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How to Find the BitLocker Recovery Key in Your Microsoft Account

Published October 21, 2026. Updated October 21, 2026.

A blue screen asking for a BitLocker recovery key is one of the more stressful things a Windows PC can show, because without the key the drive stays locked. The good news is that on most home PCs the key was backed up automatically to the Microsoft account used to set the device up. This independent guide shows how to find it with aka.ms/myrecoverykey, what to do if it is not there, and how to make sure you are never stuck at this screen again. It is based on Microsoft's own support pages, linked at the end, and we never ask for your keys, passwords or codes.

What the BitLocker recovery key is

BitLocker is the drive encryption built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft describes the recovery key as a 48-digit number that lets you regain access to an encrypted drive when BitLocker cannot unlock it automatically. Windows may ask for it at startup because of a security risk or a hardware change, or for a data or external drive, for example if you forgot that drive's unlock password.

It is easy to confuse the BitLocker key with a Microsoft account recovery code, but they do different jobs. The 25-character account recovery code helps you sign back in to your Microsoft account. The 48-digit BitLocker key unlocks a drive. Entering one in place of the other will not work.

Step 1: note the recovery key ID

Before you go looking, write down the first 8 digits of the recovery key ID shown on the BitLocker screen. Microsoft explains that the key ID identifies which key to use if more than one is stored, which is common if you have owned several PCs or reinstalled Windows. On Windows 11 version 24H2 and later, the recovery screen also shows a hint of the Microsoft account associated with the key, which tells you which account to sign in to.

Step 2: open aka.ms/myrecoverykey on another device

The locked PC cannot be used to look up its own key, so use a phone, tablet or another computer:

Open a web browser and go to aka.ms/myrecoverykey. We checked today that this Microsoft short link redirects to account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey; make sure the address bar shows account.microsoft.com before you sign in.
Sign in with the Microsoft account that was used on the locked PC.
Find the entry whose key ID matches the 8 digits you noted.
Type the matching 48-digit recovery key into the BitLocker screen to unlock the drive.

If you cannot sign in to that Microsoft account at all, sort that out first. Our step-by-step account recovery guide covers the recovery form, and if you are unsure which address the account uses, see our guide to a forgotten Microsoft account username.

Not in your account? Check these places

Microsoft lists several other places the key may be, depending on choices made when BitLocker was turned on:

Someone else's Microsoft account. If the PC was set up, or BitLocker was turned on, by another person, such as a family member or the shop that prepared the device, the key might be stored in that person's Microsoft account.
A work or school account. If the device was ever signed in with an organisation account, the key could be stored with that organisation. Microsoft's route is aka.ms/aadrecoverykey: sign in with the work or school account, select Devices, expand the device and choose View BitLocker Keys. You may need to ask the organisation's IT support instead.
A printout. The key may have been printed when BitLocker was activated. Look wherever you keep paperwork for the device.
A USB flash drive. Plug the drive into the locked PC and follow the on-screen instructions. If the key was saved as a text file on the drive, read it on a different device.

If the key cannot be found

This is the hard part, and it is important to be accurate about it. Microsoft states that Microsoft Support does not have the ability to retrieve, provide or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key. If you cannot find the key and cannot undo whatever change triggered the prompt, Microsoft says you will have to reset the device using one of the Windows recovery options, and that resetting the device removes all of your files.

That makes any offer to "unlock BitLocker" over the phone or through remote access a red flag. Encryption that a support line could bypass would not protect anyone. Before resetting, double-check every account you or your family might have used on the PC, and any organisation account, because one missed account is the most common reason a key seems to be missing.

Back up your key now

If your PC is working today, spend two minutes confirming that the key is backed up. Microsoft explains that in most situations the key is backed up automatically when BitLocker is first activated, usually to your Microsoft account, but recommends verifying that the backup exists or creating an extra one. To do that:

Select Start, type BitLocker and choose Manage BitLocker.
Select Back up your recovery key next to the drive.
Choose where to save it: your Microsoft account, a USB flash drive, a file, or a printout.
Select Finish.

Microsoft notes that you can make as many backups as you want. It also warns not to keep a USB drive or printout holding the key with the computer, because a thief who took both could bypass the encryption. A file cannot be saved to the encrypted drive itself, so it needs to go on another drive or into secure cloud storage.

Keep the Microsoft account itself recoverable

A key stored in your Microsoft account is only useful if you can sign in to that account on the day you need it. Keep a current phone number and a second email in your security info, set up two-step verification carefully using our MFA setup guide, and keep a recovery code somewhere safe. Our list of common aka.ms links shows where other Microsoft short links lead.

Frequently asked questions

Where is my BitLocker recovery key in my Microsoft account?

From another device, open aka.ms/myrecoverykey, which redirects to account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey. Sign in with the Microsoft account used on the locked PC and find the key whose ID matches the first 8 digits shown on the BitLocker screen.

Why is my BitLocker recovery key not showing in my Microsoft account?

The key may be stored in a different account, for example the account of whoever set up the PC or turned on BitLocker, or in a work or school account. It may also have been printed, saved to a USB drive or saved as a file instead of being uploaded.

Can Microsoft Support give me my BitLocker recovery key?

No. Microsoft states that Microsoft Support does not have the ability to retrieve, provide or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key.

What happens if I cannot find the BitLocker recovery key?

If you cannot find the key and cannot undo the change that triggered the prompt, Microsoft says you will have to reset the device using one of the Windows recovery options, which removes all of your files.

Is the BitLocker recovery key the same as a Microsoft account recovery code?

No. The BitLocker key is a 48-digit number that unlocks an encrypted drive. The Microsoft account recovery code is a 25-character code that helps you get back into your account. They are stored and used in different places.