bitlocker key

Yes. Before running a Microsoft Defender Offline scan, suspend BitLocker on the system drive. If BitLocker stays enabled, the device can prompt for the BitLocker recovery key when it restarts into the offline scan environment.

Use either of these methods:

1. Control Panel
   • Open Control Panel.
   • Go to System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
   • Select Suspend protection for the OS drive.
   • Select Yes.
   • Run the Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
   • After Windows starts again, resume protection from the same BitLocker page if needed.
2. PowerShell
   • Open PowerShell as Administrator.
   • Run:

          Suspend-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:"
     

   • Then start the Microsoft Defender Offline scan.

Important:

• Suspending BitLocker does not decrypt the drive. It temporarily makes the key available in the clear while protection is suspended.
• If no -RebootCount is specified, BitLocker protection resumes after the next restart.
• If BitLocker is not suspended before the offline scan restart, the system can ask for the recovery key.
• Turning BitLocker off completely is not required just to run the offline scan.

• Run and review the results of a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
• Suspend BitLocker protection for non-Microsoft software updates
• Suspend-BitLocker
• BitLocker operations guide