Windows 10: How to recover BitLocker disk without password, recovery key

Hai, this is Vignesh, I am working as a network admin in a private company. A computer operator has password protected a disk using BitLocker on his computer. Now that operator has died unexpectedly. Now that disk is unknown. There is no recovery key. There is no Microsoft account. Now how can I open that disk?

:)

 

Recover bitlock password for my extral drive

Thank you very much for reaching out! As an Independent Advisor and fellow Microsoft user, I'm more than happy to assist you.



If you have forgotten your BitLocker password for an external or old hard drive, there are several methods you can try to recover access:

Attempt Usual Passwords

First, try to recall any passwords you might have used in the past. Sometimes, users use familiar or simple passwords that they can remember later.

Use the BitLocker Recovery Key

If you cannot remember the password, you can use the 48-digit BitLocker recovery key. Here are some common places where you might find the recovery key:

• Microsoft Account: Log in to your Microsoft account on another device and check the recovery keys section at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.
  
• Printout: Check any physical documents where you might have printed the recovery key.
  
• USB Flash Drive: If you saved the recovery key on a USB drive, plug it into your computer and follow the on-screen instructions.
  
• Work or School Account: If your device was managed by an organization, the recovery key might be stored in the organization's Azure AD account. Contact your IT support for assistance.
  

Command Line Recovery

If you have access to the command line, you can use the manage-bde command to force recovery:

• For a local machine:
  
  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
     
  2. Type manage-bde -forcerecovery <Volume> and press Enter.
     
• For a remote machine:
  
  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
     
  2. Type manage-bde -ComputerName <ComputerName> -forcerecovery <Volume> and press Enter.
     

BitLocker Repair Tool

If the drive is damaged, you can use the BitLocker Repair Tool (repair-bde) to recover data:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   
2. Use the command repair-bde <SourceVolume> <TargetVolume> -rp <RecoveryPassword> to attempt recovery.
   

Contact Support

If you are unable to recover the password or key, you may need to contact Microsoft support or your device's manufacturer for further assistance. However, note that Microsoft support cannot recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key.

Formatting the Drive

As a last resort, if you cannot recover the password or key, you can format the drive. This will erase all data on the drive:

1. Open Disk Management.
   
2. Right-click the BitLocker-encrypted drive and select Format.
   
3. Follow the prompts to complete the formatting process.
   

Remember, formatting the drive will result in data loss, so it should only be done if you have no other options and the data is not critical.

By following these steps, you should be able to recover access to your BitLocker-encrypted drive or at least understand the options available to you.



Please feel free to reach out if you require any additional assistance. I'm here to help!

 

Bitlocker will not accept password or Recovery Key

I am trying to access my hard drive , But my recovery key and password are not being accepted

by bitlocker.

This Recovery key was sent to me when setting up the bitlocker, But now says it's a invalid key



Is there a problem with this software as its not accepting my recovery key Or password.



Can this bitlocker be reset so that it Can accept my recover key.



Any help please.Alan

 

How to recover bitlocker key

Hello Anchal Goyal，



Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.



To recover a BitLocker recovery key, you can use the BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer tool in Active Directory Users and Computers. Here are the steps:



1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers.

2. Right-click the domain or organizational unit that contains the computer object whose recovery key you want to locate, and then click Find BitLocker Recovery Password.

3. In the Find BitLocker Recovery Password dialog box, type the first eight characters of the recovery password in the Password ID box, or type the first eight characters of the recovery key in the Recovery Key box.

4. Click Search to locate the recovery password or key.



Note that you will need to have the appropriate permissions to access the BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer tool. Additionally, if you have forgotten your BitLocker password, you will need to use the recovery key to unlock your drive.



I hope the information above is helpful.



If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.



Best Regards,