BitLocker Encryption Key Lost or Forgotten
Let's quickly review Bitlocker and its recovery key before getting into the detailed instructions.
Definition of BitLocker?
Certain Microsoft Windows versions provide a whole disk encryption capability called BitLocker. Encrypting the entire hard drive—including the system files—prevents unauthorized access or data theft and guarantees the security of private information. Although BitLocker is mainly utilized in commercial environments, anyone wishing to improve the security of their own computers can also use it.
If your BitLocker Recovery Key is lost, you could think that without costly IT assistance, you will never be able to access your drive again. Calm down, please. There exist other choices.
A recovery key for BitLocker is what?
The official Microsoft description of your BitLocker recovery key is a unique 48-digit arithmetic passcode that, should BitLocker be otherwise unavailable, can be utilized to gain access to your machine. unable to verify with certainty that the attempt to access the system disk is authorized.
Said another way, it is a password. A lengthy and rather difficult password that you won't want to try to memorize. If a user forgets or misplaces their password and cannot access their hard drive, this recovery key is given out during BitLocker installation.
What does Bitlocker recovery entail?
A BitLocker Recovery Key functions as follows:
Either on business or pleasure, you misplace your laptop.
As it should be, your laptop has BitLocker pre-configured (by you or the original manufacturer). Because BitLocker marks their failed password attempts on your device, the person who located your computer tries to access it but is unable to obtain your data.
A startup procedure can be halted under the Windows BitLocker protocols until the user enters a PIN or inserts an external device, such as a flash drive, with a startup key and a TPM.
In the absence of such, BitLocker locks the data and will only allow access with your BitLocker Recovery Key.
Airport security finds and gives back your laptop. Your data is returned intact when you input your BitLocker Recovery Key, which you have stored in a safe place for precisely this kind of emergency.
Where can I find my BitLocker recovery key?
If you must quickly access your encrypted data, your BitLocker recovery key is essential. Permanent data loss may occur if you cannot even start your device or retrieve your data without the recovery key. Thankfully, provided you have the necessary tools and information, locating your BitLocker recovery key is quite easy.
We will walk you through finding your BitLocker recovery key if your device starts with the BitLocker recovery screen.
Where is the recovery key for Bitlocker located?
Assuming you haven't already, you should store your recovery key somewhere you can find it in case you need to utilize it following an attempted data security breach.
It's a good idea to check over the recovery alternatives below when your laptop, PC, or server isn't locked and there's no urgent situation if you don't have it in a safe location or can't find it.
Where can I find my BitLocker Recovery Key?
Inactive Domain Services
Finding your BitLocker Recovery Key is most likely made easier if you are an end user at a business big enough to have an IT department.
Your administrator or IT department may have saved your BitLocker recovery key to Active Directory (AD), in which case they will probably have all end user encrypted data details on file.
BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer can find and examine the BitLocker Recovery Key kept in Active Directory (AD) if you would want to steer them in the right path or if you are a small shop.
AZURE ACTIVE GUIDELINE
Simply retrieve the recovery key by looking up the device information for your Microsoft Azure account if your organization utilizes Azure Active Directory.
COMPUTER ACCOUNT
If, when you bought your device, you registered all of your information with Microsoft or signed up for services like Office 365, the procedure is also quite easy for you.
Your recovery key kept online with a Microsoft account can be retrieved at https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.
Verifying a BitLocker recovery key: how to do it?
To be certain BitLocker recovery keys work and can be used to open your encrypted drive, they must be validated. You should therefore confirm your recovery key before using it in an emergency as an invalid key could make it impossible for you to restore your data.
To confirm your BitLocker recovery key on Windows 10 follow these instructions:
Start the BitLocker Recovery Key Verification Tool: Look for this program by typing "recovery key" into the Windows search box, then select "Verify BitLocker Recovery Key."
Type your recovery key in here: Enter your 48-digit recovery key and hit "Verify."
Hold off till the verification process is finished: The speed of your computer may determine how long this process takes.
Check the verification results: The tool will show you if your recovery key is valid after the verification procedure is finished.
