No usable volume key

Updated October 2, 2026

What it means

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.

What to try

  1. Plug the drive into a Windows PC and run chkdsk, or repair-bde with the recovery key.
  2. If Windows is still encrypting or decrypting the drive, let it finish first.
  3. Don’t format the drive. Copy what you can to another disk first.

Still stuck?

In Unbit, open the gear menu and choose Copy Error Report, then include it when you ask for help. It contains no passwords, drive names or file paths.