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- HP Community
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- Preparing bitlocker recovery

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03-28-2025 12:53 PM
@Masdo2k, Welcome to HP Support Community,
Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue
If your laptop is stuck on the "Preparing BitLocker Recovery" screen, you will need your BitLocker recovery key to proceed. Follow the steps below to retrieve and enter your recovery key:
Step 1: Retrieve Your BitLocker Recovery Key
Sign in from the Microsoft recovery key page
- Using another computer or mobile device, go to Microsoft Recovery Key.
- In the Microsoft account option, select Sign in to your Microsoft account.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to log in to your Microsoft account.
- If you have multiple computers, you can identify the correct key by matching the Device Name.
Sign in from the Microsoft account page
- Go to Microsoft Account Page.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account you use on the computer that requires a recovery key.
- Select All Devices, find the device name that matches the computer with the encryption issue, and then select Show details.
- Your recovery key is the recovery key with a Device Name that matches the Recovery key ID on the recovery prompt.
- Type the recovery key into the Enter the recovery key field in Windows, and then select Continue.
Step 2: Enter the Recovery Key
Once you have retrieved your recovery key, enter it on the BitLocker recovery screen. This should allow you to proceed.
Additional Backup Options for Finding Your Recovery Key
If the above methods do not work, consider these alternative backup options:
- Use a cloud domain account: If your computer is connected to a domain, such as a school or work computer, your recovery key might be saved to your school's or work's cloud domain.
- Use a USB flash drive: If you saved your BitLocker recovery key to a USB flash drive, insert the USB flash drive into your computer and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Open a local file: The key might be saved as a local text (.txt) file stored on a nonencrypted hard drive on a different device.
- Use a printed copy: Check for a printed copy of the recovery key stored with your computer-related information.
- Use an Azure Active Directory account: If you ever used a work or school email account to sign into an organization with an Azure Active Directory (AD) account, your computer's recovery key might be saved in that organization's Azure AD account.
For more details, see Where to look for your BitLocker recovery key.
Sources: HP PCs - Using BitLocker and finding the recovery key (Windows 11, 10)
I hope these steps help resolve the issue
Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps.
Take care and have a good day.
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Regards,
Garp_Senchau
I am an HP Employee