To find the BitLocker recovery key, first log in to the Microsoft account to view the device page; second check the key saved in USB drive, text documents, or paper backups; 1. Log in to the Microsoft account and find the recovery key in "Other Device Information"; 2. Confirm that the computer and drive correspond to the correct 48-digit digital key; 3. If the account is not uploaded, manually find the local backup or contact the IT department; 4. Use the command prompt to run manage-bde -protectors -get C: to view the key ID; if none of the above methods are feasible and personal user data is difficult to recover, enterprise users should contact IT support.

If you enable BitLocker encryption while using Windows 10, but accidentally lose your recovery key, or need to unlock the drive when reinstalling the system or replacing the hard drive, it becomes critical to find the BitLocker recovery key. This problem is actually not difficult to solve, the key is to know where it is saved.

View recovery keys saved in Microsoft Account

When you choose to save the recovery key to your Microsoft account when you enable BitLocker, you can find it by logging into your account. This method is the most common recommended method because it is safe and easy to retrieve.

• Open your browser and visit the Microsoft Account Devices page .
• Log in to your Microsoft account.
• Scroll down to find the "Other Device Information" section, which should list your computer and the corresponding BitLocker recovery key.
• Click to expand a device and you will see multiple recovery keys (one for each encrypted drive).

Remember: the recovery key is a string of 48-bit numbers that look like 123456-654321-... Be sure to make sure you are looking for the correct computer and the correct drive.

Check other locations you've saved

If you do not upload your recovery key to your Microsoft account, you choose to save it elsewhere, for example:

• USB drive (maybe exported when BitLocker is enabled)
• Text document (may be saved locally or network disk)
• Printed paper backup
• Managed by IT administrators in an enterprise environment

Then you need to go to these places to search manually. If the computer was distributed by the company at the time, it is recommended to contact the IT department, and they will usually manage the recovery keys uniformly.

Tip: If you have ever run manage-bde -protectors -get C: (C drive as an example), you can check the recovery key ID of the current drive and whether the key has been saved in the command prompt.

What if the above methods cannot be found?

If you have neither saved the recovery key nor uploaded to your Microsoft account, and you are unable to access the system normally now, the problem is more difficult. In this case:

• Individual users : It is basically difficult to recover data unless you can bypass BitLocker in other ways (such as the original system can still be started and you have administrator rights).
• Enterprise users : Please contact company IT support, they may have backup or domain control policy records.

The original intention of BitLocker is to protect data security, so decryption is almost impossible once the recovery key and password are lost.

Basically, these are the ways to find BitLocker recovery keys. Pay more attention to the backup location when setting it up so you won’t be in a hurry at critical moments.

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