This is a sponsored article and was made possible by M3 Software. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored.
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the Windows world in the past few years, you’re probably familiar with BitLocker. If you haven’t, you may have no idea what it is. BitLocker is an encryption feature that helps to keep your files safe from prying eyes.
Unfortunately, it can also keep those same files from your eyes on an unsupported system like macOS or some Windows versions. That’s when you might want to reach for software like M3 BitLocker Loader.
Also read:How to Access a Bitlocker-Encrypted Windows Partition from Linux
What Is M3 BitLocker Loader?
M3 BitLocker Loader is software that lets you use BitLocker-encrypted drives on systems that don’t otherwise support BitLocker. For this review we’re looking at M3 BitLocker Loader for Mac, but the company also makes a version for Windows 10 Home users.
Mac users are more likely familiar with FileVault, the built-in encryption option on macOS. If you’re only using your Mac, you don’t need to worry about BitLocker. That said, if you have a few Windows PCs around your home or office, you may run into a situation where you need to get files off a BitLocker-encrypted drive. That is the problem this software was created to solve.
System Requirements
If you have a version of macOS or Mac OS X that is even remotely recent, you should be able to use this software. For macOS, version 10.14 Mojave, 10.13 High Sierra, and 10.12 Sierra are supported. Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan, 10.10 Yosemite, 10.9 Mavericks, 10.8 Mountain Lion, and 10.7 Lion are supported as well.
When it comes to BitLocker-encrypted drives, any file system supported by BitLocker should work. Specifically, the software supports NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT file systems.
Features
M3 BitLocker Loader doesn’t attempt to cram in features that it doesn’t need. This means that it has a slim but efficient feature-set. You can mount and use BitLocker-encrypted drives in either read-only or read-write formats, depending on what you need to do. The software has a built-in file manager that lets you import and export files from the BitLocker-encrypted drive.
Let’s briefly touch on what the software doesn’t do. You need a healthy BitLocker-encryped drive. This software doesn’t fix corrupt drives, so you’ll need another tool to do this. The software also doesn’t bypass passwords, so if you’re dealing with a password-protected drive, you’ll still need to know what the password is.
Using M3 BitLocker Loader for Mac
When you launch M3 BitLocker Loader for Mac, you’re prompted to insert a BitLocker-formatted drive. Plug in your drive, and you’ll be able to access all of your files as you would on a BitLocker-enabled computer.
This isn’t all you can do with the software. You can also encrypt a drive using the software. This is useful if you want to protect the data on a drive but know that it will mostly be used on a Windows PC. If you’re delivering a finished project for a client that uses Windows, this could be very handy.
Pricing
You have a few different options for purchasing M3 BitLocker Loader. If you’re not sure how often you’ll use it, you can opt for a one-year license. This costs $39.95 and allows you to use the software on one Mac.
If you frequently need to work with BitLocker-encrypted drives, you may be better off with the Lifetime license. This costs $59.95 but is unlimited and also lets you install the software on two Macs.
Finally, if you’re purchasing this software for a business, you can purchase licenses in bulk. The pricing information isn’t available on the website, but you can contact M3 Software’s sales team to inquire about rates.
Conclusion
This is a relatively niche product, but it’s still an important one. When you can’t access your files, that’s a very big problem, one that M3 BitLocker Loader can solve. If you never use BitLocker, you may not need the software, but if you do and you have a few different computers, it will certainly be handy to have around.
Fortunately, the company offers a free trial of the software. They also provide a 30-day money back guarantee, so if you’re unsure about the software, you don’t have to worry much about it not working properly.
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