How can I stop Win 11 BitLocker suddenly requiring recovery key at every startup

To stop Windows 11 BitLocker from requiring a recovery key at every startup, you need to identify the root cause of the recovery prompts. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Check the BitLocker Protection Mode: Use the command manage-bde.exe -status to view the current configuration and protection mode of BitLocker. This can help you understand if there are any issues with the configuration.
2. Identify the Cause of Recovery: Look into the event logs to find events that indicate why recovery was initiated. This could be due to changes in boot files, hardware changes, or other security settings.
3. Reset BitLocker Protection: If you determine the cause of the recovery prompts, you can reset the BitLocker protection to avoid recovery on every startup. This can be done by suspending and then resuming BitLocker.
4. Address Specific Issues: If the recovery is due to an unknown PIN or lost startup key, you will need to reset the PIN or recover the key properly. Follow the steps to unlock the device and reset the PIN as needed.
5. Firmware Updates: If you have recently applied firmware updates, ensure that BitLocker was suspended during the update process, as changes to the Secure Boot policy can trigger recovery.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of BitLocker requiring a recovery key at every startup.

References:

• BitLocker recovery process
• BitLocker drive encryption in Windows 11 for OEMs