Why does my computer keep booting to the BitLocker recovery screen? How to fix the BitLocker loop Windows 11/10 error? This post will explain how to fix the BitLocker boot loop error with and without the BitLocker recovery key.
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Does the laptop keep looping on the BitLocker recovery screen? Why does my computer keep booting to the Bitlocker Recovery screen? How to disable BitLocker while booting? Do not worry. This post is the right place for you. EaseUS explores several solutions from real user cases on Reddit, Microsoft Learn, and the Spiceworks Community.
First, let's learn the possible causes that lead to the loop of BitLocker.
Some users have reported in forum threads that every time they start Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7, the computer asks them to enter the BitLocker recovery key and falls into a BitLocker recovery key loop. So, what causes this error? BitLocker encrypts your partition to prevent unauthorized access, and it asks for a recovery key when it detects certain conditions that may indicate a potential security risk. So, when you make some partition adjustments, you are prompted to enter the BitLocker Recovery Key. Here are the most common reasons why your computer might ask for the BitLocker Recovery Key:
These are the reasons that may cause the BitLocker Recovery Key Screen loop. Please share this post to make more people aware of them.
If you don't know the BitLocker Recovery Key, follow the next part to bypass the BitLocker recovery blue screen. If you remember it, skip to part 3 to learn the fixes.
If you recently added or replaced hardware (such as a new SSD, RAM, motherboard, or external device), disconnect or remove it first. Hardware changes can be interpreted by BitLocker as a potential security risk, which may automatically trigger BitLocker protection and lead to a boot loop.
After removing the new hardware, restart your PC to check whether Windows can boot normally.
EaseUS Partition Master comes with an advanced feature that allows users to bypass the BitLocker screen without knowing the recovery key. It's the easiest way for beginners. It's easy to use; without any background knowledge, users can create bootable media on another computer and one-click bypass the loop of the BitLocker screen.
Preparations:
Here is how to remove the BitLocker recovery loop error without knowing the BitLocker recovery key:
Step 1. First, connect a USB to the PC running properly. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, navigate to "Bootable Media" section, and click "Create bootable media" option. Click "Next" to continue.
Step 2. Select the target USB drive and click "Create" to continue. Please back up your data in advance since this will erase all data on the USB drive. Then, click "yes" to confirm when you see the warning. Do not exit EaseUS Partition Master until it's done.
Step 3. Connect the bootable USB to the BitLocker encrypted PC and restart PC. During the reboot, press the BIOS key (F2/F8/F12/DEL/ESC) to access BIOS and set the bootable USB as the boot drive. This PC will automatically boot from the USB disk.
Step 4. EaseUS Partition Master will automatically unlock the BitLocker encrypted drive and you can see a "unlock" icon.
Step 5. Hover the mouse on the BitLocker partition; you can see more info of this partition and manage the BitLocker partition such as locking it or turning off BitLocker.
For beginners, this is a faster way. You do not have to search from one folder to another. This tool can automatically search, locate, and show you the BitLocker recovery key.
If your Dell/Lenovo/Surface computer keeps booting into a BitLocker recovery loop and you don't know how to skip it, follow these fixes to remove a BitLocker loop.
The most straightforward solution is to enter your BitLocker recovery key when prompted on the BitLocker recovery screen. This is the 48-bit code you should have saved in the following places when you enabled BitLocker:
You can learn how to get back your BitLocker Recovery Key by following this link.
If you can't find the BitLocker Recovery key or entering the key doesn't solve the problem, you can use WinRE to further troubleshoot or try to repair your system. In this Guide, we'll be using the Command Prompt. Be sure to be careful when you enter the command line to avoid unnecessary data loss.
Step 1. Reboot your computer, and once you see the manufacturer's logo (e.g., Dell, Lenovo, Surface), press and hold the F8, F11, or Shift + F8 keys (or use the Novo button on some systems) to access the Advanced Boot Options or BIOS/UEFI menu.
Step 2. From the Recovery menu, select Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
Step 3. At the Command Prompt window, you can try to unlock the BitLocker-encrypted drive using the following command:
Type the following command and press Enter (this will display the status of all drives and whether they are locked or not):
manage-bde -status
Then, type the following command and press Enter to unlock the drive using the recovery key (replace C: with the actual drive letter of the system disk). It should unlock the drive after you enter the recovery key):
manage-bde -unlock C: -RecoveryPassword YOUR-48-DIGIT-RECOVERY-KEY
If you have changed the BIOS/UEFI settings, this may affect BitLocker, but don't worry; follow the steps below to check and reset the settings:
Step 1. Reboot your computer and immediately enter BIOS/UEFI by pressing F2, Esc, or Del (depending on your system).
