Can I decrypt my backup encrypted files without pfx certificate

Question

i encrypted my c drive moved encrypted data from c to d drive format my c drive install new windows without saving my bitlocker pfx certificate i log in with same microsoft account on my new windows where i saved my old C drive bitlocker 48 digits recovery key can i decrypt my backedup file on D drive using my old 48 digits recovery key (note my whole d drive is not encrypted only files i copied from my c drive to d drive are encrypted) please help

Answer 1

Hello Awais Shah,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Here’s where the challenges come in with your scenario:

1. When you “move” encrypted data from your BitLocker‑encrypted C: drive to another drive (D:), you’re no longer on the original BitLocker volume. In most normal file copies (e.g., via Windows Explorer when the drive is unlocked) the encryption is removed on the fly so that the files appear decrypted on the destination. However, if you somehow copied the raw encrypted data (for example, via a sector‐by‐sector backup or image copy), then you effectively have data that is still in its encrypted form.
2. The 48‑digit recovery key you saved is tied to the encryption of the original C: drive—it works in conjunction with the BitLocker metadata (including the volume header and key protectors) originally stored on that drive. Once you formatted that drive, you lost that header and the associated metadata unless you took explicit steps to back it up.
3. Even if you log on to your new Windows installation with the same Microsoft account that has a copy of your recovery key, the recovery key by itself isn’t enough to decrypt arbitrary encrypted files if they aren’t part of a BitLocker‐managed volume. The recovery key is used to unlock (or “recover”) the entire volume by decrypting the volume key stored in the header; it isn’t designed as a file decryption tool.

You can check Bitlocker encryption information by running command:

Manage-bde -protectors -get c:

Note: Please removed the forward slash after the c:

And compare the Bitlocker encryption information with the Bitlocker encryption key you saved.

For example (in my case, it is D:):

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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Answer 2

i backed up my c drive bitlocker recovery key on my Microsoft account without saving my botlocker pfx certificate of my efs files i format my c drive and install new windows on my c drive i log in with same microsoft account where my key is stored now there is lock on my all pictures can microsoft recreate pfx certificate from my bitlocker recovery key to decrypt my efs encrypted pictures or my pictures are gone for ever please explain me with easy words i am not expert

note ( when i encrypt my data i put password 3740 so i have my password i have my formatted c drive bitlocker recovery key all i need pfx certificate to encrypt my pictures please help)