Windows 10 and 11 update is pushing some users into BitLocker recovery

[Daniel Sims]

What to do: Users should have their BitLocker recovery keys ready before installing the October security update for Windows 10 and 11. If the update triggers the security feature and users cannot enter the key, they might lose all the data on the affected device.

The October 2025 security update for Windows 11 25H2, Windows 11 24H2, and Windows 10 22H2 has reportedly forced some users into the BitLocker recovery screen upon rebooting. Those who have not installed the update yet should check their BitLocker recovery status.

BitLocker is a full-partition encryption feature that Microsoft introduced with Windows Vista to harden the operating system's defenses against hackers. It forces users to enter a recovery key in certain cases, such as when critical hardware changes are made between reboots.

Since users rarely need to worry about BitLocker, many might forget their keys or whether the feature is even enabled. To check, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Device Encryption. The Device Encryption page shows a toggle for encryption and links to configure BitLocker and view the encryption key on Microsoft's website.

Users who are already stuck at the recovery screen after installing the update can retrieve the key by logging onto Microsoft's website with the affected PC's administrator account on another device and navigating to the recovery key page. Microsoft also advises keeping a printed copy of the key.

According to a business-only security bulletin from Microsoft viewed by BleepingComputer, the issue affecting the October 2025 update mainly impacts PCs with Intel processors that have Modern Standby enabled. Modern Standby, formerly called Connected Standby, allows devices to maintain network connections in low-power mode. Alternatively, IT administrators can address the problem by contacting Microsoft Support for Business and delivering a group policy from Known Issue Rollback.

Similar issues occurred with the June and July 2024 security updates, reminding users to always have their BitLocker recovery keys handy.

Although BitLocker is considered a strong security feature, recent evidence demonstrates that it is not foolproof. Earlier this year, researchers unveiled an exploit that dedicated hackers could potentially use to circumvent device encryption. Since it requires physical system access and a network connection, it likely poses little threat to individual consumers, but could be used to target businesses.

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Windows 10 and 11 update is pushing some users into BitLocker recovery

 

[VitalyT]

I would usually have nothing good to say about Windows in this regard. But just yesterday, I was trying to update my second PC, from Ubuntu v20 LTS to v22 LTS, which went perfectly fine, then it offered upgrade to v24 LTS, which then killed my PC. I don't know who I'd want to trust in this market anymore. I think I will just stick with MacOS, which at least never killed my computer before.

 

[GeoffreyA]

I would usually have nothing good to say about Windows in this regard. But just yesterday, I was trying to update my second PC, from Ubuntu v20 LTS to v22 LTS, which went perfectly fine, then it offered upgrade to v24 LTS, which then killed my PC. I don't know who I'd want to trust in this market anymore. I think I will just stick with MacOS, which at least never killed my computer before.

Killed, as in corrupted the installation, or the hardware?

 

[VitalyT]

Killed, as in corrupted the installation, or the hardware?

As in, the video drivers installed result in just black screen after start, and any recovery didn't help. My card is RTX3080Ti.

 

[GeoffreyA]

As in, the video drivers installed result in just black screen after start, and any recovery didn't help. My card is RTX3080Ti.

Sorry to hear that. It's frustrating.

 

[yRaz]

As in, the video drivers installed result in just black screen after start, and any recovery didn't help. My card is RTX3080Ti.

I'd say that right there is your problem, nVidia drivers for consumer cards are notriously bad on Linux. I typically just format and reinstall. I make a habit of keeping my boot drive small so I keep everything on another drive or my NAS just in case of a failure, whether it be hardware or software. It was actually a Windows 7 failure that made me start doing that. I typically don't bother to install something just because it is newer as long as the only version is still supported.

 

[Jack77]

Don't know if you can still do this, but I had a more or less similar issue, where I finally could still load into an old kernel version. In driver manager, I then switched between Nvidia driver versions, rebooted, and switched back. As a result, all drivers and dependencies where installed again, and I was able to boot using the latest kernel.

As in, the video drivers installed result in just black screen after start, and any recovery didn't help. My card is RTX3080Ti.

Don't know if you can still do this, but I had a more or less similar issue, where I finally could still load into an old kernel version. In driver manager, I then switched between Nvidia driver versions, rebooted, and switched back. As a result, all drivers and dependencies where installed again, and I was able to boot using the latest kernel.

