Unable to find my old device under my account

YASH VERMA 0 Reputation points
2026-10-06T11:12:08.1066667+00:00

My first laptop disappeared from my device list after logging to the 2nd laptop using same account. Now all of a sudden first laptop is asking for bitlocker recovery key and I am unable to find it under my device list. Where can I find my first laptop so that I can recover bitlocker key

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Recovery and backup
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  1. DaveM121 937.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-06T11:45:15.93+00:00

    If your drive is encrypted with Bitlocker, the only place the Bitlocker Recovery key is automatically stored is on the associated Microsoft account on the link below, be sure to check any Microsoft account that may have been used on the PC and also any work or school account that may be linked to the PC.

    (Note, even if your device does not show on the Microsoft account, the Bitlocker Recovery Key may still be available on this link)

    https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

    Are you able to find the Bitlocker Recovery Key on any account that may have been used or linked to the laptop?

    If not, do you have a safe backup of your files, or use a cloud service like OneDrive to sync your files online.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-06T11:12:24.6166667+00:00

    If the laptop no longer appears in the Devices list, the BitLocker recovery key can still be available separately.

    Try these locations:

    1. On another device, open the BitLocker recovery key page for a personal Microsoft account: https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey
    2. Sign in with the Microsoft account that was used when the first laptop was originally set up.
    3. Compare the recovery key ID shown on the locked laptop with the key ID listed in the account, then use the matching 48-digit key.
    4. If the laptop was ever signed in with a work or school account, check https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey, then go to Devices > the device > View BitLocker Keys.
    5. Check whether the key was saved elsewhere when BitLocker was enabled:
      • a printed copy
      • a USB flash drive containing the saved key file
      • another Microsoft account that may have been used on that laptop

    Important facts:

    • Microsoft Support cannot retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key.
    • In some cases, a device may be missing from the Microsoft account device list, but the recovery key may still exist on the recovery key page.
    • If the device was set up by someone else, the recovery key might be stored in that person’s Microsoft account.

    If the recovery key cannot be found in any of those places, the remaining option is to reset the device using Windows recovery options. Warning: resetting removes all files.

    References:

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

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