Windows Devices Facing BitLocker Recovery Issue After July 2024 Security Updates
Microsoft has issued a warning regarding certain Windows devices that may boot into BitLocker recovery mode following the installation of the July 2024 Windows security updates. BitLocker, a Windows security feature, aims to safeguard data from potential theft or exposure by encrypting storage drives.
Devices can automatically enter BitLocker recovery mode due to various events such as hardware or firmware upgrades, or changes to the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). This allows access to BitLocker-protected drives that have not been unlocked through the default mechanism.
According to Microsoft’s Windows release health dashboard, users who have enabled the Device Encryption option in Settings may encounter a BitLocker recovery screen after installing the July 2024 security update (KB5040442).
Impacted individuals will need to input their BitLocker recovery key to unlock the drive and proceed with normal booting from the recovery screen. The affected platforms include both client and server Windows releases, such as Windows 11 and Windows Server versions.
To retrieve the BitLocker recovery key, users can log into the BitLocker recovery screen portal using their Microsoft account. Additional information on locating the recovery key in Windows is available on a dedicated support page.
Microsoft is actively investigating the issue and plans to provide updates as more details emerge. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, with Windows devices experiencing BitLocker recovery screen problems after specific security updates.
In August 2022, the KB5012170 update triggered errors and caused devices to boot into BitLocker recovery mode. More recently, in April 2024, Microsoft addressed a known issue related to incorrect BitLocker drive encryption errors in managed Windows environments.