As yes, such stuff is highly frustrating.

BTW, does Timeshift still work between LTS upgrades?

 

[Liranan]

It's always funny to me when people claim that Windows is insecure if you don't downgrade to the latest spyware when M$py are the greatest threat to my OS with the tripe they call updates. I use LTSC and haven't updated my Windows in over 6 months because I don't trust them and yet, despite my OS being so 'out of date', the world hasn't ended, the sun hasn't gone supernova and no black hole has swallowed us.

I'd say that right there is your problem, nVidia drivers for consumer cards are notriously bad on Linux. I typically just format and reinstall. I make a habit of keeping my boot drive small so I keep everything on another drive or my NAS just in case of a failure, whether it be hardware or software. It was actually a Windows 7 failure that made me start doing that. I typically don't bother to install something just because it is newer as long as the only version is still supported.

My Mint install partition isn't even 100GB as I store nothing of importance on it, everything is on other partitions and drives as any OS can corrupt. I use AMD GPU's to avoid NVIDIA's disastrous Linux drivers but even then I am wary of immediately 'upgrading' to the latest and greatest.

 

[scoffer]

Killed, as in corrupted the installation, or the hardware?

I think maybe it just messed up his Political Correctness?

 

[AnilD]

BitLocker is great until it reminds you it exists. Most people don’t even know if it’s turned on, let alone where their recovery key is stored. This update is a good reality check that encryption is only as useful as your ability to unlock it.

 

[airbornex]

This bug is not new. My dad’s Surface Book has run into this twice in the past year. I’ve had to come to the rescue both times after Windows updated and then locked itself. The recovery keys were accessible by logging into his Microsoft account on another computer, but for the average person, it’s a disaster to use their laptop one day and find it locked the next, because Microsoft.

 

[Stoly]

BitLocker is the WORST IDEA ever.

The only Laptop I had it activated gave me this error a few times, but one time is enough, the last time I had to reinstall because for some reason the key didn't work.

 

[captaincranky]

It's always funny to me when people claim that Windows is insecure if you don't downgrade to the latest spyware when M$py are the greatest threat to my OS with the tripe they call updates. I use LTSC and haven't updated my Windows in over 6 months because I don't trust them and yet, despite my OS being so 'out of date', the world hasn't ended, the sun hasn't gone supernova and no black hole has swallowed us.

>>OK, this is extra long, granted. But I honestly gave it my best effort to make it coherent, informative, and possibly even entertaining, while simultaneously trashing M$ to the best of my ability. <<

M$ uses "security" pretty much as a brainwashing technique. It's absolutely Pavlovian. Ring the "update bell", and users become fearful, anxious, while wringing their hands in desperation. "Oh god, if I don't apply this immediately, everything on my computer will be on the dark web by tomorrow." There's likely some pensive nail biting involved as well In extreme cases, they're probably expecting an electric shock if they don't capitulate.

I killed update on my Windows 7 machines about 15 years ago, and I'm still living "happily ever after", unaffected and uninfected. Not only that, but I completely missed all the horse sh!t notifications, red screen warnings, and whatnot from Nadella trying to force feed, (in suppository form), Windows 10 to every PC on the planet.

With Windows 11 it seems like they're creating something like a "doggie obstacle course". You have to jump through s series of hoops, (Have TPM 2.0 or else buy a new machine, blah, blah, blah), while carefully placing a massive pile of crap between each hoop, to "soften your landing". But seriously kidz, Windows 11 is the "latest and greatest".....You jump, and then inevitably, here comes the big SPLAT. Ick.

Not to mention, I was rehabbing a couple of true relics, (Intel G31 & G41 w/XP) with SSDs and Win 7, and trying to get them activated. I was offered a "final security update", and I foolishly accepted. Afterwards, I couldn't even navigate to Walmart without it blowing up "security warnings". Which amounted nothing more than I was trying to go from the Google search results page to Walmart.com.

So Boyz and girlz, M$ bricked Windows 7, <ON PURPOSE > under the pretense of , "making it more secure".

