[SOLVED] Encrypted Source Drives Cannot Be Replicated
In this article, you’ll learn why and how to fix “encrypted source drives cannot be replicated” in two effective methods. Best practices for cloning encrypted drives are also included.
Last Updated June 27, 2025
Can't Clone SSD Because It's Bitlocker Encrypted
"Hi - I was about to try to clone the system SSD in my new G14 to the 2Tb Samsung 990 Pro that I wanted to replace it with, but can't do this because the system drive is Bitlocker encrypted and I think you need Windows 11 Pro to be able to do this, which I don't have...
Other than paying to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro or trying to do a clean install into the Samsung 999 Pro, or there any other options? If I was to do a clean install, where can I find the monitor colour profiles to back up first? Thanks"
- Question from Reddit
Many users report the “Encrypted source drives cannot be replicated” error while cloning Bitlocker encrypted drive without unlocking it using Samsung Data Migration. This may be due to the unique nature of encrypted drives, where the data is protected by cryptographic algorithms to prevent unauthorized access.
Full disk encryption tools like BitLocker lock the entire disk with strong encryption, so you cannot see your data as usual without a recovery key or password.
Fix the Encrypted Source Drives Cannot Be Replicated Error
If you encounter the error “Encrypted source drives cannot be replicated”, don't worry, you can bypass or fix this issue in the following two effective methods.
Method 1: Decrypt BitLocker-encrypted Drive Before Replication
One of the most straightforward methods is to temporarily decrypt the drive before attempting replication. This allows cloning software to access the data without the encryption barrier. Here’s how to decrypt Bilocker encrypted drive:
Step 1. Open the Control Panel and go to System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Step 2. Scroll down to find the encrypted drive and click on Turn Off BitLocker.
Step 3. Enter your password (if prompted) to begin the decryption process.
Wait for the decryption process to complete. This can take some time, depending on the size of the drive .Once done, you can create a replica of the drive with Samsung Data Migration or other cloning software you are using.
- Important Note:✎...
- After successful cloning or replication, you can choose to encrypt hard drive to protect your data again.
Method 2: Clone BitLocker Encrypted Drive with SDM Alternative
Some advanced disk cloning software, like AOMEI Cloner, can handle encrypted drives and clone BitLocker-encrypted drives easily. You can benefit from the following features:
- Simple and intuitive interface: Its interface is more straightforward for beginners to learn and use.
- Cloning scope: Clone entire disk, e.g., HDDs/SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, etc. The system drive will remain bootable after cloning.
- Sector-by-sector clone: Clone the disk sector by sector to ensure all sectors on the encrypted drive are included.
- Advanced cloning feature: Resize partition sizes on the target SD card automatically while cloning SD card to larger SD card. Optionally, convert MBR to GPT (or GPT to MBR) during cloning and enable SSD Alignment to align the SSD for better performance.
- Highly compatible: Work perfectly with different disk brands, such as Samsung, WD, Crucial, Lexar, SanDisk, PNY, Kingston, etc.
100% SecureStep 1: Open AOMEI Cloner after installing. Then, click Clone > Disk Clone.
Step 2: Select the two disks in the Source Disk and Destination Disk windows, respectively.
Step 3: By default, this software will resize the partition size automatically if the target drive is larger. Optionally, click Edit Partitions to convert disk types if you are cloning MBR to GPT or vice versa. Be sure to check SSD Alignment to improve SSD disk performance (if it is) and click Start Clone.
Free download AOMEI Cloner for easy cloning!
Best Practices for Cloning Encrypted Drives
Cloning encrypted drives is a challenging task, but with the necessary tools or strategies, it’s not impossible. Here are the best practices to follow and ensure your data remains intact and accessible.
#1: Always Backup RecoveryKeys First
Before attempting any cloning or replication of an encrypted drive, it's crucial to back up the recovery key to Microsoft account, save to a file, or directly print it. Without it, you’ll lose access to your data on the encrypted drive.
#2: Keep Multiple Copies of Recovery Keys
Never rely on a single copy of the recovery key. Ideally, store it in multiple locations (e.g., cloud storage, external drives) to avoid lockout scenarios.
#3: Use Password Managers
If your encryption software requires a password to unlock, store the password in a reputable password manager. Password managers encrypt the stored data and allow you to access your encryption keys securely.
#4: Test If the Cloned Drive Is Bootable
After cloning, it’s necessary to test the bootable clone. You can then replace hard drive without downtime if the Samsung Data Migration clone fails or any system errors prevent your system from booting. You can also check if all the data is intact.
#5: Verify Encryption on the Cloned Drive
After boot testing, you can go to BitLocker Drive Encryption to the encryption status and password/recovery key function correctly.
Final Thoughts
You will receive “Encrypted source drive can’t be replicated” if you clone a BitLocker-encrypted drive using Samsung Data Migration without decrypting first. For Samsung users, it’s suggested to decrypt the drive and then clone hard drive to it. Also, you can directly use Samsung SSD cloning software - AOMEI Cloner to clone HDD to Samsung SSD, which is able to handle encrypted disks well.