How to Bypass BitLocker Recovery Key in Windows 11 (2 Ways)

How do I Bypass the Bitlocker Recovery Screen in Windows 11?

A BitLocker recovery key is essential for unlocking a drive that’s protected by BitLocker encryption. This key is automatically created during the encryption process and can be saved in different locations, such as your Microsoft account, a USB drive, a text file, or even printed out.

Many users are unsure how to unlock BitLocker without a password or recovery key. In some cases, the BitLocker recovery screen continues to appear, even after entering the correct key multiple times. To find out how to bypass BitLocker on Windows 11, you can check out this article for helpful steps.

How to Bypass BitLocker Recovery Key in Windows 11

Next, this article will introduce you to two methods l to tell you how to bypass the BitLocker recovery key in Windows 11. Each method includes a detailed graphic tutorial. The first method is solved by finding the BitLocker recovery key. Another way to do this is by enabling or disabling Secure Boot. You can learn from it according to your own needs.

Method 1. Find the BitLocker Recovery Key

The first solution is to find the BitLocker recovery key. You can try to recover the BitLocker recovery key. When creating a BitLocker encrypted drive, you can save the recovery key in your Microsoft account, USB flash drive, paper document, and TXT file. So do your best to find keys from these places.

After you try this method and you still can't find the BitLocker recovery key, you can continue to try the second solution below.

Method 2. Enable or Disable the Secure Boot

If the first method didn't help you resolve the issue, you can try enabling or disabling Secure Boot. Some users reported that they managed to bypass BitLocker recovery by enabling or disabling the Secure Boot option. The following are the specific operation steps.

Step 1. On the initial BitLocker recovery screen, don’t enter the recovery key instead, press Esc for more recovery options and select Skip this drive at the right bottom of the corner.

Step 2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.

Step 3. Your computer should be restarted to UEFI, go to the Security category.

Step 3. Set the Secure Boot to Enabled or Disabled and press F10 to save the change.

Note:

This procedure may vary from different motherboards. If you can’t find the secure boot option, search for the manual tutorial according to the manufacturer of your motherboard.

Bonus Tip: How to Clone BitLocker Encrypted Drive

If you need to clone a BitLocker-encrypted drive, AOMEI Backupper Professional is an excellent tool to get the job done. As a reliable cloning software, it supports cloning both from smaller disks to larger ones and vice versa, allowing you to clone any encrypted drive effortlessly.

• Smart Clone: This feature clones only the used sectors of the source disk. It’s perfect for cloning a larger HDD to a smaller SSD if needed, saving space and time.

• Sector-by-sector clone: For fully copying a BitLocker-encrypted partition, this function clones every sector, requiring the destination drive to be the same size or larger than the original disk.

• Broad Compatibility: It works with many Windows versions, including Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP, and Vista.

Download and install AOMEI Backupper Professional on your computer. If you are a Windows Server user, you can pick AOMEI Backupper Server.

Step 1. Open AOMEI Backupper Professional, install it, and open it. Click Clone > Disk Clone.

Note:

Professional edition supports cloning both data disks and systems disks from MBR to MBR/MBR to GPT, or GPT to  GPT/GPT to MBR. If you only want to clone data disks, you can pick the complete free Standard edition.

Step 2. Select the BitLocker Encrypted drive as the Source disk.

Step 3.  Select a different disk as the Destination Disk.

Step 4. Confirm your operations, check the Sector by Sector Clone option, and click Start Clone.

Notes:

• Edit Partitions: You can change the partition size when your target disk is larger than the source disk. 
• SSD Alignment: If your target disk is an SSD, you can tick the SSD Alignment option to accelerate the SSD's reading and writing speed.

FAQ Section

Q 1: How can I disable BitLocker if I forget the password?

A 1: If you forgot your BitLocker password, the best solution is to use your recovery key. If you don’t have access to the key, using the command prompt or third-party software might offer a way to regain access. However, ensure that you avoid data corruption by following the steps carefully.

Q 2: What happens if I forcefully remove BitLocker encryption?

A 2: Forcefully removing BitLocker encryption could lead to data corruption or total data loss. Always use recommended methods like the recovery key or professional tools to decrypt your drive safely.

Q 3: How long does it take to decrypt a BitLocker-protected drive?

A 3: The decryption process can take several hours, depending on the size of the encrypted drive and the speed of your computer’s hardware. Using software tools like AOMEI Backupper may offer more efficient decryption times compared to manual methods.

Practical Tips to Avoid BitLocker Lockouts

1. Store Your Recovery Key Safely: Always back up your recovery key in a secure location like OneDrive, an external drive, or printed form.

2. Regular Backups: Using tools like AOMEI Backupper can help create regular backups of your encrypted files, ensuring you don’t lose access in case of a lockout.

3. Use Strong Passwords: When setting up BitLocker, use a strong, memorable password and store it in a password manager for easy retrieval.

Summary

Bypassing BitLocker in Windows 11 may seem complex, but with the right tools and methods, you can regain access to your encrypted data securely. Using solutions like the recovery key, command prompt, and reliable third-party tools such as AOMEI Backupper, you can protect your data without compromising security. Understanding the role of encryption and taking preventative measures like regular backups ensures you stay prepared for any future lockouts.