Microsoft has fixed a problem that sent affected Windows PCs scurrying into BitLocker recovery.

The [1]problem , which affected almost every supported flavor of Windows 11 and Windows 10, as well as editions of Windows Server going back to 2008, occurred after the July 2024 Windows security update was installed.

Microsoft had said at the time, "You are more likely to face this issue if you have the Device Encryption option enabled in Settings under Privacy & Security."

[2]

Entering the BitLocker recovery permitted a Windows device to boot normally, and let's face it - after the [3]CrowdStrike incident , most administrators were very aware of where their recovery keys were.

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Microsoft has now fixed the problem in the August 13 update. It [6]said , "We recommend you install the latest update for your device as it contains important improvements and issue resolutions, including this one."

BitLocker is a technology that encrypts a user's storage to keep it safe from prying eyes. The technology gained worldwide notoriety in [7]July 2024 after a borked CrowdStrike update sent millions of Windows devices into a neverending blue screen boot loop, the escape from which initially required the entry of a BitLocker recovery key.

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Therefore, the timing of Microsoft's [9]July 2024 security update , which could send some Windows devices into BitLocker recovery, was particularly bad.

[10]Windows Patch Tuesday update might send a user to the BitLocker recovery screen

[11]Giving Windows total recall of everything a user does is a privacy minefield

[12]Windows users left to fend for themselves after BitLocker patch bungle

[13]Raspberry Pi Pico cracks BitLocker in under a minute

BitLocker has caused headaches for administrators and Microsoft's patch team in recent months. A Windows 10 patch [14]earlier this year aimed at addressing a BitLocker bypass vulnerability left users scratching their heads at an unhelpful error message due to the Windows recovery partition not being large enough.

The tech has also been used as part of [15]ransomware by criminals to turn BitLocker against Microsoft's own users.

Ultimately, users should rarely see the BitLocker recovery mode screen unless there have been some hardware updates. It was certainly an unwelcome surprise for those users who were faced with the recovery screen after the borked security update, and one Microsoft claims has been fixed from the August 13 update. ®

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[1] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/24/windows_update_bitlocker/

[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZrzUn@w@hKS-jz6zf6tuGQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0

[3] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/19/admin_crowdstrike_update_mess/

[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZrzUn@w@hKS-jz6zf6tuGQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZrzUn@w@hKS-jz6zf6tuGQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[6] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-23h2#3358msgdesc

[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/19/azure_vms_ruined_by_crowdstrike/

[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZrzUn@w@hKS-jz6zf6tuGQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/24/windows_update_bitlocker/

[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/24/windows_update_bitlocker/

[11] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/22/windows_recall/

[12] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/03/microsoft_windows_recovery_environment/

[13] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/07/breaking_bitlocker_pi_pico/

[14] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/12/microsoft_update_for_bitlocker_vuln/

[15] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/23/ransomware_abuses_microsoft_bitlocker/

[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/