Now they've gone to disallowing using the media creation tool on a Windows 7 machine SIC: "this won't work on your PC, you need XP service pack 3 to run the tool". XP sp 3, seriously? Wow, that's not duplicitous or transparent at all, is it? (Actually, they go through the pretense of allowing the download, but when you click the Exey, bad news sucka.(another hoop, another SPLAT)

So now, every time AVG Free updates on my dedicated, "erotic art" W7 search box, they tell me, "your IP is exposed, all your drivers are out of date, you're being tracked, and all your personal information is at risk"..! I pause for a few seconds, think to myself, "no sh!t, but exactly what 'persona information' is that? and smash the "X" to click it away.

My credit card companies must "love me" by now. I try to zero out the balances every month, and won't let them, "make my life more convenient by doing away with those messy paper statements. I ignore them, while thinking to myself, "send me the paperwork b*tches, I don't give a crap how much it costs YOU. My statements aren't going online, period".

I'm old and forgetful, and I seem to forget passwords constantly. I pay all my bills from one account. If I do have occasion to log into my credit accounts, I make them email me and reset the password. Then, I make up some 12+ character bullsh!t, which I obviously won't remember either.
Think about it, we're always being told to "change your passwords frequently". Well, when you put it that way, it seems like such a chore. My way borders on almost being fun.

Sorry for the long winded rant. (But am I really?) I feel a lot better now.Too selfish? Maybe.

 

[GeoffreyA]

>>OK, this is extra long, granted. But I honestly gave it my best effort to make it coherent, informative, and possibly even entertaining, while simultaneously trashing M$ to the best of my ability. <<

M$ uses "security" pretty much as a brainwashing technique. It's absolutely Pavlovian. Ring the "update bell", and users become fearful, anxious, while wringing their hands in desperation. "Oh god, if I don't apply this immediately, everything on my computer will be on the dark web by tomorrow." There's likely some pensive nail biting involved as well In extreme cases, they're probably expecting an electric shock if they don't capitulate.

I killed update on my Windows 7 machines about 15 years ago, and I'm still living "happily ever after", unaffected and uninfected. Not only that, but I completely missed all the horse sh!t notifications, red screen warnings, and whatnot from Nadella trying to force feed, (in suppository form), Windows 10 to every PC on the planet.

With Windows 11 it seems like they're creating something like a "doggie obstacle course". You have to jump through s series of hoops, (Have TPM 2.0 or else buy a new machine, blah, blah, blah), while carefully placing a massive pile of crap between each hoop, to "soften your landing". But seriously kidz, Windows 11 is the "latest and greatest".....You jump, and then inevitably, here comes the big SPLAT. Ick.

Not to mention, I was rehabbing a couple of true relics, (Intel G31 & G41 w/XP) with SSDs and Win 7, and trying to get them activated. I was offered a "final security update", and I foolishly accepted. Afterwards, I couldn't even navigate to Walmart without it blowing up "security warnings". Which amounted nothing more than I was trying to go from the Google search results page to Walmart.com.

So Boyz and girlz, M$ bricked Windows 7, <ON PURPOSE > under the pretense of , "making it more secure".

Now they've gone to disallowing using the media creation tool on a Windows 7 machine SIC: "this won't work on your PC, you need XP service pack 3 to run the tool". XP sp 3, seriously? Wow, that's not duplicitous or transparent at all, is it? (Actually, they go through the pretense of allowing the download, but when you click the Exey, bad news sucka.(another hoop, another SPLAT)

So now, every time AVG Free updates on my dedicated, "erotic art" W7 search box, they tell me, "your IP is exposed, all your drivers are out of date, you're being tracked, and all your personal information is at risk"..! I pause for a few seconds, think to myself, "no sh!t, but exactly what 'persona information' is that? and smash the "X" to click it away.

My credit card companies must "love me" by now. I try to zero out the balances every month, and won't let them, "make my life more convenient by doing away with those messy paper statements. I ignore them, while thinking to myself, "send me the paperwork b*tches, I don't give a crap how much it costs YOU. My statements aren't going online, period".

I'm old and forgetful, and I seem to forget passwords constantly. I pay all my bills from one account. If I do have occasion to log into my credit accounts, I make them email me and reset the password. Then, I make up some 12+ character bullsh!t, which I obviously won't remember either.
Think about it, we're always being told to "change your passwords frequently". Well, when you put it that way, it seems like such a chore. My way borders on almost being fun.

