When a BitLocker or encrypted drive will not unlock — after a Windows update, a hardware change, a lost recovery key or a failing disk — your files are usually still intact behind the encryption. With your recovery key, password or Microsoft account, we image the drive, repair the volume and recover your data.
$ bdr triage /dev/sdb → Device: Dell laptop SSD (512 GB) → Status: BITLOCKER LOCKED — volume will not mount → Owner: verified · recovery key supplied $ bdr engineer-working → Read-only image: taken · source preserved → BitLocker metadata: repaired → Unlock: recovery key accepted $ bdr verify → ✓ documents — 38,400 files → ✓ Outlook data — 1 PST restored → ✓ data recovered — drive decrypted
If a BitLocker drive is asking for a recovery key, the data behind it is almost always fine — so don't reformat it, reinstall Windows or reset the TPM, as that can destroy the keys for good. First, find your 48-digit recovery key: it may be in your Microsoft account, your workplace's Azure AD or domain, a printout, or saved to a USB or file. Bring it to us with the drive — and if the disk itself is failing, stop using it and let us image it first. With your key or password, recovery is very likely.
An encrypted drive that will not unlock almost always means a lost key, a damaged volume or a failing disk — not lost data. With your credentials, these are the cases we recover most.
We recover data from every common encryption system — provided you can prove ownership and supply the key, password or recovery credentials. The encryption stays intact; we just get your files back from behind it.
Windows, macOS and Linux · laptops, PCs, servers and NAS · self-encrypting drives · password-protected USB sticks and external drives.
Recovering an encrypted drive means imaging it safely first, then unlocking and recovering your data — with your key or password where you have it, or with forensic and brute-force techniques where you do not. We never alter the original disk.
Tell us about the drive and how it is encrypted, and which keys or credentials you have.
If the recovery key is mislaid, we help you find it: your Microsoft account, your organisation's Azure AD or domain, a printout, a key file or a USB.
We take a sector-by-sector image of the encrypted drive and work only on that copy, leaving the original untouched — vital if the disk is also failing.
Where the BitLocker or container metadata is damaged, we repair the headers and structures so the volume can be unlocked.
Using your recovery key, password or credentials, we unlock the volume and decrypt the data from our image.
If you don't have your BitLocker key we will use advanced Forensic and Brute force techniques to decrypt your data.
We extract your files, confirm they open correctly, and check that nothing is missing.
Your recovered, decrypted data is returned on fresh media, or by secure transfer.
We recover BitLocker, FileVault, VeraCrypt and other encrypted drives — laptops, PCs, servers, NAS and USB media — working from a read-only image and unlocking with your own key or password.
Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.
We will be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
No hidden fees and no pressure — just a free diagnostic and a written quote before any work starts.
A snapshot of recent BitLocker and encrypted-drive recoveries. Names redacted, ownership verified.
The owner had the key saved to their Microsoft account. We retrieved it, imaged the SSD and unlocked the volume — all data back.
We imaged the failing disk read-only, repaired the BitLocker metadata and unlocked it with the recovery key. Recovered in full.
The owner had the recovery key printed. We repaired the volume header and unlocked it, recovering every file.
Reviews from clients whose BitLocker or encrypted drives we recovered.
BitLocker locked us out of a laptop after a hardware swap and even with the key we could not get in. They imaged it, fixed the volume and recovered everything. Lifesavers.
Our encrypted work drive failed and would not unlock. They proved we owned it, recovered the data from the failing disk and decrypted it with our key. Professional and secure.
Forgot the password on an encrypted USB with years of photos. I had the recovery key and they got every file back. Honest, quick and reasonably priced.
Send us your device for a free diagnostic, and tell us a little about what happened — an engineer will review it and confirm your exact quote in writing before any work begins.
Recovering your data starts with getting the device to us. Pack it safely, add your contact details, and send it over — after we run a free diagnostic, we’ll confirm your exact price in writing before any work begins.
Posting it in? We recommend a tracked, insured service. Prefer to drop it off? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still package the device as above.
If you need more information on our data recovery service, fill out the form with more detail about your issue and an engineer will review it and give you a custom quote.
We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
The questions we are asked most about recovering BitLocker and encrypted drives.
Yes, in most cases — as long as you can supply your recovery key, password or Microsoft account, and prove the drive is yours. We image the drive, repair the volume if needed, and unlock it with your credentials, even when the disk itself is failing.
Don't reformat or reinstall. Your 48-digit key is often still recoverable: check your Microsoft account under your devices, your workplace Azure AD or domain, any printout, or a key file or USB you saved it to. Bring whatever you find and we will do the rest.
In some cases, yes with our Forensic services. Keys can still exist in the ram of the computer or temp files on the computer. If a key or credential exists, we can almost always help; if it genuinely does not and cannot be located then recovery is difficult.
Yes. This is exactly what we do: we take a read-only image of the failing disk first, repair the encrypted volume on the copy, then unlock and recover with your key. Working on an image protects whatever is left on a dying drive.
Yes. As well as BitLocker and BitLocker To Go, we recover from Mac FileVault, VeraCrypt and TrueCrypt containers, Linux LUKS and dm-crypt, self-encrypting drives, and password-protected USB and external drives — with your password or key.
A Windows update, a motherboard or TPM change, or a BIOS reset can make BitLocker fall back to the recovery key it sealed when encryption was first switched on. The data is fine; you just need that key. If you have it, recovery is straightforward.
Completely. Encrypted recoveries are handled discreetly and securely, and we are happy to work under a non-disclosure agreement. Your files stay private and are securely wiped from our systems after they are returned to you.
BitLocker and encrypted-drive recovery is £800 + VAT for a one disk system, we charge 50% of the fee upfront for labour and 50% no fix no fee for all BitLocker Forensic work. If the drive is physically failing, we confirm any higher price in writing before any work begins.
Drop it off at our Bristol premises Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post it to us fully insured. Include your contact details and, if you have it, your recovery key, so we can book it in and get started after the free diagnostic.
Free diagnostic, ownership verified, and BitLocker or encrypted-drive recovery — even from a failing disk — with your data decrypted and returned. Talk to us today.