BitLocker is a useful security feature for modern Windows installations that helps protect your files and data from prying eyes. But if you made major changes to your PC, or an administrator has triggered a security event, you may need to input your BitLocker recovery key to get into Windows. Don't have it at hand? Don't worry. Here's how to find your recovery key so you can log in again.
Microsoft account login details
Desktop PC, laptop, or smart device with internet access
If you never recorded your BitLocker recovery key information anywhere physical, then you can skip this step. However, it's always worth checking if you wrote your recovery key down somewhere or, if you're on a network, asking the administrator to see if they have a note of the key.
If you can find that piece of paper, on a pen-drive, digital note, or other written form of BitLocker recovery key, it can save you some hassle by just grabbing that note and inputting it from there.
If you are trying to recover the BItlocker key for a device provided to you by your work or school, there's a chance that your BitLocker key is stored in the organizations Azure AD account. Try accessing the Azure AD recovery page yourself, and if possible, select Get BitLocker keys to find your keys.
If you can't access it directly, try asking your network or organization administrator to do it for you.
The most straightforward way to find your BitLocker recovery key is to get it from your Microsoft account. All BitLocker keys associated with your account are stored there, and you can access them by logging in to the recovery site.
Step 1: Navigate to the Microsoft Bitlocker recovery page.
Step 2: Log in and, if necessary, verify your account details.
Step 3: Once logged in, you should see any relevant BitLocker keys attached to your account, with the name of the relevant device next to them.
If you don't have any relevant BitLocker keys related to that Microsoft account, you'll instead be greeted with the message:
"You don't have any BitLocker recovery keys uploaded to your Microsoft account.
Note: If someone else helped you set up your PC, the BitLocker keys you're looking for might be on their account."
You could try signing into another Microsoft account if you know the details.
Once you've recovered your PC, if you want to improve security further or supplant BitLocker with something else, here are some security tweaks you can do to make Windows more secure. Some Windows 11 security settings do reduce gaming performance, though. Check out our guide on how to boost gaming performance by changing Windows settings.
Apple has unveiled a new iMac and a 14-inch MacBook Pro, both powered by its new baseline M6 chip. If you’ve been eyeing either device, now is the time to act, as entry-level configurations are becoming harder to get with each product launch.
The devices will be open for pre-order Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 10:10 AM PT. Meanwhile, deliveries and store stock will arrive on Friday, November 6.
If you make videos, edit photos, or produce music on your Mac, Apple has some good news for you. The company has announced a major update to Apple Creator Studio, packed with new effects and smarter tools. It will arrive on the App Store in November as a free update for existing subscribers.
How does it make video editing easier?
Apple just launched a new entry-level configuration of the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Even though the design and core hardware are identical, it gets the new M6 processor, which is also debuting in today's iMac refresh.