Recent Windows 10 and 11 updates are again causing BitLocker recovery screens to appear unexpectedly for some users, marking at least the fourth time this issue has surfaced in the past two years. The problems began following the release of October 2024 security updates, with reports quickly escalating across online forums and to Microsoft.
BitLocker, a full-volume encryption feature, protects user data, but triggering a recovery process can lock users out of their systems without the recovery key. This latest incident underscores a recurring vulnerability in Microsoft’s update process and highlights the potential for significant disruption for individuals and organizations relying on BitLocker for data security. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is working on a resolution, but the repeated nature of these incidents raises concerns about the quality assurance of Windows updates.
The most recent reports center on the October 2024 security updates.Users reported encountering BitLocker recovery screens immediately after installing the updates, or upon restarting their machines.
This isn’t an isolated event. In September 2024, updates were triggering BitLocker recovery following widespread user reports. Prior to that, in August 2023, Microsoft had to address a similar issue that caused BitLocker recovery prompts on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server devices after installing the July 2023 Windows security updates. An almost identical bug affected Windows systems in August 2022, causing devices to unexpectedly display a BitLocker recovery screen after installing the KB5012170 security update.
