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BitLocker: need a key but I never installed it
Hi all, I have an unusual problem. 3 days ago my hard drive got blocker by BitLocker. It asks for a key in order to unlock my hard drive.
The problem is that I have never installed or set up BitLocker. This is a new laptop and no one had access to it except me. So I am 100% sure that BitLocker was never set up. I bought it via Amazon in Boston 4 months ago.
I checked my Microsoft account but didn't find BitLocker key there (again, because I didn't set it up). I called Dell and they told me I should call Microsoft. I called Microsoft and they told me I should call Dell. It's a closed circle and no one seems to be responsible.
My solution is to re-install Windows but in this case, I will lose all my data (which I don't want to do).
Does Dell community has any recommendations? Did this issue happen in the past? Who could have set up BitLocker encryption on my laptop without providing me with a password?
If I don't recover my data, I consider suing Dell here in Boston.
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DELL-Nat M
Community Manager
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3725 Posts
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21060 Points
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Posted August 25th, 2022 06:00
Before we start troubleshooting, please notice this:
Beginning in Windows 8.1, Windows automatically enables BitLocker Device Encryption on devices that support Modern Standby. With Windows 11 and Windows 10, Microsoft offers BitLocker Device Encryption support on a much broader range of devices, including those that are Modern Standby, and devices that run Windows 10 Home edition or Windows 11.
Unlike a standard BitLocker implementation, BitLocker device encryption is enabled automatically so that the device is always protected. The following list outlines how this happens:
- When a clean installation of Windows 11 or Windows 10 is completed and the out-of-box experience is finished, the computer is prepared for first use. As part of this preparation, BitLocker Device Encryption is initialized on the operating system drive and fixed data drives on the computer with a clear key (this is the equivalent of standard BitLocker suspended state). In this state, the drive is shown with a warning icon in Windows Explorer. The yellow warning icon is removed after the TPM protector is created and the recovery key is backed up, as explained in the following bullet points.
- If the device isn't domain joined, a Microsoft account that has been granted administrative privileges on the device is required. When the administrator uses a Microsoft account to sign in, the clear key is removed, a recovery key is uploaded to the online Microsoft account, and a TPM protector is created. Should a device require the recovery key, the user will be guided to use an alternate device and navigate to a recovery key access URL to retrieve the recovery key by using his or her Microsoft account credentials.
Microsoft recommends that BitLocker Device Encryption be enabled on any systems that support it, but the automatic BitLocker Device Encryption process can be prevented by changing the following registry setting:
- Subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BitLocker
- Value: PreventDeviceEncryption equal to True (1)
- Type: REG_DWORD
From Overview of BitLocker Device Encryption in Windows
Usefull troubleshooting to bypass the Bitlocker screen so you can disable (not recommended by Microsoft) the same inside Windows:
- Ensure the Secure Boot is ON.
- Load BIOS defaults* and check in PTT On under PTT Security.
- Load BIOS defaults.
Load BIOS defaults
- Enter System Setup. (Tap the F2 key at the Dell logo)
- Press the up- and down-arrow keys or use the mouse and select Load Defaults.
- Press. ENTER then select Yes.
- Press Esc or select Exit. If prompted "Are you sure you want to exit?" Select Yes.
Ultimately, if none of the above steps work, an OS reinstallation would be the final recommendation.
Helpful video:
If still under the purchased warranty, click the "Get Help Now" icon on the right to start a live chat session.
#IWork4Dell

- Some systems set that up automatically. Check the link and you should have at least one key listed.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17133/windows-8-bitlocker-recovery-keys-frequently-asked-questions Checked that link 20 times already. It says there are 2 options to find a key: 1) check Microsoft account online - I checked and I don't have a key there because i didn't set it up. 2) A saved copy of the recovery key - I don't have it either because I didn't set it up
I did not set it up either .. but my C: partition was Bitlocked not just once, but every time I reinstalled Windows.
If you do not show a key when you search your account for Recovery key .. I don't have anything else to say. My system which did this, and the only one out of three, was the XPS 13 9365.
Also make sure you are signed in with your Administrator account. You cannot use a Local Account.
You did not buy from Dell if you got the computer from Amazon. Dell computers are sold by resellers there and fulfilled by Amazon. Even if you did buy directly from Dell's web site, only the hardware is warrantied. Bitlocker would not be covered.
Dell-Alan D
4 Apprentice
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1159 Posts
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Posted April 30th, 2018 01:00
@Klintenwrote:
Hi, did you get any further with this? I have the same problem. A DELL Latitude 5580 prompting for at Bitlocker key on startup. I have never activated Bitlocker on the machine, so i don't have the key.
Regards
Hi Klinten,
Are you still able to login to Windows and use the laptop? Have you updated your BIOS recently?
Alan

SonOfChuck
1 Message
454238
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Posted December 6th, 2019 04:00
I had the same issue following an essential BIOS update flagged up in Dell Support Assist. Our IT dept couldn't resolve it, but I managed to by doing the following: -
BitLocker is prompting for a Recovery Key and you cannot locate the key
* Restart the system
* At the Dell Logo keep tapping F2
* You will enter the BIOS screen
* Go to Secure Boot header, expand and select Expert Key Management
* Click the Restore Settings button
* Select Factory Settings
* Press OK
* Exit the BIOS and restart
Windows should now launch as it did before, even my last browser session appeared and lost nothing from c:\ drive!
Still not resolved? Use the "Get Help Now" option at the bottom right to chat with a Dell technician right away.
Video on TPM/Bitlocker: