Locked out — forgotten password, PIN, or a BitLocker recovery key screen

Steps

1. Blue screen asking for a 48-digit BitLocker recovery key? On your phone or another computer, go to aka.ms/myrecoverykey and sign in with the Microsoft account you use on the PC. The key is listed there next to the PC's name — type it in.
2. Forgotten your password or PIN? On the login screen click I forgot my PIN or I forgot my password and follow the prompts — you'll need access to the phone number or backup email on the account.
3. Alternatively reset it from another device at account.live.com/password/reset, then sign in on the PC with the new password (it needs an internet connection the first time).
4. If the login says the password is wrong but you're sure it's right, check Caps Lock and try typing the password into the username box to see what you're actually typing.

If that didn't work

• If it's a local account (no Microsoft account, no email shown on the login screen), there's no online reset — that needs a visit, and your files can still be recovered.
• If the PC belonged to someone else or was set up by a business, the BitLocker key may be with them.