Depending on the version of Windows you are running, the general procedures for confirming a BitLocker recovery key may differ somewhat.
Where to keep a BitLocker Recovery Key?
Following are some sensible storage options for all kinds of encryption keys you might need to access in the future, once you have your BitLocker Recovery Key in hand.
SHARE AND PRINT IT
Document the key and print it out.
Stow it in a traditional filing cabinet.
STORE IT ON ANOTHER DEVICE.
Get a PDF copy of your BitLocker Recovery Key.
Keep that PDF file off of one computer.
STORE IT ON A USB FLASH DRIVE.
Produce a file using your BitLocker data Recovery Key or print it as a PDF.
Put the USB drive and any private stuff in a safe or other secure place.
Finding your BitLocker recovery key with old-fashioned methods
Apart from making an effort to keep your encryption keys somewhere you can easily find them in case of need, one thing to keep in mind is that everything might not be lost even in the worst of situations. If you are now at the blue BitLocker recovery screen without the recovery key in sight, there are a few easy, old-school fixes to give it one final try.
Stop your computer.
Yeah. IT pros will tell you this a thousand times, but in this particular instance, it truly does work (sometimes).
Just power your computer off and back on.
Many times, your laptop or PC may have responded to what is known as a false positive, supposing there was a security problem when none existed.
Rebooting will give the protocols and startup process another test, and you might be able to simply enter your PIN or usual password and carry on with your day.
Bios modifications
Something you did to your drive or device may have activated a security system, like BitLocker, whether you are an IT expert or just know enough to be careless.
Go ahead and replace it back if you moved some hardware or altered anything in your BIOS.
Reactivating BitLocker and causing the false positive could need restarting your machine.
You can also download BLR BitLocker Data Recovery tool to recover your bitlocker eyncripted data even without a key within time . Its free you can try this . here's the download buttom to install BLR Tools.
BitLocker recovery key backup instructions
Having your encryption keys spread over too many locations is not a smart idea. If your BitLocker Encryption Key is not already backed up, follow these steps to save it in a safe, easily accessible place. Select one safeguarding and storage method (e.g., on a flash drive, in a printed or saved document) that suits you.
Hold down Windows Key + Q to launch BitLocker.
Either touch the "Windows Start" button and type "BitLocker" or choose the "Manage BitLocker" option from the search results
Finding the drive for which you now require the recovery key in the BitLocker Drive Encryption window
Make the menu selection "Backup your Recovery Key."
Method: There are now three ways to backup your recovery key. Print a paper copy or save it to your Microsoft account or a text file. Saving it to a text file is the most basic choice.
Save the text file to My Documents or another easily remembered location.
As a backup to the backup, you can also save a copy onto an additional protected computer.
Once the text file has been saved, open it and search for the recovery key by scrolling down
This is how you now securely keep the computer's recovery key.
This step must be completed on every computer with BitLocker configured, and a fresh, distinct recovery key must be generated for every device and drive. So you know which recovery key works for each drive, save them all in the same way and properly label them.
Notes
Any company should prioritize data security on endpoint devices since they are nearly always the most vulnerable in any setting. Using simple encryption and security methods and features like BitLocker can sufficiently and successfully safeguard data and devices. Their effectiveness is based in part on high-quality corporate procedures that educate staff members to keep BitLocker Drive Data Recovery Keys in secure locations where they can be accessed when needed.
Both big and small businesses can benefit from certain products that assist them maximize the security of their BitLocker encryptions. Suppose you wish to use AES encryption and Windows BitLocker to remotely secure data on your Windows fleet. In such a scenario, Prey's Disk Encryption may be quickly enabled or disabled on any device from a single dashboard.
Enabling BitLocker has never been easier at Prey, and full device encryption is one of the simplest and most comprehensive preventive measures you can take to stop data theft. It will help your IT staff to achieve the following:
Encrypt every disc and removable drive to reduce the possibility of losing user data, source code, company data, and more.
Maximize your productivity and discourage theft by setting up automatic responses to movement into or out of Control Zones.
Timed or recurring schedules for things like daily curfews and device locks
Fulfill security certification requirements or follow government laws like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO/IEC that call for disk encryption
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