windows-itpro-docs/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-recovery-loop-break.md

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title	description	ms.prod	ms.localizationpriority	author	ms.author	manager	ms.collection	ms.topic	ms.date	ms.custom	ms.technology
Breaking out of a BitLocker recovery loop	This article for IT professionals describes how to break out of a BitLocker recovery loop.	windows-client	medium	frankroj	frankroj	aaroncz	M365-security-compliance highpri	conceptual	11/08/2022	bitlocker	itpro-security

Breaking out of a BitLocker recovery loop

Sometimes, following a crash, the operating system might not be able to successful boot due to the recovery screen repeatedly prompting to enter a recovery key. This experience can be frustrating.

If the correct BitLocker recovery key has been entered multiple times but are unable to continue past the initial recovery screen, follow these steps to break out of the loop:

Note

Try these steps only after the device has been restarted at least once.

1. On the initial recovery screen, don't enter The recovery key. Instead, select Skip this drive.

2. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options, and select Command prompt.

3. From the WinRE command prompt, manually unlock the drive with the following command:

manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp <recovery password>

4. Suspend the protection on the operating system with the following command:

manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:

5. Once the command is run, exit the command prompt and continue to boot into the operating system.