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

title, description, ms.prod, ms.localizationpriority, author, ms.author, manager, ms.collection, ms.topic, ms.date, ms.custom, ms.technology

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	aczechowski	aaroncz	aaroncz	M365-security-compliance highpri	conceptual	10/28/2019	bitlocker	itpro-security

Breaking out of a BitLocker recovery loop

Sometimes, following a crash, you might be unable to successfully boot into your operating system, due to the recovery screen repeatedly prompting you to enter your recovery key. This experience can be frustrating.

If you've entered the correct BitLocker recovery key multiple times, and are still unable to continue past the initial recovery screen, follow these steps to break out of the loop.

Note

Try these steps only after you have restarted your device at least once.

1. On the initial recovery screen, don't enter your 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 your drive: manage-bde.exe -unlock C: -rp <recovery password>

4. Suspend operating system drive protection: manage-bde.exe -protectors -disable C:

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