Bitlocker on a old computer

Question

I loaned my old computer to my sister. Its been months since she has used it. When she attempted to log in she got the "recover bitlocker"

I remember very little about that laptop. Im pretty sure I have at least log on to MicroSoft with the login I used on that computer.

My sister did send me a screenshot of the key I need to get to the bitlocker recovery key. MS shows I have no devices registered as I use this computer/laptop. Not the one I loaned her.

How do I know the MS is for that laptop and not this one? I attempted to use the directions to no avail. I need help.

Answer 1

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. Your sister will have to clean install to get the computer back up and running. But doing so, she does lose all files unless they were arleady backed up to OneDrive.

Answer 2

The BitLocker screen shows two different things:

• the Recovery Key ID, which helps identify the correct key
• the actual BitLocker recovery key, which is a 48-digit number used to unlock the drive

The key ID on the recovery screen is not the unlock key itself. The correct match is the stored entry whose Key ID matches the one shown on the locked laptop, then the 48-digit recovery key from that entry is the one to enter.

For this situation, use this order:

1. Sign in to the Microsoft account that was used on that old laptop when it was first set up or when BitLocker was activated.
2. Check the recovery keys associated with that account and compare the Key ID from the locked screen with the listed Key IDs.
3. If there is a match, enter the corresponding 48-digit recovery key on the BitLocker recovery screen.
4. If the laptop was ever set up with a work or school account, check that account as well. On Microsoft Entra-backed devices, users can go to https://myaccount.microsoft.com, open Devices, select the Windows device they own, and choose View BitLocker Keys.
5. Also check other possible saved locations: a printed copy, a file saved to USB, or another drive.

How to tell whether the Microsoft account is the right one:

• The right account is typically the one that was used when the device was first set up or when BitLocker/device encryption was enabled.
• A device not appearing in the current Microsoft account does not prove the key was never saved. The key may be under a different Microsoft account, a work or school account, or it may have been saved elsewhere when BitLocker was turned on.
• If someone else originally set up the laptop, the recovery key may be tied to that person’s account.

Why Windows is asking for it now:

• BitLocker can require the recovery key when Windows detects a possible unauthorized access attempt, or after hardware, firmware, or software changes.

Important:

• Microsoft Support can’t retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key.
• If the correct recovery key cannot be found, the drive can’t be unlocked.

To unlock the laptop once the correct key is found, type the 48-digit recovery key on the BitLocker recovery screen. Hyphens are optional.

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• BitLocker overview
• BitLocker recovery process
• Back Up Your BitLocker Recovery Key
• Windows devices for home users, businesses, and schools with Microsoft-managed updates
• How do I find the BitLocker Recovery Key when the Recovery Key ID doesn't match the numbers in my account except for the Key ID? - Microsoft Q&A