Windows 10: How can I store bitlocker recovery keys on my Microsoft account but NOT use the Microsoft...

I have one PC and a test VM where I somehow managed to be able to save bitlocker keys to my Microsoft account although both machines use a local account.I am trying to achieve the same thing on two other machines, one Windows 10, one 11. But both only give me the choice of "switching" to a Microsoft account, not to link a Microsoft account.On the machine where it works, it looks like this in accounts settings:On the machine where it doesn't work, it looks like this:Note again that the first machine is NOT using the Microsoft account for logon. I can change the password with net user username w

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Invalid Date for Bitlocker Recovery Keys in Microsoft Account.

All my PC's, three Desktops and a Laptop are on Windows 10 Pro Version 20H2 19042.685. I started to implement Bitlocker on them at the end of December, 2020. Since I am in the U.K. the date will be in the format dd/mm/yyyy and this seems to present a problem when the key is stored in my Microsoft Account. My account profile correctly shows my birthdate and it knows I am in the U.K. Any key stored in December is Invalid. Now that we are into January 2021, a date is being stored but it is in the U.S. format, namely mm/dd/yyyy. I can find other posts on the web with the problem but no solution. I can’t see anywhere how to change it to the U.K. format.
Need someone in a similar time zone to confirm that it can be done before I spend more time investigating.

 

BitLocker Recovery Key not stored in Microsoft Account

Here is the sequence of events that resulted in me unable to access the data on my additional HDD.

30th August - Purchased new computer and installed windows 10 64-bit Pro on 500GB internal harddrive.

4th September - Added another 2TB harddrive and moved my personal data.

17th September - Installed Linux operating system on internal hard drive overwriting windows 10. Unable to access the data on the 2 TB HDD from Linux.

17th September - Reinstalled Windows 10 64-bit Pro on 500GB internal harddrive overwriting Linux.

Unable to access the 2 TB HDD from Windows since it was bitlocker encrypted.

My Microsoft Account has 2 BitLocker recovery keys. But both are for the internal HDD in which the OS was installed twice. No key listed for the external HDD.

Is there a way to get the bitlocker recovery key for the external HDD?

Is it possible that the 2 TB HDD I purchased was bitlocker enabled by the previous buyer and then returned to seller and that's why it is not listed in my microsoft account?

 

Bitlocker recovery key no Microsoft account

Hi EdMakel,

This is Wil, one of the independent advisor and an expert with Windows 10.

I understand your concern with the recovery key for your BitLocker and I do apologize that you are having a problem finding it. But don't you worry because you have an expert here and I can definitely help you with that.

BitLocker ensured that a recovery key was safely backed up prior to activating protection. There are several places that your recovery key maybe, depending on the choice that was made when activating BitLocker:

In your Microsoft account: Sign in to your Microsoft account on another device to find your recovery key: If you have a modern device that supports automatic device encryption, the recovery key will most likely be in your Microsoft account. If the device was
set up or BitLocker protection was activated by another user, the recovery key may be in that user’s Microsoft account.

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.

Held by your system administrator: If your device is connected to a domain (usually work or school device), ask a system administrator for your recovery key.

I hope my suggestions help you. If you need further assistance please do reply back and I will respond as quickly as possible. Have a nice day.

Reference:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-ph/help/453047...

Thanks,

Wilfred P.

Independent Advisor