# BitLocker: how to recover your key and avoid losing data

> AI Release · @ai_release1 · https://ai-release.net/guides/bitlocker-vosstanovlenie-klyucha_en.html

If your PC boots to a BitLocker recovery screen, you risk being locked out of your data until you enter the correct key. This guide helps you find a lost or misplaced BitLocker recovery key and unlock Windows on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices with BitLocker Drive Encryption or BitLocker Device Encryption. Keep the encrypted drive powered off until you have a matching key.

## Требования и подготовка

- Windows 10 or Windows 11 with BitLocker enabled.
- Administrator rights on the PC (needed for command-line commands).
- A Microsoft account that was used to back up the key.
- A USB drive, printed copy, or .txt file with the recovery key.
- If the key is missing, access to the Microsoft account recovery page from another device.

## Пошаговая инструкция

1. Turn on the PC. Wait for the BitLocker Recovery screen. If necessary, press Enter to enter recovery mode.  
   **Expected result:** You see a key ID beginning with eight characters, for example `12345678`.

2. On another device, open a browser and go to `https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey`. Sign in with the Microsoft account linked to the encrypted PC.  
   **Expected result:** A list of recovery keys appears, with the device name and key ID.

3. Compare the key ID on the recovery screen with the key identifier shown online.  
   **Expected result:** The matching key shows a 48-digit recovery code.

4. If no online key exists, insert a USB drive or use another device to open the saved recovery key file. The file is usually named `BitLocker Recovery Key.txt`.  
   **Expected result:** The file contains a 48-digit number.

5. Enter the 48-digit recovery key on the BitLocker screen. You can type it with or without hyphens.  
   **Expected result:** Windows unlocks and boots normally.

6. After login, open Command Prompt as administrator: right-click Start and choose “Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)”. Run these commands:

```powershell
manage-bde -status C:
manage-bde -protectors -get C:
```

   **Expected result:** The first command shows the encryption state. The second command shows the recovery protector and the current key information.

7. Back up the recovery key again. Open Control Panel > BitLocker Drive Encryption and choose “Back up your recovery key”. Use Microsoft account, USB, file, or print.  
   **Expected result:** You have a fresh, separate copy of the key.

8. If you cannot find a matching key, stop all attempts. Do not format or wipe the drive. Keep it powered off.  
   **Expected result:** The data remains encrypted and intact until the correct key is found.

## Возможные проблемы и решения

- **Key ID does not match any saved key.** You may have used the wrong Microsoft account, or the key belongs to another drive. Check other accounts, old password managers, and all USB drives. If nothing matches, do not keep guessing during shutdown.
- **BitLocker prompts after every boot.** This usually happens after a TPM, Secure Boot, or BIOS/firmware change. Enter the key once, then back up a new recovery key. If your Windows license also disappears after an update, see [Windows 11 activation lost: causes and how to restore your license](https://ai-release.net/guides/sletela-aktivatsiya-windows-11.html?utm_source=tg&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=guide_inline&utm_content=guide_to_guide).
- **The key was never backed up.** Recovery is nearly impossible. The only practical chance is a domain-joined computer: ask your IT administrator to look for the key in Active Directory. After major updates, other settings may also break; for a list of common post-update problems, see [Windows 11 26H2: common issues after update and how to fix them](https://ai-release.net/guides/windows-11-26h2-chastye-problemy-posle-obnovleniya-i-ka.html?utm_source=tg&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=guide_inline&utm_content=guide_to_guide).

## FAQ

**What is a BitLocker recovery key?**  
A 48-digit numeric code generated when BitLocker is enabled. It is the built-in way to unlock an encrypted drive when Windows cannot verify the TPM, PIN, or password.

**Where is the BitLocker recovery key stored by default?**  
There is no default single location. The key can be stored in your Microsoft account, saved as a file, printed on paper, copied to USB, or backed up to Active Directory.

**Can I recover data if I lost the recovery key?**  
If the key was never backed up, there is no built-in method to recover the data. Microsoft Support cannot extract it either.

**After I enter the recovery key, will I see the prompt again?**  
Usually not. Once Windows loads, back up a new recovery key so you always have a current copy available.