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0x80070015 Bitlocker The Device is not Ready: 8 Ways to Fix

Regain smooth usage of your drives

7 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

If you are a Windows user and have encountered the error message 0x80070015 Bitlocker The Device is not Ready, you may wonder what this message means and how to resolve it.

This error message can occur when trying to encrypt or decrypt a drive using Microsoft’s Bitlocker encryption software.

We will run you through common triggers and the best solutions to fix the error.

Why does error 0x80070015 in Bitlocker occur?

Error 0x80070015 in Bitlocker can occur due to a variety of reasons. Here we enumerate some of the primary triggers:

Overall, error 0x80070015 in Bitlocker can occur for various reasons, and identifying the root cause can be challenging. However, you can resolve the issue by troubleshooting.

How can I fix 0x80070015 in Bitlocker?

Before diving into any fixes, we suggest checking the drive connection. This error often occurs on external drives, so ensure the device is correctly connected to your computer. You can also unplug and plug it back in to establish the connection.

It would be best to close all the programs using the drive before jumping into any solutions.

1. Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

Windows has its built-in hardware troubleshooter that can fix general issues causing your hardware to malfunction. If you’re havingtrouble with the troubleshooter itself, this fix guide might come in handy.

It is worth mentioning that some external drive manufacturers offer dedicated troubleshooters. If the device is not ready and the error persists, go to your drive manufacturer’s website and check if any drive troubleshooter is available.

If so, download and install the troubleshooter and run it to fix your drive.

2. Uninstall and reinstall the USB controller driver

You may want to repeat the process for all outdated drivers. It would be best to have a yellow mark on the obsolete drivers.

It’s also possible to update your drivers automatically by letting the Device Manager search for the newest updates.

If you want to apply this, you should simply select theUpdate driveroption from the context menu and choose the method to automatically update the USB driver.

Otherwise you can always rely on an automated tool such asOutbyte Driver Updaterwhich not only search, find and update the USB driver on your behalf, but will do it for any other outdated or missing driver on your device without hesitation.

⇒Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Assign a drive letter to your external drive

4. Install the latest drivers in compatibility mode

Install the latest driver for USBfrom your drive’s manufacturer website, and try installing it in Windows compatibility mode to run the program using settings from a previous Windows version.

5. Run a full system scan

Malware may cause various issues on your computer, including errors. Perform a full system scan to detect malware on your computer and fix the Bitlocker error 0x80070015.

6. Repair your files

The simplest way to repair your registry is touse a dedicated tool, such asCCleaner. Remember to back up your registry first in case anything goes wrong.

You can also use Microsoft’s System File Checker tocheck for system file corruption. However, this utility is only available on Windows 10.

7. Update your OS

Ensure you’re running thelatest Windows OS updateson your machine. As a quick reminder, Microsoft constantly rolls out Windows updates to improve the system’s stability and fix various issues. For example, an update may fix the Bitlocker error 0x80070015.

8. Clean boot your computer

A clean boot starts Windows using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs to eliminate software conflicts that may occur when installing a program, updating it, or simply launching it.

The BitLocker error code 0x80070015 can be frustrating when accessing encrypted data on a BitLocker drive. However, our shared solutions will help you resolve the issue.

Lastly, please share what worked best for you in the comments section.

0x80070015 Bitlocker The Device is not Ready: 8 Ways to Fix#

Why does error 0x80070015 in Bitlocker occur?#

How can I fix 0x80070015 in Bitlocker?#

1. Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter#

2. Uninstall and reinstall the USB controller driver#

3. Assign a drive letter to your external drive#

4. Install the latest drivers in compatibility mode#

5. Run a full system scan#

6. Repair your files#

7. Update your OS#

8. Clean boot your computer#