Bitlocker recovery key IDs don't match with drive's recovery key ID provided in the microsoft account devices.

Shubham Nirmal 20 Reputation points
2026-10-19T07:42:13.1033333+00:00

Hi,

I formatted my laptop with windows 11, it was crashing again and again after few minutes of sign-in.

I forgot to decrypt the drives before formatting my C drive, after installation of new windows I found that drives require recovery keys for the drives still encrypted. I unlocked them with the matching recovery keys and then removed encryption from windows settings. I again started them for encryption but my laptop got stuck in windows, I left it overnight but it was still stuck. I tried restarting but it stayed stuck again.

Again formatted, this time too drives stayed locked, I tried to unlock them but the recovery Key IDs are not matching with any available in the list.

I do not want to format my other drives as they contain research project data and personal photos.

Isn't there any way to unlock them?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Recovery and backup
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Answer accepted by question author
DaveM121 949.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-10-19T08:15:02.74+00:00

If your drives are encrypted with Bitlocker, if the recovery keys you have found are indicated as not correct, 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?

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