BitLocker Key Recovery (Non-Domain Computers)

Answer

For non-managed (non-domain joined) Windows computers, your BitLocker recovery key may be stored in one of several places. Please review this article from Microsoft for the latest information.

• Held by your system administrator: If your device is connected to a domain (usually a work or school device), ask a system administrator for your recovery key.
• In your Microsoft account: Open a web browser on another device. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey to find your recovery key. 
  

  Tip: *You can sign into your Microsoft account on any device with internet access, such as a smartphone. It should look something like this:

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

• On a printout: You may have printed your recovery key when BitLocker was activated. Look where you keep important papers related to your computer.
• On a USB flash drive: Plug the USB flash drive into your locked PC and follow the instructions. If you saved the key as a text file on the flash drive, use a different computer to read the text file.
• In a work or school account: If your device was ever signed into an organization using a work or school email account, your recovery key may be stored in that organization's Azure AD account. You may be able to access it directly or you may need to contact the IT support for that organization to access your recovery key.
  

  Tip: *During COVID we have seen a lot of customers who were suddenly working or attending school from home and may have been asked to sign into a work or school account from their personal computer. If that was your experience too, then it's possible your work or school has a copy of your BitLocker recovery key.