Sorry for the long winded rant. (But am I really?) I feel a lot better now.Too selfish? Maybe.

You, sir, have summed it up. Bravo.

 

[captaincranky]

You, sir, have summed it up. Bravo.

And a big "thank you" goes out to you for persevering through my tendency to be long winded. I do tend to go on at times, long posts can be off putting at times. Sometimes I think my "best stuff", (assuming there is such a thing ), gets overlooked because of it. Cheers..!
@HardReset And and a big thanks to you as well sir..!

 

[GeoffreyA]

And a big "thank you" goes out to you for persevering through my tendency to be long winded. I do tend to go on at times, long posts can be off putting at times. Sometimes I think my "best stuff", (assuming there is such a thing ), gets overlooked because of it. Cheers..!
@HardReset And and a big thanks to you as well sir..!

I enjoy your posts and style, both funny and pointing out facts. Enjoy your Sunday.

 

[GrayDragon]

>>OK, this is extra long, granted. But I honestly gave it my best effort to make it coherent, informative, and possibly even entertaining, while simultaneously trashing M$ to the best of my ability. <<

M$ uses "security" pretty much as a brainwashing technique. It's absolutely Pavlovian. Ring the "update bell", and users become fearful, anxious, while wringing their hands in desperation. "Oh god, if I don't apply this immediately, everything on my computer will be on the dark web by tomorrow." There's likely some pensive nail biting involved as well In extreme cases, they're probably expecting an electric shock if they don't capitulate.

I killed update on my Windows 7 machines about 15 years ago, and I'm still living "happily ever after", unaffected and uninfected. Not only that, but I completely missed all the horse sh!t notifications, red screen warnings, and whatnot from Nadella trying to force feed, (in suppository form), Windows 10 to every PC on the planet.

With Windows 11 it seems like they're creating something like a "doggie obstacle course". You have to jump through s series of hoops, (Have TPM 2.0 or else buy a new machine, blah, blah, blah), while carefully placing a massive pile of crap between each hoop, to "soften your landing". But seriously kidz, Windows 11 is the "latest and greatest".....You jump, and then inevitably, here comes the big SPLAT. Ick.

Not to mention, I was rehabbing a couple of true relics, (Intel G31 & G41 w/XP) with SSDs and Win 7, and trying to get them activated. I was offered a "final security update", and I foolishly accepted. Afterwards, I couldn't even navigate to Walmart without it blowing up "security warnings". Which amounted nothing more than I was trying to go from the Google search results page to Walmart.com.

So Boyz and girlz, M$ bricked Windows 7, <ON PURPOSE > under the pretense of , "making it more secure".

Now they've gone to disallowing using the media creation tool on a Windows 7 machine SIC: "this won't work on your PC, you need XP service pack 3 to run the tool". XP sp 3, seriously? Wow, that's not duplicitous or transparent at all, is it? (Actually, they go through the pretense of allowing the download, but when you click the Exey, bad news sucka.(another hoop, another SPLAT)

So now, every time AVG Free updates on my dedicated, "erotic art" W7 search box, they tell me, "your IP is exposed, all your drivers are out of date, you're being tracked, and all your personal information is at risk"..! I pause for a few seconds, think to myself, "no sh!t, but exactly what 'persona information' is that? and smash the "X" to click it away.

My credit card companies must "love me" by now. I try to zero out the balances every month, and won't let them, "make my life more convenient by doing away with those messy paper statements. I ignore them, while thinking to myself, "send me the paperwork b*tches, I don't give a crap how much it costs YOU. My statements aren't going online, period".

I'm old and forgetful, and I seem to forget passwords constantly. I pay all my bills from one account. If I do have occasion to log into my credit accounts, I make them email me and reset the password. Then, I make up some 12+ character bullsh!t, which I obviously won't remember either.
Think about it, we're always being told to "change your passwords frequently". Well, when you put it that way, it seems like such a chore. My way borders on almost being fun.

Sorry for the long winded rant. (But am I really?) I feel a lot better now.Too selfish? Maybe.

I think having a good quality hardware-based modem and a router with the IP exclude turned on is the best security. If your IP isn't listed on my router's list, you can't get in. The rest is just being careful what software you install and where you get it from.