By Sophia | Last Updated
The BitLocker recovery key is set with 48 digits, which can be used to unlock the BitLocker encrypted drive on another PC when you forgot the password. If you lost both the password and recovery key, there is no way to access the files in the encrypted drive. Therefore, it is necessary for you to back up the recovery key and know how to find it as quickly as possible.
The 48-digit BitLocker recovery key is automatically generated by the Windows system when you enable the BitLocker function for the first time. It is usually stored in a TXT file, for example, "BitLocker Recovery Key 2EAA72F4-EFE2-4553-9D77-C57769E2A267".
As Microsoft puts emphasis on the BitLocker recovery key, it offers multiple ways for the Windows users to back up the recovery key. The recovery key files may be saved in a number of ways depending on the version of Windows installed. You can refer to the screenshot from Dell website.
As Windows 10 becomes the mainstream, we will carry out the four common options to get BitLocker recovery keys when you lost it on condition that you have backed up the recovery key in advance.
It is the most commonly used option to back up the BitLocker recovery key in a file. No matter the BitLocker recovery file is saved to a network drive or another drive in the computer, it is easy for the users to find the BitLocker recovery key.
If you saved it on a USB flash drive as a backup, you can plug the USB flash drive into a working computer and open the text file to get the BitLocker recovery key for the encrypted drive.
If you choose to back up the recovery key in Microsoft account, you can find it on the One Drive of your Microsoft Account. Login OneDrive website with your Microsoft account and click Files > Documents to get the BitLocker recovery text files and read it.
You may print the BitLocker recovery key file out and place it on your drawer or somewhere. Find it in the places that you keep important papers and maybe you can regain it.
If you are sure the BitLocker recovery key file is saved on the computer disk, but uncertain about where the file is kept, iSunshare UBitkey can help you to find all BitLocker recovery key files on your computer within clicks.
Step 1: Open the program and hit Find Key option on the left panel.
Step 2: Hit the Start button on the right panel to move forward.
Step 3: Minutes later, you can view the search result. All BitLocker recovery key files are displayed with the save path. You can right-click to access it or copy the key.
You may have accidentally formatted the USB drive with Bitlocker recovery key saved on it or deleted them by mistakely. Take it easy, you still have a chance to get these formatted or deleted files back. The trick is to turn to a professional data recovery software-iSunshare BitGenius. This powerful tool has a 99% success rate in recovering lost Bitlocker recovery key files as long as the USB data has not been rewritten. Let's see how it does that.
Step 1: Download and install iSunshare BitGenius on your computer, if the Bitlocker recovery key file is lost on USB, then you need to plug this USB.
Run BitGenius and select the USB drive as the scan location, it actually depends on where the Bitlocker recovery key is stored. Click "Start".
Step 2: The data recovery genius will immediately start the scan and list the scan report, you can use the filter function to quickly locate the Bitlocker recovery key files.
Step 3: Check the box in front of the missing file and click "Recover" button to select the destination folder where the files are stored.
The recovered files save path should not be in the same drive as the scanned location, otherwise, the integrity of Bitlocker recovery key may be damaged.
Tips: Besides these options, you can also find it on your Azure Active Directory account. It is easy for you to get the recovery key: sign in with Azure Active Directory account and see the device info of your account. Or if you are connected to a domain, it is a fast way to ask the system administrator for the key.
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