External HDD suddenly locked by Bitlocker, but I never used Bitlocker! Never even heard of it until today!

What a completely worthless answer.

Question: "I have never used Bitlocker."

Answer: Look up the recovery key you never created to begin with.

Unfortunately this is the typical answer here:. I have been a Windows user since 1995. Been here to check on something numerous time. I have literally never seen a helpful answer. Just the usual one from a so-called expert, which comes down to:

"Hi. I'm sorry to hear about your problem, but I didn't bother to read what you posted. So here's something that answers something completely different than what you asked"

I have been locked out of my Seagate external drive as well and I never set up bitlocker, and none of my computers even have it. Thanks Windows...

That's true, but Windows can apparently just lock any drive connected or installed whether or not you have bitlocker or a key, and it's impossible to even get a new key from Windows for going forward. What we need is a way to disable Bitlocker altogether or consider using Linux instead of Windows.

It is sad to see these messages regarding the loss of irreplaceable files from Lansing, Joseph, and Dax. Unfortunately, it will also likely be too late for others that visit here, but it's still worth noting that one should never depend on a single storage device for their precious files. Such devices can fail at any moment without warning. You must always maintain at least two copies of your important files on different devices and, preferably, one copy that's off-site (i.e. cloud based) in case of physical disaster (e.g. fire, flood).

It's possible these are ransomware attacks gone wrong (i.e. files encrypted but extortion message never received by victim), but it may also be a Windows issue. Related discussions:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/zz7pc5/is_microsofts_bitlocker_really_locking_people_out/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/inpyfi/bitlocker_keeps_locking_secondary_d_drive_after/

Hello Lansing McLoskey,

Welcome to Microsoft Community and we regret the inconvenience caused to you.I'm sorry to hear the bad news. BitLocker is a feature of Windows that encrypts your data and protects it from unauthorized access. BitLocker can be activated manually by the user, or automatically by the system if certain conditions are met, such as:

• The device supports automatic device encryption and is connected to a Microsoft account.
• The device is joined to a domain or an organization that requires BitLocker.
• The device has a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip and Secure Boot enabled.
• The device detects a hardware or firmware change, such as changing the hard drive or motherboard.
• Changed the BIOS settings

Anyway, it happened so please refer to this thread to try to find your recoverykey.If you cannot find your recovery key, you may not be able to access your data. In that case, you may need to contact the manufacturer of your device, or the administrator of your domain or organization, for assistance.To prevent BitLocker from accidentally locking your drive, you can try the following steps:If not required, disable BitLocker on the drive. You can do this by going to Settings > Update & Security > Device Encryption (or BitLocker) and turning off drive encryption. You need to enter your recovery key to perform this operation.Disable Secure Boot in your BIOS settings, if your device supports it. Secure Boot is a feature that prevents unauthorized software from running on your device. However, it may also trigger Bitlocker if it detects a change in your hardware or firmware. You can disable Secure Boot by restarting your device and entering the BIOS setup, usually by pressing a key such as F2, F10, or Delete. Then, look for an option to disable Secure Boot under the Security or Boot tab. Save your changes and exit the BIOS.Update your BIOS and firmware, if there are any available updates. Sometimes, outdated BIOS or firmware may cause BitLocker to activate. You can check for updates on the manufacturer’s website. Make sure to back up your data before updating your BIOS or firmware, as it may cause data loss or damage your device.I'm not sure if other third party repairmen have a way to access your hard drive, but as a Microsoft employee I obviously can't offer you this method and I hope you understand me well.Thanks for your patience and wish you everything as well.

Best Regards,

Lenka-MSFT| Microsoft Community Support Specialist