BitLocker Recovery key not found

Anonymous
2019-11-26T09:43:01+00:00

Hi all,

I have a Dell XPS 13 9360 running Windows 10.1 Home. Here's what happened:

  • I was using Spotify one day and my computer started hanging. So I restarted the computer via the Start menu.
  • The computer went into automatic repair and then automatic repair failed. I disabled automatic repair using bcdedit and rebooted.
  • Then the computer went into Windows recovery. When I was exploring the different options on recovery, I noticed that some of them requested for the Bitlocker recovery key before I could proceed.
  • This was the first time I knew of BitLocker’s existence, so I definitely did not activate BitLocker manually. I’m not sure how my internal SSD contents got encrypted on their own.
  • I tried solutions like secure boot in BIOS, resetting BIOS settings to their defaults, all with no luck. At one point I also re-enabled Automatic repair.
  • Now, when the affected computer is booted up, I am brought to the BitLocker recovery screen.

Based on my reading and conversations with Microsoft Tech Support, when a Windows 10 Home computer is purchased, and the user signs in to a Microsoft account on first startup, BitLocker is setup automatically. 

So I went to that same Microsoft account that I used to setup the affected computer.

Sure enough, my device was listed there:

It even told me BitLocker was ON when I clicked “Manage”.

However when I clicked “Manage recovery key” and I got past the 2 factor authentication, I got this…

? It seems that no recovery key is associated with my account. But how is that possible given that this was the correct account that was used to setup the device, the device is listed in the account, and it even tells me BitLocker ON?

Regarding the other possibilities where BitLocker recovery keys may be found:

  1. The hyperlinks https://onedrive.live.com/recoverykey, aka.ms/recoverykey also don't work.
  2. This is a home computer, so the recovery key cannot be on Azure Active Directory services.
  3. Since BitLocker was activated by itself, there’s also no way the recovery key could be on a printout.
  4. I’ve already checked all my USB drives and no recovery key was present.

The data in my computer is valuable so I can't afford to format the disk.

Could someone help? Thanks.

Moved from: Outlook.com / Security, privacy, accounts / Other

***Original Title: BitLocker locked my drive by itself after failed automatic repair and recovery key is missing***

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2020-08-04T18:20:05+00:00

Hey everyone, this has been a total nightmare, but hopefully this will help.

Le issue: new Lenovo laptop, setup yesterday, today it doesn't like the password. No idea why. Tried password reset, security questions prompted were not the ones used during setup. MS account does not exist. ****. Went through BIOS and tried changing things, no avail. Tried full factory reset and was prompted for BitLocker (aka current-bane-o-my-existence) Recovery Key.

How does one find that?

* Definitely not by calling Lenovo support, they said I bricked the computer and can ship it to them or take it back ot the store I bought it from and ask for a replacement.

* Definitely not by going through the recommended processes on their support page, none of that worked, and it said I bricked my computer and need to send it to them.

* Not by https://account.microsoft.com/devices/

* Not by onedrive.account whatever

* Not by https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

50 Chrome tabs later I'm reading this posted help request. Somebody said go to Azure (shrugwhy not). Log into Azure, don't have Azure, but still get in by giving Microsoft ID, pwd etc. At Azure landing page, at the top right I see my ID, so I click on it. It takes me to https://myaccount.microsoft.com/ which is a landing page I've yet to see. On the left hand bar I see devices, third option down. Click on that, AND THERE IS THE EFFING COMPUTER!!!!! I click "View BitLocker keys" and it shows the BitLocker ID of the "bricked" computer, I click "Show Recovery Key" and thar she blows. On the "bricked" laptop I type this in and bingo, we are doing a full reset. I'm doing a full full reset because it's brand new, and I definitely want to make sure that I'm not carrying over a user id and password. Hope this helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-24T21:57:40+00:00

    BIG NOTE: https://onedrive.live.com/RecoveryKey 

    Don't go by "Manage recovery key" Link. Above Link should work.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-06-24T20:02:46+00:00

    My Laptop Manufacturer is asking $70 to send Recovery Media to resolve this issue. I think that is the only option left now.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-06-23T08:07:46+00:00

    Same exact problem with my hp envy. I never set up bitlocker but it says on. But no key associated with Microsoft account.  I was working on a documen . Shut my computer for 5 minutes to  move to another room. Opened it and this  bitlocker issue appears. 

    My onedrive said my security was up to date and last ran today. So frustrating you all have the same problem and no resolve.  I should have bought a mac.

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