Step 2. Navigate to the Security tab and check if TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is enabled.
Step 3. Save your changes and exit. These settings ensure that BitLocker can properly authenticate the device and prevent the Recovery Key prompt.
If BitLocker still asks for the recovery key after confirming the BIOS settings, you can try a boot repair or a system restore, which will restore all settings and changes to the time before the error started.
🚩Prerequisite: You need to have created a system restore point before the BitLocker Boot Loop error occurs.
Step 1. Follow the previous steps to enter WinRE. and then, go to Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Startup Repair. Follow the instructions to let Windows try to fix the boot-related issues.
Step 2. If you have recently made changes (e.g., system update), you can try System Restore to restore your system to a previous state. In WinRE, go to Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > System Restore. Make sure you choose a restore point before this error occurs.
BitLocker Auto-Unlock is designed to automatically unlock encrypted drives, but in some cases, it can malfunction after system updates, configuration changes, or disk-related errors. When Auto-Unlock fails, Windows may repeatedly prompt for BitLocker recovery or get stuck in a boot loop.
Step 1. Boot into Windows normally or access a temporary desktop environment (such as after entering the BitLocker recovery key once).
Step 2. Open Control Panel, then go to System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Step 3. Click Turn off auto-unlock for the affected drive and restart your computer.
Safe Mode loads Windows with minimal drivers and services, which can bypass conflicts that trigger the BitLocker boot loop.
If the BitLocker issue is caused by startup drivers, system services, or recent configuration changes, Safe Mode often allows temporary access to the system.
From Safe Mode, you can disable BitLocker or pause its protection to break the loop.
Step 1. Force restart your PC three times to enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
Step 2. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then press 4 or F4 to boot into Safe Mode.
Step 3. Once logged in, open Manage BitLocker, select the encrypted drive, and choose Turn off BitLocker or Suspend protection.
Some BitLocker boot loop issues are triggered by problematic Windows updates, especially those affecting boot configuration, TPM, or security components. If the boot loop started immediately after an update, rolling it back can restore system stability.
Uninstalling recent updates does not delete personal data and is a safe troubleshooting step.
Step 1. Enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
Step 2. Click Uninstall Updates, then choose Uninstall latest quality update or feature update based on when the issue began.
Step 3. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your PC and check if the BitLocker boot loop is resolved.
You may need to reset your computer if none of the above methods helped you. This option will reinstall Windows but may result in data loss, so be sure to back up all important files.
Step 1. In WinRE, select Troubleshooting > Reset this PC.
Step 2. You can choose to keep your files (Delete Applications and Settings) or delete everything.
After successfully entering the recovery key, you can disable BitLocker encryption to prevent encountering the BitLocker recovery screen at every boot error again. Of course, if you have important data that needs to be encrypted, decide carefully whether you can turn off BitLocker.
Here's how:
manage-bde -off C.
Share this post and let more users know how to disable BitLocker to avoid the BitLocker boot loop.
The BitLocker Recovery Cycle is designed to protect your data by requiring authentication when significant changes are detected on your system. While this can be frustrating, following the steps above should help you bypass the BitLocker blue screen and get your system back up and running. If you don't remember the BitLocker recovery secret key, EaseUS Partition Master is an excellent helper.
BitLocker asks you to enter the Bitlocker recovery key at startup after it recognizes that your system settings or hardware have changed. Read the following information to help you learn more.
1. How to stop BitLocker recovery on startup?
You can suspend BitLocker protection from the Control Panel, disable BitLocker encryption altogether, or use a command prompt to unlock and disable BitLocker.Alternatively, restoring the BIOS settings or uninstalling the current Windows Update may resolve the compatibility issue that triggers the loop.
2. Why does my computer keep booting to BitLocker Recovery?
Usually, BitLocker recovery cycles for the following reasons:
3. How to fix a corrupted BitLocker?
BitLocker corruption can be caused by power failure or accidental shutdown during the encryption process. You can repair a corrupt BitLocker encrypted drive using Command Prompt:
repair-bde d: e: -rp {BitLocker Recovery Key} -force
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