Windows Gone Crazy: Installed Update, Now You're Staring at a Black Screen and Wondering Where to Find the Key
With each update, it seems like Microsoft is testing just how much you love your tech.
With each update, it seems like Microsoft is testing just how much you love your tech.
After installing the May 2025 security update, some Windows 10 and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 systems began requiring the BitLocker recovery key — a security feature that encrypts drives to prevent data theft. While the recovery mode is usually triggered only when the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) module is updated or hardware is replaced, it's now being activated unexpectedly.
Microsoft officially acknowledged the issue following a wave of complaints from users and system administrators. According to the company, the problem affects a limited number of devices, but its consequences are severe: the system fails to boot even after several attempts and automatically enters Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Errors related to LSASS and installation failures with error code 0x800F0845 are logged in the event log.
The scenarios vary: some computers enter an endless loop of BitLocker key requests after a failed automatic recovery attempt, while others are able to roll back to a previous system version. Notably, the problematic update, KB5058379, affected a wide range of configurations and devices from manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, and HP. This complicates identifying the root cause, as it's unclear whether the issue is related to software or hardware.
On Microsoft forums, users are sharing their experiences. One system administrator reported six laptops in their organization, each exhibiting a unique set of symptoms, ranging from a simple key request during startup to a complete failure to boot.
For recovery, Microsoft's technical specialists recommend a step-by-step solution. First, it's suggested to disable Intel Trusted Execution (TXT) technology in the BIOS settings. If this doesn’t work, it’s advised to sequentially deactivate Secure Boot, virtualization technologies, or firmware protection. The BitLocker key itself can be obtained through a special portal after logging in with a Microsoft account, with detailed instructions available on the technical support page.
This isn't the first time such BitLocker incidents have occurred. Back in August 2024, Microsoft fixed a similar issue caused by the July security update on computers running Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. And in August 2022, installing update KB5012170 also led to the unexpected activation of the BitLocker recovery screen on many devices.
