BitLocker Recovery Key - Back Up in Windows 8

How to Back Up the BitLocker Recovery Key of a Drive in Windows 8


information   Information
If you forget the password for an OS drive, fixed data drive, or removable data drive that you've encrypted with BitLocker Drive Encryption, or if something happens to your PC that prevents it from accessing the encrypted drive, you can still use a recovery key (a string of 48 random numbers) to get back into the drive using either BitLocker recovery or the BitLocker Repair Tool. You create a recovery key when you turn on BitLocker for the first time on each drive that you encrypt.

It's essential that you store a copy of your recovery in a safe place. If you lose it, you might permanently lose access to all of your files on the encrypted drive. You can store the recovery key by printing it, saving it on a USB flash drive, or saving it as a file on locally or on a network. While you can save your recovery key to another drive on your PC that you're not encrypting, it's best if you store it separate from your PC to prevent someone from easily using the recovery key to gain access to your PC.

This tutorial will show you how to back up the BitLocker recovery key of an encrypted drive in Windows 8 to make additional copies for safe keeping.

Tip   Tip
If you were signed in to your Microsoft account when you encrypted a drive with BitLocker, then you can get your recovery key from your OneDrive at the link below.

Microsoft account: BitLocker recovery keys



Here's How:

1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to start.

2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on BitLocker Drive Encryption icon, and go to step 5 below.

3. In File Explorer, open Computer, right click or press and hold on an unlocked encrypted drive, click/tap on Manage BitLocker, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshots below step 4)

4. In File Explorer, open Computer, select (highlight) an unlocked encrypted drive, click/tap on Manage (Drive Tools) tab, click/tap on BitLocker icon in the ribbon, click/tap Manage BitLocker, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
BitLocker_BackUp_Recovery_Key-1.jpg

5. Under Operating system drive, Fixed data drives, or Removable data drives - BitLocker To Go, click/tap on an arrow to expand the drive letter of the encrypted drive, and click/tap on the Back up recovery key link. (see screenshot below)
BitLocker_BackUp_Recovery_Key-2.jpg

6. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (if administrator) or enter an administrator's password (if standard user).
NOTE: You will only not be prompted by UAC if this is a removable data drive.

7. Do step 8, 9, 10, and/or 11 below for how you would like to back up the recovery key for this encrypted drive. (see screenshots below)
BitLocker_BackUp_Recovery_Key-3.jpg

8. Save Recovery Key to your Microsoft Account

Note   Note
This option is only available if you are currently signed in to Windows 8 with your Microsoft account, and the PC is not joined to a domain.

If you saved the BitLocker recovery key to your Microsoft account, you will be able to log in to your Microsoft account online at the Microsoft's site below from any PC to view all of your saved recovery keys at anytime.

http://windows.microsoft.com/recoverykey


Recovery_Key_Microsoft_Account.jpg


A) Click/tap on the Save to your Microsoft account option, and go to step 12 below. (see screenshot below step 7)​


9. Save Recovery Key to a USB Flash Drive

Note   Note
This will save a BitLocker Recovery Key .txt file on a USB flash drive of your choice. When you open the .txt file, you will see the recovery key for the encrypted drive like below.

Recovery_Key_File_USB.jpg


A) Connect a USB flash drive that you want to save the recovery key to.​
B) Click/tap on the Save to a USB flash drive option. (see screenshot below step 7)​
C) Select the USB flash drive, click/tap on Save, and go to step 12 below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_BackUp_Recovery_Key-4.jpg


10. Save Recovery Key to a File

Note   Note
This will save a BitLocker Recovery Key .txt file to a local or network location of your choice. When you open the .txt file, you will see the recovery key for the encrypted drive like below.

Recovery_Key_File_USB.jpg


A) Click/tap on the Save to a file option. (see screenshot below step 7)​
B) Navigate to the local or network folder or drive location, leave the file name as is, click/tap on Save, and go to step 12 below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_BackUp_Recovery_Key-5.jpg

11. Print the Recovery Key
A) Click/tap on the Print the recovery key option. (see screenshot below step 7)​
B) Select your printer, click/tap on Print, and go to step 12 below. (see screenshot below)​
BitLocker_BackUp_Recovery_Key-6.jpg

12. When finished, click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
BitLocker_BackUp_Recovery_Key-7.jpg

13. If you like, you can now close the BitLocker Drive Encryption (Manage BitLocker) window. (see screenshot below step 5)


That's it,
Shawn


 

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Hi there....
I am about to give up on this laptop and just go with it.....seriously. I'm tired of trying to secure things and finding myself stuck.

I have a USB stick with my backup files/image in which I encrypted through Bitlocker. I have the passwords, but NOT the key. I saved the keys to ANOTHER USB stick, in which I inserted into the laptop I'm currently working on, and was able to 'import' the files but I don't understand 'where' they are imported to. I never created a Microsoft account when I reinstalled Windows the first time, only a local account. So, how are these files going to Microsoft if I didn't create an account? Since I have the USB stick that has the recovery key for the reset stick, can I not just pull up the recovery file or save it to documents? And as far as the actual stick with the recovery/backup on it, I also know the password for that one, can I not insert it into the laptop I'm working on and 'disable' the password or the encryption? I guess I don't understand how to 'decrypt' it now. The laptop I'm working on currently is installed with Win 7 Home Premium. My laptop in which I'm recovering is Win 8.1. I'm really confused with this and have pulled up every forum and don't seem to find a direct answer because I DON'T, nor did I EVER create a Microsoft account upon setting up Bitlocker. ....I know the passwords for both, I just don't have the actual 'recovery key' that my laptop is asking for. ....
Very lost and confused. ..
Many thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 3521
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-3227U CPU 1.90GHz
    Motherboard
    EUFI
    Memory
    4.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Name High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    Resolution 1366 x 768 x 60 hertz
    Hard Drives
    Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
    Model ST500LT012-9WS142
    Media Type Fixed hard disk
    Description Disk drive
    Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
    Model SanDisk Cruzer Glide USB Device
    Keyboard
    Description Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Hardware Type Dell Touchpad
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Norton 360
    Other Info
    1394ohci 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller c:\windows\system32\drivers\1394ohci.sys Kernel Driver No Manual Stopped OK Normal No No
    3ware 3ware c:\windows\system32\drivers\3ware.sys Kernel Driver No Manual Stopped OK Normal No No
    acpi Microsoft ACPI Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\acpi.sys Kernel Driver Yes Boot Running OK Critical No Yes
    acpiex Microsoft ACPIEx Driver c:\windows\system32\dri

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thank you very much! I'll check them both out now... and will probably have more questions I'm most certain!! :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 3521
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-3227U CPU 1.90GHz
    Motherboard
    EUFI
    Memory
    4.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Name High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    Resolution 1366 x 768 x 60 hertz
    Hard Drives
    Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
    Model ST500LT012-9WS142
    Media Type Fixed hard disk
    Description Disk drive
    Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
    Model SanDisk Cruzer Glide USB Device
    Keyboard
    Description Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Hardware Type Dell Touchpad
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Norton 360
    Other Info
    1394ohci 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller c:\windows\system32\drivers\1394ohci.sys Kernel Driver No Manual Stopped OK Normal No No
    3ware 3ware c:\windows\system32\drivers\3ware.sys Kernel Driver No Manual Stopped OK Normal No No
    acpi Microsoft ACPI Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\acpi.sys Kernel Driver Yes Boot Running OK Critical No Yes
    acpiex Microsoft ACPIEx Driver c:\windows\system32\dri
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