Check out how to find a BitLocker Recovery Key from your Microsoft Account, and also how to keep a backup of your recovery key for emergency cases

Confused about what a BitLocker Recovery Key is? Well, a BitLocker Recovery Key is needed when BitLocker can’t automatically unlock an encrypted drive in Windows. This is a 48-digit number that lets you regain access to your drive.

Users might be prompted for the BitLocker Recovery key during startup, due to a security risk or hardware change. In this article, we will talk about how you can find your BitLocker Recovery Key and how to keep its backup.

Future you will thank you if you back up your BitLocker recovery key now: https://t.co/s6BxIP3ZB9 pic.twitter.com/Ci8NTK46CE

— Microsoft Support (@MicrosoftHelps) March 30, 2026

How to find your BitLocker Recovery Key?

When you are asked to enter a BitLocker recovery key, take note of the first 8 digits of the recovery key ID (helps in identifying which recovery key to use, in case you have more than one).

The next step is to find your recovery key.

Personal Microsoft Account

• From another device, open a web browser and go to https://aka.ms/myrecoverykey
• Sign in with your Microsoft Account and locate the key ID
• Use the related recovery key to unlock the drive

If the device was set up, or if BitLocker was turned on by somebody else, the recovery key might be stored in that person’s Microsoft account.

Work or school account

• From another device, open a web browser and go to https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey
• Sign in with your work or school account
• Select Devices and expand the device for which you need to retrieve the recovery key
• Select the option View BitLocker Keys
• Using the key ID, find the related recovery key and use it to unlock the drive

Other available options for finding the recovery key: Check Printout (you might have printed your recovery key when BitLocker was activated) or Check a USB flash drive (plug the USB flash drive into your locked device and follow the instructions, if you have saved the key as a text file on the flash drive, use a different device to read the text file).

If you still can’t find your recovery key and are unable to make any changes, you will have to reset your device using one of the Windows recovery options.

How to back up your BitLocker Recovery key?

In most situations, your BitLocker Recovery key is automatically backed up when BitLocker is first activated, either to your Microsoft Account or, for a school/work account, it is backed up by your organisation’s IT department.

To manually keep a backup:

• From Start (Windows logo), type BitLocker and select Manage BitLocker from the list of results
• In the BitLocker app, select Back up your recovery key next to the drive you want to back up
• Select where you want the key backed up: Microsoft account, USB Flash Drive, save to a file, or print the recovery key
• Select Finish.