No BitLocker Recovery Key Found for This Device message generally means that you cannot access to the drive. But don’t worry, you will get 6 methods here to fix the issue.
BitLocker is a built-in encryption feature in Windows that protects your data by securing your drives with a password or recovery key. When you enable BitLocker, the system automatically generates a recovery key, which helps unlock your drive in case you forget the password or face access issues.
Usually, the recovery key is stored in a safe location, such as your Microsoft account, a USB drive, or a printed document. However, over time, you might forget where it was saved, or certain actions may cause it to be lost. If you see the error message "No BitLocker Recovery Key Found for This Device," it means the system cannot locate your key, preventing access to your encrypted drive.
This can be frustrating, but there are several ways to recover or even bypass your key. In the next sections, we will introduce these solutions step by step to help you regain access to your drive.
This section provides 6 fixes for you if your Windows BitLocker recovery key gets lost.
Your Microsoft account stores important information and serves as the central hub for a seamless Microsoft experience. One of the easiest and most effective ways to find your Windows 11 recovery key is by accessing this account.
Step 1. Go to your Microsoft profile.
Step 2. Enter your credentials and Sign in.
Step 3. Go to Devices and select View details under Computer.
Step 4. Find the BitLocker Data Protection segment and click Manage recovery keys.
Step 5. You may view the information on your recovery key there.
It is possible to save the BitLocker recovery key that is generated on a USB flash drive. This procedure will result in a text document with the recovery key on your USB stick.
Step 1. Insert the USB containing the recovery key into the computer. Access the drive's contents and locate the BitLocker file.
Step 2. To save it for later use, open the text file that contains the key and transcribe it.
To find your forgotten BitLocker recovery key, follow these steps on the same computer. If you used the "Save to a file" option, your key may be stored in a ".txt" or ".bek" file, either on this computer, another device, or a network location.
Step 1. Double-click This PC/My Computer to open the File Explorer. Search BitLocker recovery key in the search bar. Windows will find this file automatically.
Step 2. Find a file named BitLocker Recovery Key in your directory and format it in ".txt" or ".bek". Open the file and you can see the actual Recovery Key.
Another way to recover your BitLocker key is by using a printed copy. If you chose to print the recovery key when setting up BitLocker, check your documents, notes, or any secure place where you may have stored it.
If you signed into your Azure Active Directory (AD) account using an email associated with your organization, such as a school or workplace account, your BitLocker keys may be stored there. If you have an AD account and think your keys were saved, you can try retrieving them by following these steps:
Step 1. Open the Azure Portal. Go to Azure Active Directory. In this step, choose Devices from the left panel.
Step 2. Select All devices. Identify the device linked to BitLocker.
Step 3. Visit its Properties and scroll down to find the recovery key, and click Show Recovery Key to access recovery key details.
If the previous methods fail, the Command Prompt provides alternatives. Please perform the following steps with caution:
Step 1. Press the "Win + R" keys to open the run box. Type "cmd" and press "Ctrl + Shift + Enter" to launch the command prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Click "Yes" to confirm. Type "manage-bde -protectors H: -get" (replace "H" with the letter of the encrypted drive) and press "Enter".
If your Windows BitLocker recovery key gets lost, this method should be helpful. The key should appear on the screen immediately. Copy or note it down and keep it safely for future use as needed.
Managing BitLocker encryption can be challenging, especially for users with limited technical experience. Fortunately, AOMEI Partition Assistant provides a simple solution for managing BitLocker on all Windows systems.
For example, if you lose your BitLocker recovery key, many traditional recovery methods require technical knowledge, including command-line operations, which can be difficult for beginners. This tool makes it easy to encrypt, decrypt, and recover your drive, helping you avoid the risk of losing access to your data.
Additionally, if your friends or family use Windows 10/11 Home editions, which don’t support BitLocker, AOMEI Partition Assistant is the perfect alternative to turn on BitLocker on the Home edition for securing and managing their data without upgrading to the Pro or other editions.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
The following is a detailed guide on using AOMEI software to manage BitLocker:
Select the destination drive and select Turn on BitLocker or Turn off BitLocker from the software's menu to enable or disable BitLocker. It is possible to identify someone using both a recovery key and a password.
It might be difficult to find your keys again if you misplace or lose them. AOMEI software allows you to print or export the key to a file for backup.
To ensure data security, change or update your BitLocker password on a regular basis. With AOMEI software, you may change your password using either the current password or the recovery key.
When a disk is locked, the protected data on a BitLocker volume remains inaccessible. To regain access to your sensitive data, unlock the disk using a recovery key or password.
BitLocker preservation and encryption are made easier with AOMEI Partition Assistant. It also provides a readily available option that is especially useful for Home users of Windows 10 and 11.
If you ever encounter the "No BitLocker Recovery Key Found for This Device" error, there are 6 ways to recover or retrieve your BitLocker recovery key. Methods include checking your Microsoft account, searching your computer for saved files, using a USB drive, or even accessing your Azure Active Directory account. If these solutions are not sufficient, the Command Prompt can also offer an alternative. For users looking for an easier and more accessible solution, AOMEI Partition Assistant simplifies BitLocker management by allowing you to encrypt, decrypt, and back up your recovery key with ease. It’s a great tool for both beginners and advanced users, as well as for Windows Home edition users who may not have access to BitLocker by default.
