Bitlocker has my data held ransom. I don't have the key. Please help!

Anonymous
2025-03-24T21:13:31+00:00

I won this computer at a conference. It just worked. I didn't ask for a bitlocker key because I didn't even know it existed. I set up Rocky Linux in dual boot mode and now Windows has stopped working. My email address is ******@msn.com

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Security and privacy

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  1. EmilyS726 255.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-03-24T22:43:30+00:00

    Hello,

    I wish I could share good news, but the truth is no one can get you the bitlocker key, including Microsoft staff/support.

    Have you looked into the Microsoft account here to see if it is stored there? https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

    Any chance the computer was already set up for you when you won it? The key is stored with the very Microsoft account used to set up the computer for the first time, even if you had got rid of that account and set it up with a different account. So, if your computer was set up by anyone at the store you bought it from, it would be that person's account.

    If you set it up with school or work account, it is worth checking here as well https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey sign in with your work/school email credential in that case.

    I assume you don't remember opting out of not saving it in Microsoft account, and saving it to a local file instead? That's another possibility.

    If you can't find it at all, there's really no way to crack it. Bitlocker means business. If it can be cracked, then it means the encryption is not working. Your only option is to do a clean install of Windows. In that case, you do lose your files. I am very sorry. I hate to share this kind of information, but I rather give you the correct info.

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  2. Neil D 33,820 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-03-24T21:53:03+00:00

    Nobody here or Microsoft can supply the recovery key for your system. The key for your system is saved to the account used during the out of box setup. Check that account using another device via a web browser.

    https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

    If you cannot find a recovery key the only option is a clean install deleting all data on the encrypted drive.

    Windows 11 sets encryption automatically during the setup process.

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