How to find BitLocker recovery key on Windows 8.1/10

Hello All, 

After trying to search for a good article on how to fix my BitLocker situation, I found the following article the most useful from Lenovo. https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/HT502684

I am sharing this knowledge because after thoroughly searching, all the other Windows Microsoft Community Articles that I was looking for answers from, did not provide me with adequate information. I hope this helps you, too: 

How to find BitLocker recovery key on Windows 8.1/10

Description

When you update your device’s BIOS or do recovery action, you might need to input BitLocker recovery key. You can find recovery key for your device following below steps.

For Windows 7, per Microsoft design, there is no online digital backup. When you initially set up BitLocker, a Recovery Key will be created and The BitLocker setup wizard prompts you to choose how to store the recovery key. You can choose from the following options:

• Save the recovery key to a USB flash drive. Saves the recovery key to a USB flash drive.
• Save the recovery key to a file. Saves the recovery key to a network drive or other location.
• Print the recovery key. Prints the recovery key

For Windows 8 onwards, please read the solutions below to get the BitLocker recovery key. Affected Brands

• idea/Lenovo laptops, Lenovo desktops
• Lenovo tablets, Think tablets
• ThinkPad, ThinkCentre, ThinkStation

Operating Systems

• Windows 8.1
• Windows 10

Solution

1. Click to open this Microsoft document - BitLocker recovery keys: Frequently asked questions
2. You will get below screen, click “How can I get my BitLocker recovery key?”

3. Click “BitLocker Recovery Keys”

4. On the popped screen input your account and password, then click “signs in” to get your recovery key. Of course if you had login in your Microsoft account, you can get your recovery key directly.

Additional Information

If you're having problems with your Microsoft account, here are a few tips.

I have a Microsoft account, but I can’t sign in

Go to the Reset your password page to resolve problems with your account.

I’m signed in with my Microsoft account, but I don’t see my recovery key

The recovery key might not have been saved to your Microsoft account online. In this case, look for any copies of the recovery key you might have printed or saved to a file.

If you accidentally deleted the recovery key from your Microsoft account online and want to save it again, you need to force Windows to back up the recovery key automatically. The only way to do this is to switch to a local account, and then switch back to a Microsoft account.

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.

(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.) 2. Tap or click Users, tap or click Switch to a local account, and follow the instructions. 3. Repeat step 1, tap or click Users, tap or click Switch to a Microsoft account, and follow the instructions.

Related Articles

• BitLocker recovery keys: Frequently asked questions