Windows 11 Bitlocker key recovery

Question

A few days ago, after an automatic update, my Windows 11 laptop locked and asked for the BitLocker Recovery key. I had never enabled BitLocker myself, but it instructed me to go to my Microsoft account and find the key.

The problem is that I created a Microsoft account solely for activating my laptop about a year ago, and I don’t remember the username because I never used that email for any other purpose.

I do recall the password for the Microsoft account, but the username eludes me. Fortunately, I have access to the recovery email associated with the account. So, I visited the Microsoft username lookup webpage and used my recovery email to retrieve my username. It sent a code to my recovery email, and I entered it. However, the hint provided was only partially visible: j*****@outlook.com. Some characters were replaced with asterisks, and I still can’t recall the full username.

How can I retrieve my complete username? I know the account password, and I also have access to the recovery email linked to that account. When I contacted Microsoft, they directed me to their website, but there’s no live chat or email support available. I really need to speak with a human to explain my situation, but I’m not getting any assistance. Can anyone advise me on how to contact Microsoft to retrieve my username?

***Move from Windows / Windows 11 / Recovery and backup***

Answer 1

Hello  Andrew_878，

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

It sounds like a frustrating situation, but there are still a few steps you can take to try and resolve it. Here are some suggestions:

1. Microsoft Account Recovery Process:

• Go to the Microsoft account recovery page.
• Enter the recovery email address that you have access to and follow the prompts. You've already done this, but sometimes trying again can yield better results, or you might see something you missed previously.

2. Look for Clues:

• Check your recovery email inbox for any emails from Microsoft. Sometimes when you first set up an account, Microsoft sends a welcome email or other notifications that might include your username.

3. Check for Logged-In Devices:

• If you have any other device (such as a smartphone or tablet) where you might have logged into the Microsoft account previously, check if you are still signed in there.

4. Account Alias:

• If you remember having set up an alias for your Microsoft account, it might help to check if you can log in using that.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Haijian Shan