How to Get Your BitLocker Recovery Key: An Easy Guide

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Uncover your BitLocker key with these easy tips

Written by Stan Kats | Edited by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: February 18, 2026 Fact Checked

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Using Your Microsoft Account

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Using a Work or School Account

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Checking a Printout

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Checking a USB Drive

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Contacting IT

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FAQ

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Video

Have you misplaced or forgotten your BitLocker recovery key? This can be frustrating, especially when you really need to log in to your computer. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways you can find your BitLocker recovery key. In this article, we teach you how to find your recovery key online, along with a few other methods. Keep reading to learn more.

Finding Your BitLocker Recovery Key

To find your BitLocker recovery key online, log in to account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey and click the Devices tab. Otherwise, check for a printout or USB drive provided with the key. You can also contact your IT department to get your key.

Section 1 of 6:

Using Your Microsoft Account

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Go to account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey. You'll need to do this on a device other than your locked computer, such as a different computer or your smartphone.
2
Sign in with your Microsoft account. This link takes you directly to the "Devices" tab, which lists all BitLocker keys associated with your account.

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3
Locate the BitLocker key for your device. If you have only one device with BitLocker, you'll see only one BitLocker recovery key. If you have multiple devices, use the "Device Name" column to determine which BitLocker recovery key you need.^{[1]
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- If someone else set up your BitLocker encryption, the recovery key may not appear in your Microsoft account. If that's the case, you'll need to ask the person who set up BitLocker for the key.
4
Enter the BitLocker key on your computer. If you entered the right key, the BitLocker encryption will be unlocked, and you'll be able to access your computer as normal.

Section 2 of 6:

Using a Work or School Account

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1
Go to aka.ms/aadrecoverykey. You'll need to do this on a device other than your locked computer, such as a different computer or your smartphone.
2
Sign in with your work or school account. If you're trying to get the BitLocker recovery key for your personal Microsoft account, go to the first method in this article to learn how.
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Click Devices in the left-hand sidebar. It's under the "My Account" header.
4
Expand the device you need to get the BitLocker key for. If you have multiple devices, use the device name (listed in the drop-down menu) to determine which device you should expand. If you only have one device listed, expand that one.
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Click View BitLocker Keys. It's on the left-hand side of the expanded panel. A pane will pop up on the right side of the screen with the BitLocker recovery key for this device.^{[2]
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6
Enter the BitLocker key on your computer. If you entered the right key, the BitLocker encryption will be unlocked, and you'll be able to access your computer as normal.

Section 3 of 6:

Checking a Printout

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When BitLocker was activated on your computer, you may have gotten a printout of your BitLocker recovery key. If so, check that printout for the recovery key.^{[3]
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2
Enter the BitLocker key on your computer. If you entered the right key, the BitLocker encryption will be unlocked, and you'll be able to access your computer as normal.

Section 4 of 6:

Checking a USB Drive

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1
Plug your BitLocker recovery USB drive into your computer. If you were given a USB flash drive to unlock your computer, plug it in and follow the on-screen instructions.^{[4]
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- If you have your recovery key in a text document on a flash drive, you'll need to insert the drive into another computer to open the text file and retrieve your BitLocker key. You won't be able to plug this drive into your locked computer to get the key.
2
Enter the BitLocker key on your computer (if necessary). If you entered the right key, the BitLocker encryption will be unlocked, and you'll be able to access your computer as normal.

Section 5 of 6:

Contacting IT

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If you get your computer through your work or school IT department, IT might have a copy of your BitLocker recovery key saved. If you can't find your recovery key, contact your IT department to obtain a copy so you can unlock your computer.^{[5]
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2
Enter the BitLocker key on your computer. If you entered the right key, the BitLocker encryption will be unlocked, and you'll be able to access your computer as normal.

Section 6 of 6:

FAQ

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1
What is a BitLocker recovery key? BitLocker is a feature that securely locks down a Windows computer. A BitLocker recovery key is a 48-character password that lets you unlock BitLocker and access your computer again. You may be forced to use your BitLocker recovery key if your computer detects a security threat or if someone unauthorized attempts to access it.
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What do I do if I can't remember my BitLocker recovery key? You'll have to completely reset your device and reinstall Windows. You'll need to do either a System Restore or you'll have to reinstall Windows with installation media, if you have it.^{[6]
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Go to source} If this happens, all of the files and programs on your computer will be completely erased, and you'll have to start over.
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What happens if I enter the wrong BitLocker key? Nothing will happen. Your computer won't lock up if you enter the wrong key. However, you won't be able to get into your device unless you have the right key, so it's more efficient to try to locate the key rather than guess if you're not sure.