BitLocker does prevent others from reading your drive unless someone has access to your key, but this is actually the issue when you are trying to get at your own data. It's imperative to understand that BitLocker's encryption cannot be broken by anyone. Therefore, we rely on having your recovery key/password prior to decrypting your encrypted data. Once we have access to your recovery key/password, we can recover your data off of a failed/failing/corrupted/non-booting BitLocker encrypted drive; once again, the encryption isn't preventing us from accessing your data.
There is no way to break BitLocker, so our first task is finding the 48-digit recovery key. Our guide will walk you through every place the key is stored. First, check your Microsoft account online for any stored keys. Second, check any printed copies or saved file locations containing your key. Lastly, inquire about whether or not your company uses BitLocker for work machines and if so, who holds the keys. Without either your recovery key or password, there is no decryption possible, by us or anyone else. If you do have either your recovery key or password, most BitLocker recoveries will be successful.
When you say you're "locked out" of a BitLocker drive, you may mean many different things... But most of these situations are recoverable, provided you have your key. Here are some examples of the types of situations we see most often:
We recover all types of data from BitLocker-encrypted drives of every make; we support internal, external and laptop/Surface PC/PC drives.
Internal and external BitLocker encrypted drives. SSD & HD drives. USB sticks. Drives contained within laptops, PCs, and Surface devices.
The recovery key/password unlocks the encryption; we will take care of the rest. Once you have provided us with your recovery key/password, we will recover your data from the drive. In addition to providing the decryption service, we also repair failing hardware and rebuild corrupted areas on the drive prior to the decryption from a safe copy/image.
We verify it is indeed a BitLocker lock out as opposed to a simple drive failure. We test the integrity of the drive and inform you of what information we will require from you, at which point we will provide a written quote for our services.
We require your 48 digit recovery key (or password) to start your recovery. If you have lost the location of this, we will assist in determining where it has been saved.
When the encrypted drive is copied as an image it will be done in a way that prevents any writes and each action will take place on the copy of the original drive; your original drive remains byte for byte unchanged.
If the drive is failing or corrupted we first attempt to recover the hardware or rebuild the structure, so we can read clean encrypted data.
Using your key, we will then unlock the volume from the image which unlocks your encrypted data allowing us to make your data once again readable.
Your recovered files will then be tested by opening them to ensure they open and are usable prior to returning them to you.
Your unencrypted data returns to new media (or through our complimentary download option for up to 75 GB).
We decrypt the data from a healthy drive you're locked out of, or a drive that won't allow access due to its failure/ corruption, but only with access to your recovery key/password as this information is required to reverse the encryption.
Please provide an explanation of how things went wrong and one of our engineers will contact you, usually by the end of the next working day.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
You will receive a complimentary diagnostic assessment and then a fixed written quote outlining the costs prior to us starting any work. Logical recovery of an encrypted drive requires your recovery key or password and starts from £800 + VAT. A physically failing drive will require a quote based on the results of the complimentary diagnostic assessment.
A representative selection of BitLocker recovery examples from different drives: device types and outcomes shown; customers' details kept private. Every one was based on each customer's own recovery key.
The hard drive itself was good: the firmware update prompted the message. The customer logged into their Microsoft account where they located their key and we were able to recover everything.
First, we made sure the hard drive was stable and imaged it. Then, using their original encryption key (their "unlock" key), we unlocked and decrypted all of the copied data.
The operating system had been damaged but the drive itself was still good. Using a decryption/recovery key that was provided by the customer's IT department, we were able to image and fully decrypt the data on the hard drive.
What do other clients have to say about us recovering their BitLocker or encrypted files/drives?
Don't worry, there are no fake reviews here! As soon as we get a new verified, named review from one of our clients based in Belfast, we'll add it to this page. Until then, please don't hesitate to give us a call and speak directly with an engineer at 028 9002 0144 for any further information regarding your specific issue.
Send or drop off your item for a free diagnostic check with a description of the issue. One of our engineers will review the item, then provide you a written quote prior to doing any repairs.
Prior to sending or dropping off your device for a diagnostic test (free), obtain a quotation from us via telephone or using the provided form. Step one: get the device to our Belfast bench. Carefully wrap the device and include your contact information inside the parcel. Then send it over. There is no charge for this diagnostic service. Once we receive it, you will be given a firm written price to confirm whether you wish to go ahead, before any work is done.
Sending it? The use of a tracked, insured delivery method would be recommended. Alternatively, dropping it off can also be done Monday to Friday, 9am–5:30pm; no prior booking required but do ensure that all items are packed accordingly.
Still waiting to send something? Please complete the form describing the failure/fault in your own words and one of our engineers will get back to you with a quotation based upon your individual circumstances.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
Most frequently asked questions about recovering encrypted files/drives with BitLocker.
No, nor will we say that. BitLocker uses very strong encryption and cannot be broken down, therefore, you will have to provide either your 48-digit recovery key or password. In which case we can accomplish a lot. Without providing either of these items, the data cannot be decrypted.
Usually in your Microsoft account (account.microsoft.com/devices > BitLocker recovery keys) or printed out/ saved somewhere during the process of enabling BitLocker. At work, your company's IT department probably has it. We can walk you through where to find it.
Yes, and that is a major part of what we do. First, we are going to recover / repair your failing drive. Then we will image it. After imaging the drive, we will use your recovery key to unlock and decrypt the data from the copy. The encryption does not make any difference in the hardware side. It only means that we need your key at the end.
Honestly, usually not. If you don't have either the password or the recovery key there is no way to decrypt the data; that is the whole point of using BitLocker. Before trying anything else, it is always best to check every possible place where the recovery key may be stored. We can help you check all those places.
Like before, all of the hardware and file-system work is the same. However, this time around, the difference is the key. We are going to recover your drive just like we would with any other. Then we apply your recovery key to decrypt the result. Therefore, one thing that we cannot provide for you is the key itself.
If you have possession of the key/passphrase to access the drive and the drive is physically okay, we charge from £800 + VAT for a logical recovery of an encrypted drive. We provide a no-charge diagnostic beforehand. In most cases you will only pay if we recover your data. Prices for drives with physical faults will be quoted individually after diagnosis. Every price quote is provided in writing.
Simply drop the drive into our Belfast office during Monday to Friday hours, 9am to 5:30pm, or post it to us fully insured and include your name and phone number inside the envelope so that we can contact you when your data recovery begins. Please have your recovery keys ready but do not send them with the drive. Once we begin the recovery process, we will make arrangements to securely obtain the key(s) from you.
This is because BitLocker has identified what it perceives as a "security breach" (e.g., a change in hardware configuration) and therefore locks the entire drive requiring proof of ownership via the 48-digit BitLocker recovery key. Hardware changes typically trigger this (e.g., installing a new motherboard, moving the drive to a different computer); other common triggers include firmware updates; UEFI/BIOS/TPM updates; changing the state of Secure Boot; or simply indicating that the drive is about to fail. Your data was never actually lost; it simply requires verification by entering your recovery key. Our guide on where to find your BitLocker recovery key provides guidance on all places it may be located. In those instances where the drive is also failing, please bring it in and allow us to create a backup image of your drive before we attempt decryption using your recovery key.
We cannot "crack" encryption, but we can still retrieve your data from a drive that's failing, corrupted or refuses to boot, with your recovery key. Find your recovery key and send the drive over. We offer a free diagnostics service; in most cases you will only need to pay if we successfully recover your data.