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Microsoft Bit Locker

Gabrielle Soole 0 Reputation points
2026-06-13T02:54:43.3766667+00:00

I have a WD Element hard drive which has somehow had a bit locker installed without my knowledge. All the Microsoft advice said to contact WD which I did. They were good and tried to resolve the problem but in the end they said it is a Microsoft bit locker and I would have to contact them. I have tried but I keep going round in circles on the support pages. I really need to talk to a person to try and get the key. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks

Gabrielle

Windows for home | Other | Security and privacy
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  1. EmilyS726 238.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-06-13T03:29:19.4066667+00:00

    I wish I could share better news, but the truth is that no one can get the BitLocker recovery key for you, including Microsoft staff or support.

    Microsoft states this clearly here: https://support.microsoft.com/windows/find-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6

    “Important: Microsoft Support doesn't have the ability to retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key.”

    The BitLocker key is typically saved to a personal Microsoft account, a work or school account, or it may have been printed, written down, or saved as a file somewhere else. However, those last options would require you to have saved it manually, so you would likely remember doing that.

    For a personal Microsoft account, check here: https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

    For a work or school account, check here: https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey

    At this point, it is a matter of figuring out where and under which account the key might have been saved. Think back to how you used this drive. If it was connected to the computer when Windows was originally set up, the key would usually be saved under the same account used to set up Windows.

    However, if the drive was moved from another computer, the key may be stored under the account that was used on the previous computer instead.

    Hopefully, this gives you some direction and helps you locate the correct account and recovery key.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-13T02:54:56.5166667+00:00

    BitLocker is Microsoft’s disk encryption. If the WD drive is showing a BitLocker prompt, it means Windows (or someone using Windows) encrypted it at some point; WD cannot provide the key.

    Key points:

    1. How to try to get the BitLocker recovery key
      • If the drive was ever connected to a Windows 10/11 PC where a Microsoft account was used, the key may be backed up to that account.
      • On another device, sign in to the Microsoft account that was used on the PC and go to:
      • Look for an entry whose Key ID (first 8 digits) matches the ID shown on the BitLocker prompt for the WD drive, then use the corresponding 48‑digit key to unlock.
    2. Other possible locations for the key When BitLocker was turned on, Windows offered several backup options. The key might be:
      • Saved in a different Microsoft account (for example, if someone else set up the PC or drive).
      • Printed on paper and stored with other documents.
      • Saved to a USB flash drive.
      • Saved in an organization’s directory (Microsoft Entra ID or Active Directory) if the drive was ever managed by a work/school IT department. In that case, IT support must retrieve it.
    3. What Microsoft Support can and cannot do
      • Microsoft Support cannot retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key.
      • If the key is not in any of the locations above, the data on the drive cannot be decrypted. The only option is to erase/format the drive and reuse it empty.
    4. Speaking with a person
      • For consumer devices, support agents will give the same guidance: check the Microsoft account recovery key page, printed/USB backups, or organizational IT. They cannot generate a key for the drive.
      • If the drive is work- or school-managed, contact the organization’s helpdesk; they may have the key in Microsoft Entra ID or Active Directory.

    If no recovery key can be found in any of these locations, the data on the WD drive is not recoverable, and the drive must be formatted to use it again.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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