How to find my BitLocker recovery key

Applies to: Windows 10

BitLocker is a device encryption feature of Windows. If your device is asking you for your BitLocker recovery key, the following information may help you locate the 48-digit key that you'll need to unlock your device. Here are some places you can check to locate the key if you don't have it immediately available: 

Reasons you may need your BitLocker recovery key:

• to unlock drive during troubleshooting e.g. Startup Repair
• unlock drive during maintenance
• if hardware fails, for data recovery reasons

In your Microsoft account: Sign in to your Microsoft account on another device to find your recovery key. If other users have accounts on the device you can ask them to sign in to their Microsoft account to see if they have the key.

Direct link: https://account.microsoft.com/devices/

On a printout you saved: Your recovery key may be on a printout that was saved when BitLocker was activated. Look where you keep important papers related to your computer.

On a USB flash drive: Plug the USB flash drive into your locked PC and follow the instructions. If you saved the key as a text file on the flash drive, use a different computer to read the text file.

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. You may be able to access it directly or you may need to contact a system administrator to access your recovery key.

Direct link for Azure AD (Microsoft 365) users:  https://aad.portal.azure.com/#blade/Microsoft_AAD_Devices/DevicesMenuBlade/Devices/menuId/

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.