Random bit locker prompt at night when opening laptop. cant do anything

BitLocker is full-disk encryption. When it detects a hardware or firmware change, or a boot issue, it can prompt for the recovery key to protect data. Without that key, the data on the drive cannot be decrypted.

For a home Windows 10 device where BitLocker/device encryption is enabled and the recovery key is unknown, the only supported options are:

1. Try to locate the BitLocker recovery key
   • Sign in to the Microsoft account that was used on the device and check for keys at the BitLocker recovery key portal: https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey
   • Follow the guidance in the BitLocker recovery key article to check all possible locations where the key might have been saved (Microsoft account, printed copy, USB, Azure AD/organization account if ever joined to work/school). See Find your BitLocker recovery key as referenced in the context.
   • If the device was ever managed by an organization (work/school), contact that organization’s IT to retrieve the key.
2. If the recovery key cannot be found
   • BitLocker is designed so that neither Microsoft nor anyone else can bypass it without the recovery key. If the key is not available in any of the locations described above, the data on the drive cannot be recovered.
   • The only remaining option is to erase the drive and reinstall Windows using recovery media. This will make the laptop usable again but all existing data on the encrypted drive will be lost.

This behavior is by design: BitLocker prevents access to the drive when it suspects unauthorized changes or access, and recovery is only possible with the correct recovery key.

References:

• BitLocker overview
• Bitlocker key qui ne fonctionne pas - Microsoft Q&A
• I WANT TO FIND MY BITLOCKER RECOVERY KEY FOR MY COMPUTER - Microsoft Q&A
• Surface Pro 3 blocked - Microsoft Q&A
• Request for Assistance with BitLocker Recovery – Surface Pro 2 - Microsoft Q&A