How to recover my data?

A BitLocker recovery key cannot be retrieved or recreated by Microsoft Support. The available recovery options are to find an existing key, use it to unlock the drive, or reset the device.

Try these locations for the recovery key:

1. Note the first 8 digits of the recovery key ID shown on the BitLocker screen.
2. Check the key in a Microsoft account at https://aka.ms/myrecoverykey and match it by key ID.
3. If the device was ever signed in with a work or school account, check https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey, then go to Devices and select View BitLocker Keys.
4. Check for a printed copy of the key.
5. Check a USB flash drive if the key was saved there.
6. If the device is managed by an organization, contact the IT department.

If the key is found, enter the 48-digit recovery password on the BitLocker screen to unlock the drive.

If Windows does not start but the recovery key is available, data can be copied off the drive from recovery command prompt:

manage-bde -unlock -recoverypassword <password> C:

After the drive is unlocked, use copy or xcopy to copy user data to another drive.

If the recovery key cannot be found, the device must be reset using Windows recovery options. Warning: resetting the device removes all files.

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