must have 48 digits (8 groups of 6). Check that it's typed correctly.

The saved password no longer works

The saved password no longer matches this drive. Choose Enter New Code and type the current password.

The saved recovery key no longer works

The saved recovery key no longer matches this drive. Choose Enter New Code and type the current recovery key.

The drive has no password

The drive isn't protected with a password. Use the recovery key instead.

The drive has no recovery key

The drive has no recovery key. Use the password instead.

Only a startup key, smart card or TPM

This drive can only be unlocked with a startup key file, a smart card or the TPM, which Unbit can't use. On a Windows PC, add a password or recovery key to the drive (Manage BitLocker), then try again.

This isn’t a BitLocker partition

This partition isn't BitLocker-encrypted. Choose another partition, or open the drive in Finder if it isn't encrypted.

macOS can already read this partition

macOS can already read this partition, so it isn't BitLocker-encrypted. Open it in Finder, or choose another partition.

Unsupported BitLocker version

Unbit opens drives encrypted with Windows 7 or later. This drive uses an older BitLocker version (Windows Vista).

Unsupported encryption method

This drive uses an encryption method Unbit doesn't support. Open it on a Windows PC instead.

The BitLocker information is damaged

The BitLocker information on this drive is damaged or incomplete. Check the drive on a Windows PC (for example with chkdsk or repair-bde) and try again.

Windows is still encrypting or decrypting the drive

The drive is being encrypted or decrypted by Windows right now. Let Windows finish first, then try again.

No usable volume key

This drive has no usable volume key, so it can't be opened. It may be damaged or only partly encrypted – check it on a Windows PC.

The drive was removed

The drive was removed. Plug it in again to open it.

The drive stopped responding

The drive stopped responding while it was being read. Check the cable and port, plug the drive in again, and try again.

Couldn’t read from the drive

Couldn't read from the drive. Check the cable and port, plug the drive in again, and try again.

macOS denied access to the drive

macOS denied access to the drive. Give “Unbit” Full Disk Access in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Full Disk Access, and try again.

Couldn’t get read access to the drive

Unbit couldn't get read access to the drive. Try again and approve with your Mac password, or choose Set Up Read Access in the gear menu.

The administrator prompt timed out

The administrator prompt timed out. Try again and approve with your Mac password.

The read helper didn’t respond

The read helper didn't respond. Choose Set Up Read Access in the gear menu and try again.

macOS took too long to attach the drive

macOS took too long to attach the drive. Wait a moment and try again. If it keeps happening, plug the drive in again.

An operation timed out

A step took longer than expected and was stopped, so nothing was changed on the drive.

Something went wrong

Unbit hit a problem it has no specific message for. The drive is opened read-only, so nothing on it was changed.