How to Get BitLocker Recovery Key from CMD

If you can’t remember the BitLocker password of an encrypted hard drive, you need a recovery key to get access to the drive.

In this guide, we will delve into simple instructions to get the BitLocker recovery key from CMD, along with other methods to recover it.

How can I get the BitLocker recovery key from CMD?

1. BitLocker recovery key from Command Prompt

1. Press the Windows key, type cmd in the search box, and click Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes on the UAC prompt.
3. Copy & paste the following command to get the recovery key of BitLocker after replacing C: with the drive letter you want to use and hit Enter: manage-bde -protectors C: -get
4. Next, you will get the details related to your TPM Identifier and the Numerical password of 48 digits; note them and close the CMD window.

2. Get the Recovery key for a local computer (forcefully)

1. Open the Command Prompt with the administrator rights using the same steps from Solution 1.
2. To forcefully recover the BitLocker key for your local computer, type the following command after replacing BitLockerVolume with the driver letter and press Enter: manage-bde -forcerecovery <BitLockerVolume>
3. Note down the key and close the CMD window.

3. Get the Recovery key for a remote computer

1. Open the Command Prompt with the administrator privileges using the same steps from Solution 1.
2. Copy & paste the following command after replacing RemoteComputerName with the name of the computer and BitLockerVolume with the driver letter and hit Enter: manage-bde. -ComputerName <RemoteComputerName> -forcerecovery <BitLockerVolume>
3. Make a note of the recovery key and close the CMD window.

Sometimes, even with a correct recovery key, BitLocker fails to unlock your computer; it could happen if you lose your administrator rights on the computer; to learn more, read this guide.

What are the other methods to find the recovery key?

Another popular method is to use your Microsoft Account to get the BitLocker Recovery key for any of the computers registered under it. To learn the detailed step-by-step instructions, we suggest you read this guide.

To conclude, if your computer is asking for a BitLocker recovery key upon restart or you have forgotten your password or PIN, you need your phone or another computer and your Microsoft account to recover the key and log into your PC.

However, if you just want to keep the recovery key handy for rainy days or get it for a remote computer, the simplest way would be to use the Command Prompt option.

In case you don’t like the BitLocker encryption and are looking for a way to permanently disable it on Windows 11, we have a separate guide for you.

We also have a detailed guide on how to use the auto-unlock feature on BitLocker, allowing you to retain control over the process; read it to learn more about it.

If you need any help or are stuck somewhere while following the steps, feel free to mention your queries in the comments section below.