Windows will require a BitLocker recovery key when it detects a possible unauthorized attempt to access the data. Why is Windows asking for my BitLocker recovery key?īitLocker is the Windows encryption technology that protects your data from unauthorized access by encrypting your drive and requiring one or more factors of authentication before it will unlock it. Your BitLocker recovery key is a unique 48-digit numerical password that can be used to unlock your system if BitLocker is otherwise unable to confirm for certain that the attempt to access the system drive is authorized. Held by your system administrator: If your device is connected to a domain (usually a work or school device), ask a system administrator for your recovery key.

You may be able to access it directly or you may need to contact a system administrator to access your recovery key. In an Azure Active Directory account: If your device was ever signed in to an organization using a work or school email account, your recovery key may be stored in that organization's Azure AD account associated with your device. If you saved the key as a text file on the flash drive, use a different computer to read the text file. On a USB flash drive: Plug the USB flash drive into your locked PC and follow the instructions. Look where you keep important papers related to your computer. On a printout: You may have printed your recovery key when BitLocker was activated.

Note: If the device was set up or BitLocker protection was activated by another user, the recovery key may be in that user’s Microsoft account.

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