Bitlocker key

Question

So my pc did an automatic bios update. When computer rebooted it wanted my bitlocker key. I located the only bitlocker key I have ever had in my Microsoft account but when I try to use it it tells me it's wrong. So I tried using the recovery options to reset and options to restore. But when I get to the part where it tries to recover or even reset to original windows it tells me there is an error no changes will be made and reboots. So then I'm back to having to enter my bitlocker key that doesn't work again please help.

Answer 1

Hello.

when you went to your account did you compare the bitlocker key ID with the one asked on the screen? If it’s not a match then that’s not the key.

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.