Bitlocker issue

Question

Hello,

After Windows reinstallation 3 years ago, no bitlocked installed.
But suddenly (maybe to due a Windows update), bitlocked came.
I don't have the key recovery as bitlocker has not been installed.
How to recover such a situation?

Thanks

Answer 1

If your drive is encrypted with Bitlocker, the only place the Bitlocker Recovery key is automatically stored is on the associated Microsoft account on the link below, be sure to check any Microsoft account that may have been used on the PC and also any work or school account that may be linked to the PC.

https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

Are you able to find the Bitlocker Recovery Key on any account that may have been used or linked to the laptop?

If not, do you have a safe backup of your files, or use a cloud service like OneDrive to sync your files online.

Answer 2

BitLocker can only be unlocked or removed with its recovery key or by fully reinstalling Windows and deleting the encrypted partitions. If BitLocker has turned on and the recovery key cannot be found, there is no supported way to bypass it and keep the existing data.

Steps to try:

1. Try to locate the BitLocker recovery key
   • If the device was ever joined to a work or school account, check that account:
     • From another device, go to https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey
     • Sign in with the work or school account
     • Select Devices, expand the affected device, then select View BitLocker Keys and match by Key ID.
   • Check other common locations:
     • Any printout of the BitLocker key kept with important papers
     • Any USB flash drive where the key might have been saved as a text file
   • If the device is managed by an organization, contact its IT support to retrieve the key.
2. If the key cannot be found
   • If the device is managed by an organization and the key is not visible to the user, only the organization’s IT can provide it.
   • If none of the documented locations contain the key and the device is not managed by an organization, the key cannot be recovered by anyone, including Microsoft support.
   • In that case, the only option is to reset/reinstall Windows using the Windows recovery options. This will remove all files on the encrypted drive.

BitLocker is designed so that without the recovery key, the encrypted data is not accessible. Recovery of the operating system without data loss is not possible if the key cannot be located.

---

References:

• Find your BitLocker recovery key
• BitLocker recovery process
• Windows devices for home users, businesses, and schools with Microsoft-managed updates
• Unable to recover Bitlocker key and unable to reload Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A
• Request for Assistance with BitLocker Recovery – Surface Pro 2 - Microsoft Q&A
• Surface Pro 3 blocked - Microsoft Q&A