Choice during BitLocker recovery process?

Question

I am setting up BitLocker on a single Windows 11 Pro computer. I don’t want to use a Microsoft account on the machine. I would like to know beforehand whether and how BitLocker will allow me to choose between the recovery options.

BitLocker recovery overview (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/data-protection/bitlocker/recovery-overview) describes the recovery options. It shows the BitLocker recovery screens for the 256-bit recovery key (.bek) and 48-digit recovery password (.txt). But it doesn’t give any information how I can switch between these 2 options.

At the bottom of both screens there is „Press Esc for more recovery options“. When clicking on this, will I be able to choose another recovery option or will I just get to WinRE?

If pressing Esc does not allow to switch to the other recovery option, how can I switch?

In a recovery event I would like to have the possibility to choose between these 2 option. I don’t intend to carry the USB drive with me all the time, but, as a backup, I will have the recovery password on my phone.

Answer 1

Hello GB-2672

The information displayed in the preboot recovery screen depending on configured policy settings and recovery keys status.

Refer to: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/data-protection/bitlocker/preboot-recovery-screen#default-preboot-recovery-screen

Best Regards,

Hania Lian