BitLocker Recovery Key Asked for Randomly (2024)

FAQs

BitLocker Recovery Key Asked for Randomly? ›

Whenever you connect a drive to your PC and it is detected in the boot list, BitLocker will ask for the recovery key. If you're not connecting any devices and it keeps asking for the recovery key, it is because the boot support for Preboot for TBT and USB-C/TBT is turned on by default.

BitLocker is a Microsoft encryption product that is designed to protect user data on a computer. If a problem with BitLocker occurs, you encounter a prompt for a BitLocker recovery key. If you do not have a working recovery key for the BitLocker prompt, you are unable to access the computer.

BitLocker stores system details when first turned on and prompts for a recovery key if major changes are detected. If prompted on every startup, one can update BitLocker's record of the system by suspending and resuming BitLocker.

Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings 2. Press Restart 3. Skip the first Bitlocker recovery key prompt by pressing Esc 4. Skip the second Bitlocker recovery key prompt by selecting Skip This Drive in the bottom right 5.

Unlocking BitLocker without your password and recovery key can be very challenging. If you forget your password, you can use your recovery key to unlock your BitLocker drive. If you can't remember the password and don't have access to the recovery key, the only remaining solution is to simply format the entire drive.

Causes: BitLocker suspension can occur if the hard drive is removed from the computer or if changes are made to the operating system or hardware. Solutions: To resolve BitLocker suspension, reconnect the hard drive to the computer, and then unlock the drive using the BitLocker recovery key.

In your case, the recovery key is most likely in your Microsoft account. I suggest you try all your Microsoft accounts for the BitLocker recovery key because it may be on an account you don't use often. If you've tested all of your accounts to no avail, try: Check if your One Drive account is locked.

If your system is asking you for your BitLocker recovery key, there are several places that your recovery key may be located, depending on the choice that was made when activating BitLocker. If you saved the key to your Microsoft account, you can access it by going to https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.

The BitLocker recovery key is created when a file system is BitLocker encrypted. Providing the file system is not re-formatted or BitLocker is turned off, the key remains the same. If you reapply BitLocker a new recovery key will be created.

How do I get my computer out of BitLocker Recovery? ›

BitLocker causes this message by retaining the hardware key of the original motherboard, and the mismatch prompts for the Recovery Key. This is a result of not suspending or disabling BitLocker before the hardware change.

If you experiences that the computer shows BitLocker recovery screen after power on, it means that the HDD/SDD has been encrypted. (HDD/SDD is locked.) Once PC hardware components have been replaced or BIOS settings have been changed, all may cause system shows BitLocker recovery screen after power on.

OK, I am sorry to say but without that Bitlocker key there is no way unlock the drive and access your data. You would need to reset the computer back to factory defaults to continue using the computer, you would lose any data saved to the computer however.

A BitLocker recovery key is needed when BitLocker can't automatically unlock an encrypted drive in Windows. This key, which is a 48-digit number, is used to regain access to the drive.

If a period of 320 minutes elapses with no authorization failures, the TPM does not remember any authorization failures, and 32 failed attempts could occur again. In short, you can fat finger the Bitlocker recovery key as many times as you want as long as you are willing to wait.