The owner of my security email is dead and now I can't access my BitLocker key

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The owner of my security email is dead and now I can't access my BitLocker key

Gabriele Chierici 20

Hi this is a very urgent and grave problem, I work on my laptop and suddently 2 days ago it stopped booting because of an automatic Windows 11 update I didn't in any way approve, when I tried to log in to my account the security process triggered asking me to send a secure email to this (******@alice.it) second email account of a dead relative, I do not have the access to that email and if I change it I'm now locked out of my own account for a full month! This is outrageous and it has already been 2 days of me not being able to work nor access my laptop. I need to solve this asap

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EmilyS726 271.5K Independent Advisor

Hello

This 30-day delay is intentional. It’s a security safeguard designed to protect users in case someone else tries to hijack their account by changing recovery info. The wait gives the rightful owner time to notice and stop unauthorized changes.

Unfortunately, this policy cannot be bypassed. You can read more about it directly from Microsoft here:

https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/-your-security-info-change-is-still-pending-or-you-can-t-access-this-site-right-now-microsoft-account-message-cbd0f64f-02d9-45d2-90c3-2375e5a72e52#:~:text=While%20we%20understand%20this%2030,phone%20number%20or%20email%20address.

If you must use the computer now, your only option is to perform a clean install, but that wipes your data, unless they were already backed up to your OneDrive. Once reinstalled, you have to temporarily use a different account to set up. Wait 30 days, then link your own account back.

Gabriele Chierici 20 Reputation points

2026-03-14T19:28:54.7833333+00:00

This is ridicolous. There is no way to just use a restoring backup save to go back to my windows 10 until I then can use my acount? Some datas had no backup so I'll have to clone the hard disk
EmilyS726 271.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-14T19:29:30.08+00:00

Look, sorry you don't like my answer. I wouldn't sugar coat it any other way to just give you false information to get your hope up for nothing.

If you need help with clean install, I would be happy to walk you through.
EmilyS726 271.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-14T19:31:54.72+00:00

even if you have a backup image you can restore to, it lives in the drive that's encrypted. You need to be able to decrypt first. Without the bitlocker key, you won't be able to decrypt..
Gabriele Chierici 20 Reputation points

2026-03-14T19:47:38.2533333+00:00

That's the main problem then, I can't even access my own Hard Disk to recover the files so I'm locked out of my laptop, also the Bitlocker gives errors even when trying to restore to Windows 10 or do a prompt boot

[Protector (E_FVE_SECURE_BOOT_CHANGED)]

Nothing wrong with your answer but with this whole system, locking out a user for a month can lead to disasterous consequences but even worse there has been no clue about the mandatory background update to windows 11
EmilyS726 271.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-14T19:52:15.31+00:00

Believe me, I am not a fan of this feature either. At the very least, users should be made aware of it when setting up their computers. I have helped many users in the forum over the years, and I take no pleasure in delivering this news. It has often hurt my performance rating, but it is what it is. I am not going to lie about it.

That is why I mentioned that a clean install is the only workaround if you do not want to wait. You will need to create bootable installation media, usually a USB flash drive, on a different computer, then boot your computer from that USB through BIOS to perform the clean install. You cannot use any built in recovery tools, because they all reside on the encrypted drive.
Gabriele Chierici 20 Reputation points

2026-03-14T20:17:31.4+00:00

No I will have to crack into my dead relative email first or smth like that, but in case I do have a fresh usb install I could use, thank you
Gabriele Chierici 20 Reputation points

2026-03-14T20:19:01.2033333+00:00

aside from that, found out there is a law where the support team (so I'll have to do a real call) are obligated to give me the infos since the security pw owner is dead
EmilyS726 271.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-14T21:25:31.2233333+00:00

You can request access to a dead loved one's account, but it has to be via court order or subpoena. Support cannot just hand it over when you contact them. Otherwise everyone can just call support and say they need access to so and so's account. I did think of this earlier but didn't share this process because it could take time, so I thought the 30 days might be quicker. But anyway, it is mentioned in the support document here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/accessing-outlook-com-onedrive-and-other-microsoft-services-when-someone-has-died-ebbd2860-917e-4b39-9913-212362da6b2f