Home > Bitlocker Tips

Reset PC without BitLocker Key: Best Tutorial & Analysis!

Published/Updated on Tuesday, November 26, 2024

M3 Software author Wilsey Young

Written by

Wilsey Young

English

Summary: How to reset PC without BitLocker recovery key? This post explains whether it is possible to reset a PC without BitLocker key. It also shows the tutorial on reinstalling Windows OS via a bootable USB drive.

how to reset PC without BitLocker key

BitLocker key (namely BitLocker recovery key) is a 48-digit numerical code that can be used to unlock a BitLocker encrypted drive and regain access to your data when normal authentication (e.g., password and PIN) fails, especially when you forget the password.

You'll also be prompted to provide the BitLocker key if your PC detects significant hardware or system changes, unauthorized access, etc. Therefore, this key is crucial for ensuring that you can still access your data even if something goes wrong.

However, users who cannot find the BitLocker recovery key or fail to bypass the BitLocker recovery blue screen raise the question: Is it possible to reset a PC without BitLocker key?

Reddit discussions on "How to reset PC without BitLocker key."

The discussions about how to reset PC without BitLocker key have attracted much attention in the Reddit post, where many people suggested reinstalling Windows and explained why.

You can check the following post on Reddit to learn if you can reset PC without BitLocker key:

How do you reset a laptop without recovery key that’s unable to access bios cuz of a pin?
by u/JustAnPepega in Windows10

Is it possible to reset a PC without BitLocker key?

No, if BitLocker protects your drive, you will not be able to reset your PC from the WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) without providing the BitLocker recovery key: 
enter recovery key to reset PC

BitLocker encryption securely protects your data by encrypting entire hard drives or specific partitions, and it has to ensure that only authorized access is allowed, so a factory reset is prohibited when the BitLocker recovery key is not correctly provided.

If you don't have the BitLocker recovery key, you can check on:

  • A printout or file where you saved the recovery key when enabling BitLocker.
  • Your Microsoft account.
  • Your USB flash drive on which the recovery key is stored.

You can share this post by clicking the buttons below!

 

Reinstalling Windows if you fail to reset PC without BitLocker key

Reset PC without BitLocker key is bound to be a failure. If your computer system gets jammed on the BitLocker recovery blue screen and you end up failing to provide the correct BitLocker key, reinstalling the Windows operating system is the last resort you can rely on.

Simply speaking, reinstalling Windows OS can help you forcibly delete the BitLocker encrypted partition so as to install a new operating system drive. You can follow the steps below to learn how to reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11:

Step 1: Create a bootable USB drive

  1. Use another computer to download and prepare the bootable USB drive.
  2. Visit the official Microsoft website to download the Media Creation Tool of Windows 10 or Windows 11 version you want:
  3. Insert a blank USB drive ( at least 8GB storage) into the computer.
  4. Double-click the downloaded media creation tool file.
  5. Choose "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC" and click "Next."
  6. Select the language, edition, and architecture for the Windows, then click "Next."
  7. Select "USB flash drive" and click "Next." 
    choose which media to use
  8. Choose the USB drive you inserted and click "Next." The tool will download and save the essential installation files into the USB drive. As a result, you will have a bootable USB drive.
  9. Safely eject the prepared bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Boot from the bootable USB drive:

  1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the PC where you want to reinstall Windows.
  2. Restart the computer and keep pressing the required key to enter the BIOS or UEFI settings.
  3. Find the boot order settings menu and set the bootable USB drive to the top of the list.
  4. Save your changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI. Your PC will boot from the bootable USB drive.

Step 3: Delete the BitLocker encrypted partition

  1. Once the Windows installation screen pops up, click Next > Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt
    repair your computer Windows setup
  2. Input the following commands(circled in red) in order and hit the "Enter" key after each. These commands will help forcibly delete all disk partitions. 
    delete partitions override in cmd
  3. Exit the Command Prompt window and boot from the bootable USB drive again.

Step 4: Install Windows OS

  1. When the installation screen pops up, choose the language, time and currency, and keyboard layout. 
  2. Click "Next" to proceed and click "Install now."
  3. Since you are reinstalling Windows, click "I don't have a product key" to continue. 
    I dont have a product key
  4. Select the system edition you want and click "Next."
  5. Accept the license terms and click "Next."
  6. Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." 
    custom install Windows only advanced
  7. Choose the disk or partition where you want to install Windows. Click "Next" to start the installation. 
  8. The installation may take a while and your PC may restart several times.
  9. Follow the subsequent instructions to complete the reinstallation of Windows.

Click the buttons below to share if you want to!

 

Create a bootable USB drive more easily via iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows!

As you can see, although reinstalling Windows OS serves as another effective way to reset PC without BitLocker key, the steps of creating a bootable USB drive are sort of time-consuming and troublesome. All you need is an intuitive and reliable tool to help you create a bootable drive to boot an unbootable Windows computer and access its data.

iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows, an easy-to-operate and professional disk management tool, is what you can place great reliance on. This tool helps you clone the operating system along with all data, apps, system settings, and other components necessary to boot and run. 

In addition, OS disk clone function of iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows is helpful in the following situations:

  • Run Windows OS from an external drive without reconfiguration.
  • Back up the system partition for a future system restore.
  • Migrate Windows OS to another drive.
  • Set up several computers more easily.
  • Upgrade the hard drive without Windows reinstallation. 

You can follow the steps below to clone the OS disk:

  1. Download, install, and launch iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows. 
    iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows
  2. Click “Clone” in the main interface and select the “Clone OS disk” function. 
    iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows
  3. Ensure the correct system partition is selected. 
    iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows
  4. Click "Select a destination disk" and choose the drive to which the cloned system will be saved. 
    iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows
  5. Click “Start” and “Confirm” to let it begin. 
    iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows
  6. Once the system clone is done, open Disk Management to check if the system partition is copied. You should find your system partition on the destination disk, and the rest of disk space remains unallocated.

Do you find this post helpful? You can share it with your friends!