BitLocker Recovery Key Requested After Windows Update – What to Do

By Lloyd Ingram Updated May 23, 2026

Quick Tips

Update KB5083769 has caused some computers to request the BitLocker recovery key on reboot after updating.
Thankfully, Windows has resolved this issue as of cumulative update KB5089549. Update your PC to fix it.
Your BitLocker recovery key can be found via your Microsoft Account online.

It’s often the case that a new Windows update will update and improve parts of your operating system, while systematically breaking others. Today, we’re looking at one such case where the update will cause BitLocker to ask for a recovery key on booting up.

If you’re one of the unhappy few that this, in this article, we’ll be showing you how to address a BitLocker recovery key requested after update.

Blame It on Update KB5083769

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Microsoft has confirmed that the BitLocker recovery key issue stems from update KB5083769. An unrecommended configuration will prompt BitLocker to ask for a recovery key on the first startup after the update, a rather nasty surprise for the purportedly small number of users that this affects.

Your PC has a higher chance of being impacted if you meet the following criteria:

BitLocker is enabled.
The TPM validation platform for UEFI must be configured with PCR7.
Secure Boot State PCR7 must not be possible, according to System Information.
Your PC can’t be running the 2023-signed Windows Boot Manager.
Your version of Windows is Enterprise and not installed on a personal computer (there’s a much higher probability).

That’s a lot of specific hoops, but if you’re affected, we’ve got the fixes.

Fixing the BitLocker Key Requested After Update

This is not the first update to trigger the BitLocker recovery key after Windows update. In fact, KB5012170 in 2022 caused the same issue on PCs. So, it’s good to know what to do should this issue pop up again:

Wait for the Fix

While we’d normally advise you to wait for an official patch by Microsoft to fix this issue, thankfully, at the time of writing this article, Microsoft has just supplied one. Cumulative update KB5089549 has been released, and in addition to other fixes and additions, has addressed the BitLocker issue. While Windows 10 users will have to wait longer, Windows 11 users should be alright.

As such, if you’re affected, it’s important to check for updates and install them ASAP:

Step 1. Open Settings (Win + I) and head to “Windows Update.”

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Step 2. Click the “Check for updates” button and install any that appear.

Have Your BitLocker Key Handy

If you keep your BitLocker key locally, it’s good to know that you can find it elsewhere, i.e., via your Microsoft Account on any browser. Here’s where to locate it if you’re ever stuck like this again:

Step 1. Head to your Microsoft account on any browser and device and log in to your profile.

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Step 2. Click on your profile icon and then on “View account.”

Step 3. Click “Devices” in the sidebar.

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Step 4. Click “See details” under your device name.

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Step 5. Click “Manage recovery keys” under “BitLocker data protection,” and you’ll find your recovery key stored there. You might be required to provide extra security confirmation.

If part of an organization, you’ll need to request your recovery key. But the odds are your IT department or resident technical expert will already be aware of the situation.