Upgrading SSD which is encrypted with BitLocker.

[Levanit]

Good day! I have HP EliteBook 840 G3 (T9X24EA). Win10 Pro with latest updates.

My hard drive is encrypted with BitLocker System. I want to upgrade an SSD with a bigger one, with cloning current SSD to new one.

What is the correct procedure for this operation? Do I need to turn off BitLocker or I can just clone SSD and replace it? Is there any step by step instruction (I have cloning software)? 

Thanks in advance

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@Levanit 

Before you try anything, go into the BitLocker Management utility and use the function to both print and back off the key.  You will need this information later.

I have used Macrium Reflect to clone lots of installs and my suspicion is that it will work because it does not actually read the files or folders; instead, it copies the sectors.  So, even if the data is encrypted, it will still copy the individual sectors.

So, if this were mine, after doing the BitLocker backup stuff I mentioned above, I would download and install Macrium Reflect, connect the SSD, and see if the cloning works.  The software is free, so it will not cost you to try it -- other than the cost of the SSD.

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR) from here: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
2) Connect the new drive to the PC using a USB-to-SSD drive adapter (like the one illustrated below)
3) Follow the instructions in this link: http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Cloning+a+disk
4) Shutdown the PC when done
5) Swap the drives and reboot the PC.

[Levanit]

Thank you, very helpful!