Locked Out After a Windows 11 Update? Get Back In
Microsoft's April 2026 update triggered BitLocker screens on some PCs. Here is where to find your recovery key and get back in safely.
3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Look for your recovery key on another device
On a phone, tablet, or another computer, go to account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey and sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your PC. If your key was saved there (most computers set up in the last five years do this automatically), you will see a 48-digit number next to your device name. Write it down.
Quick Tip
Not sure which Microsoft account? Look for any email from Microsoft confirming a past Windows setup or sign-in. It was sent to that account.
Step 2. Type the recovery key on your locked computer
Back at your locked PC, the blue BitLocker screen has a box for you to enter the key. Type the 48-digit number exactly, including any dashes. The key is case-sensitive for letters, so type them exactly as shown. Press Enter or click Unlock.
Warning
Do not call any number shown on the screen or in a pop-up offering BitLocker help. Scammers are using this issue to trick people into paying for "recovery services." The real fix is free and only needs your Microsoft account.
Step 3. If you do not have a Microsoft account, check these other places
If your computer was set up without a Microsoft account, your recovery key might be: (1) printed and stored somewhere safe when Windows was first set up; (2) saved on a USB drive; (3) stored by your workplace IT department if it is a work computer. Check those places before assuming the key is lost.
Step 4. If you cannot find the key anywhere
If the recovery key truly cannot be found, you will need to reset Windows — which removes all files from the drive. Before doing this, ask a trusted tech-savvy person or take the computer to a local repair shop to confirm the key really is gone. A reset should be a last resort only.
Quick Tip
Microsoft's official support page for this issue is at support.microsoft.com — search for "find my BitLocker recovery key." Their support phone number is 1-800-642-7676 if you need to talk to someone.
Step 5. Once you are back in, run Windows Update again
After getting back into your computer, go to StartSettingsWindows Update and check for updates. Microsoft has released a follow-up patch (KB5085516) that is intended to prevent the BitLocker screen from appearing again after the April update. Installing it now protects you from future lockouts.
After installing Microsoft's April 14, 2026 security update (KB5083769), some Windows 11 computers started showing a blue screen asking for something called a "BitLocker recovery key." If this happened to you, your computer is not broken. It is asking for a security code to confirm you are the real owner.
BitLocker is a security feature built into Windows 11 that encrypts (scrambles) everything on your hard drive. If Windows detects an unusual change — like a major security update — it sometimes asks you to prove you are the owner before letting you in. The good news: if your computer was ever connected to a Microsoft account, your recovery key was saved automatically. And you can get it from another device.
Do not panic, and do not pay anyone who calls offering to help. This is a genuine issue Microsoft has acknowledged, and your data is safe. You need to find the key.
Official sources
- Microsoft Support — support.microsoft.com
- Windows Help — support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft 365 Help — support.microsoft.com
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