Description
A BitLocker recovery key is a 48- digit numerical password used to unlock your BitLocker encrypted drive when BitLocker has triggered a lockout. The key is generated during a BitLocker installation.
Resolution/Troubleshooting
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Click here to visit Microsoft's site on where to find your BitLocker recovery Key.
Follow the steps given below to remove BitLocker encryption:
- Select Start > Control Panel > System and Security, and then select "BitLocker Drive Encryption".
- Look for the drive on which you want BitLocker Drive Encryption turned off, and select "Turn Off BitLocker".
- A message will be displayed, stating that the drive will be decrypted and that decryption may take some time. Select "Turn off BitLocker / Decrypt the drive" to continue and turn off BitLocker on the drive.
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This might take some time to decrypt the drive and remove BitLocker protection.
*Ensure that you have administrator permissions to remove BitLocker encryption.
Helpful Links
Cause
BitLocker Recovery Mode can occur for many reasons, including: authentication errors (forgetting the PIN), boot/BIOS changes, and other triggers like moving the BitLocker-protected drive to a different system or upgrading the motherboard to a new one with a new TPM.
*These are only a few triggers