how to enter bitlocker recovery key

Question

I found my bitlocker recovery Key, but my computer is unresponsive, no keys will work!

Answer 1

To enter your BitLocker recovery key, follow these steps:

1. Access the BitLocker Recovery Screen: When your computer is unresponsive and prompts you for the recovery key, you should see a screen asking for the BitLocker recovery key.
2. Enter the Recovery Key: Input the 48-digit BitLocker recovery key that you found. Make sure to enter it carefully, as any mistakes can prevent access.
3. If the Recovery Key Doesn't Work: If entering the recovery key does not work, you may need to try the following:
   • Use Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE): If your device fails to boot after two attempts, Windows RE may start automatically. You will need to enter the recovery key again in this environment.
   • Connect the Drive to Another Device: If you cannot boot your device, consider connecting the drive as a secondary drive to another computer to unlock it.
   • Use the BitLocker Repair Tool: If the recovery key still does not work, you can use the BitLocker Repair tool to attempt to regain access to your drive.

Make sure that the recovery key is entered correctly, as it is sensitive information that allows access to your encrypted drive.

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References:

• BitLocker recovery process
• Windows RE and BitLocker recovery

Answer 2

Hello Tracy Cosart, thanks for posting this in our community.

If your computer is prompting for a BitLocker recovery key but is unresponsive to keyboard input, try accessing the UEFI or BIOS settings. To do this, power off the device completely, then power it back on and immediately press the appropriate key for your system to enter BIOS. If you're able to access the BIOS, that confirms the keyboard is working at the firmware level. You can then exit BIOS and try entering the BitLocker recovery key again.

If the keyboard still doesn’t respond at the BitLocker screen, try connecting a wired USB keyboard. Wait a few seconds to see if the system recognizes it, then attempt to enter the recovery key again.

Kind regards,

John Oli