Windows 10: My drives are locked by BitLocker without me opting for it and I don't know where my keys are

I have important files on my external drives which I use on different platforms.

Today I found out that both my drives are locked without me opting for them.
I looked at my Microsoft account and I don't have the keys for my drives.

:)

 

Bitlocker Key

Hi,

Thank you for posting your concern. It is good that you know the Bitlocker key to properly get into the computer. To help you turn off the Bitlocker key, you can follow the steps below:

Please make sure you are signed as the Administrator of the computer.

To suspend BitLocker Drive Encryption on an operating system drive

• 
  Click Start, click Control Panel, click
  System and Security, and then click BitLocker Drive Encryption.
  
• 
  Click Suspend Protection for the operating system drive.
  
• 
  A message is displayed, informing you that your data will not be protected while BitLocker is suspended and asking if you want to suspend BitLocker Drive Encryption. Click
  Yes to continue and suspend BitLocker on the drive.
  

To turn off BitLocker Drive Encryption

• 
  Click Start, click Control Panel, click
  System and Security, and then click BitLocker Drive Encryption.
  
• 
  Find the drive on which you want BitLocker Drive Encryption turned off, and click
  Turn Off BitLocker.
  
• 
  A message is displayed, informing you that the drive will be decrypted and that decryption may take some time. Click
  Decrypt the drive to continue and turn off BitLocker on the drive.
  

Let us know if this resolves your concern.

 

BitLocker Key

There may be a software that triggered the BitLocker in your Windows 10 PC. To assist you better, we suggest that you check these articles for further information:

• Find my BitLocker recovery key.
• BitLocker recovery keys: Frequently asked questions.

• BitLocker

Let us know if you need further assistance.

 

Bitlocker drive got currupted

Hi Rahul,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

From the description, it appears that you were able to recover the data using third party application. So now, are you trying to encrypt/decrypt the bit locker in Windows 10?

I suggest you to check the below steps and see if it helps.

To Encrypt Drive Partition using Bitlocker you need to access BitLocker Encryption Window First. For this,

• 
  Open
  Cortana Search.
  
• 
  Type
  BitLocker in the search field.
  
• 
  And in the search results select
  Manage BitLocker option.
  
• 
  BitLocker
  Drive Encryption window pops up on your screen.
  

How to Encrypt Drive Partition using Bitlocker

• 
  By following the above steps, you are into the
  BitLocker Drive Encryption window.
  
• 
  Now you can see all the drives of your computer listed on that window.
  
• 
  Look for the drive that you want to encrypt and click on
  Turn On BitLocker option of that drive to Encrypt Drive Partition using Bitlocker.
  
• 
  Another
  BitLocker Encryption window will appear on your screen.
  
• 
  Here you will be asked
  How you want to unlock the drive.
  
• 
  You have two options,
  password and smart card. I opted for the password method. So click on
  Use a password to unlock this drive.
  
• 
  It will ask you to provide a strong
  password.
  
• 
  Remember that you will need this password at every stage when you boot
  Windows 10. And also carefully remember the password as with the wrong password you will not be able to use encrypted system correctly.
  
• 
  Click
  Next after entering and confirming the password.
  
• 
  Now you will have to
  back up your recovery key. In future, if you face any difficulty in accessing the encrypted drives then this key will be helpful.
  
• 
  Choose the preferred location and click
  Next.
  
• 
  In the following window, you have decided that
  how much of a drive you will like to encrypt.
  
• 
  Choose the desired option and click
  Next.
  
• 
  The next window will ask
  Are you ready to encrypt the drive.
  
• 
  Click on Start Encrypting
  option.
  
• 
  The process of encryption drive partition is over.
  
• 
  Restart your system.
  
• 
  You will see that encrypted drive is locked.
  
• 
  When you double-click it to open it, you will be asked to provide the
  password.
  
• 
  Enter the
  password and click Unlock.
  
• 
  On the
  Notification Area of the Taskbar, a pop-up box will appear showing you the encryption process going on in the background of the desktop.
  
• 
  After the completion of the encryption, you will be informed about it.
  

Hope it helps.

Let us know the status of the issue.

Thanks.