Bitlocker Loop

[jack_mike]

I am stuck in a never-ending cycle of my laptop asking for my bitlocker. I enter it, the computer goes into a diagnosis, and then reverts back to the bitlocker screen. None of the advanced options have resulted in anything different happening. The recovery key is correct. Restarting does nothing different. Entered commands in the command prompt, and haven’t gotten anywhere. What else can I do? I have used every option available in the advanced options. 

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @jack_mike 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for laying out the situation so clearly. It’s genuinely frustrating to be caught in a BitLocker recovery loop—especially when you’ve already entered the correct key and exhausted every advanced option. 

What you’re experiencing is often triggered by a mismatch between the system’s boot configuration and BitLocker’s security expectations, typically after a firmware change, update, or TPM issue.

Here’s a structured recovery path to help you break the loop and protect your data:

 

Step-by-Step Recovery for BitLocker Loop

1. Restore BIOS/UEFI Settings to Default

Changes in Secure Boot, boot order, or virtualization can trigger BitLocker repeatedly:

• Restart your laptop and press Esc, then F10 to enter BIOS
• Select Restore Defaults (usually under Exit or Advanced tab)
• Save and exit

This helps re-establish trust between BitLocker and your system firmware.

 

2. Reseal or Clear the TPM

If the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) was reset or corrupted:

• In BIOS, locate Security > TPM Configuration
• Choose Clear TPM (only if you’ve backed up your recovery key)
• Save and exit

This forces BitLocker to reinitialize its trust relationship with the hardware.

 

3. Use Command Prompt to Unlock and Backup Data

If you can access Command Prompt from recovery:

• Type:
  manage-bde -unlock C: -RecoveryPassword YOUR-RECOVERY-KEY
• Then:
  manage-bde -status
• If unlocked, use Notepad’s File > Open dialog to copy files to a USB drive

This allows you to recover critical data before reinstalling Windows.

 

4. Create a Bootable USB for Full Recovery

If the loop persists:

• On another PC, create a Windows 11 bootable USB using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool
• Boot your laptop from the USB
• Press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt
• Unlock the drive using manage-bde as above
• Once data is backed up, proceed with a custom install to reset the OS

You can find a detailed walkthrough of these steps on this recovery guide.

Let me know what happens after you attempt the TPM reset or bootable recovery—I’ll guide you through the next phase. You’re clearly doing everything right under pressure, and this kind of issue deserves a clean resolution.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye