A BitLocker recovery key is needed when BitLocker can’t automatically unlock an encrypted drive in Windows
You might need to provide a BitLocker recovery key for data or external drives, for example if you forgot the unlock password:
This key, which is a 48-digit number, is used to regain access to the drive.
Where can I find a BitLocker recovery key?
There are several places where your recovery key might be, depending on the choice that was made when activating BitLocker.
If the BitLocker recovery key is backed up to your Microsoft account, follow these steps to retrieve it:
- From another device, open a web browser and go to https://aka.ms/myrecoverykey
- Sign in with your Microsoft account and locate the key ID:
- Use the related recovery key to unlock the drive
- Important: Microsoft Support doesn't have the ability to retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key.