BitLocker recovery issue

It seems your Windows PC is asking for a BitLocker Recovery Key every time you power it on, and even after logging into your Microsoft account, you cannot find the key.

Find your BitLocker recovery key

Microsoft cannot unlock it without the key. The only option then:

Reset Windows (All data will be erased)

If you are encountering a BitLocker recovery prompt when starting your Surface device, it may be due to several reasons such as hardware changes, firmware updates, or incorrect configurations. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Obtain the BitLocker Recovery Password: You can retrieve the recovery password from your Microsoft account if BitLocker is linked to it. Alternatively, if BitLocker is managed through a different method, contact your administrator for assistance.
2. Use a Recovery USB Drive: If you have a recovery USB drive created from the Surface recovery image, insert it into your device and boot from it. Follow the prompts to access the recovery options.
3. Command Prompt Access: Once in the recovery environment, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt. Here, you can run commands to unlock the drive using the recovery password.
   • Use the command:
     manage-bde.exe -unlock -recoverypassword <Password> <DriveLetter>:
     Replace <Password> with your recovery password and <DriveLetter> with the appropriate drive letter.
   • Disable the protectors with:
     manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable <DriveLetter>:
4. Restart the Device: After executing the commands, restart your device and enter the recovery password when prompted.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider further troubleshooting or contacting Microsoft support for additional assistance.

References:

• BitLocker recovery: known issues
• BitLocker recovery overview