Recovery key not shown for new device. How do I reset?

Question

I have a new device under this account that is not showing up. I need to reset it, or boot into safe mode do remove a bad application. However, I am challenged with providing a recovery key that is not registered.

How can I get past this?

Answer 1

I wish I could share good news, but the truth is no one can get you the bitlocker key, including Microsoft staff/support. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6 The link here says:"Important: Microsoft Support doesn't have the ability to retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key."

Is this where you looked? https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

If you set it up with school or work account, it is worth checking here as well https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey sign in with your work/school email credential in that case.

Any chance your laptop was purchased used, or already set up for you? Or was it gifted? Or have you set it up with a different account at first? The key is stored with the very Microsoft account used to set up the computer for the first time, even if you had got rid of that account and set it up with a different account. So, if your computer was set up by anyone at the store you bought it from, it would be that person's account.

I assume you don't remember opting out of not saving it in Microsoft account, and saving it to a local file instead? That's another possibility.

If you can't find it at all, there's really no way to go around it. Bitlocker means business. If it can be bypassed, then it means the encryption is not working. Your only option is to do a clean install of Windows. In that case, you do lose your files. I am very sorry.

Answer 2

No this is not helpful at all. I cannot find the key. I was never given a key. This is why I came to support.

Answer 3

If your new device is not showing up and you are being prompted for a recovery key that is not registered, you may need to follow these steps:

1. Check for Recovery Key Options: Ensure that you have checked all possible locations for the recovery key. This includes checking your Microsoft account online, as sometimes the key might not be automatically registered.
2. Use a Recovery Image: If you cannot find the recovery key, you may need to use a recovery image to reset your device. You can download a recovery image for your Surface device from the Microsoft support site and create a USB recovery drive. Boot from the USB recovery drive to access recovery options.
3. Contact Support: If you are unable to resolve the issue, consider contacting Microsoft support for assistance. They may provide additional options based on your specific situation.

Unfortunately, if the recovery key is not available and the device is locked, you may face data loss if you proceed with a reset without the key.

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References:

• Get recovery key for Windows
• Prompted for BitLocker recovery key after installing updates to Surface UEFI or TPM firmware on Surface device