If your system is asking you for your BitLocker recovery key, the following information may help you locate your recovery key and understand why you're being asked to provide it. Important: Microsoft support is unable to provide, or recreate, a lost BitLocker recovery key.

Enable automatic out of office replies from Outlook for Android or Outlook for iOS. Use rules to send an out of office message. How to send automatic out-of-office replies from Outlook (depending on the type of email account you have).

The Microsoft Authenticator app helps you sign into your accounts when you're using two-step verification.

If you recently purchased a Windows device that includes Xbox games or PC Game Pass, use the steps below to find and redeem your Digital Direct offers. Select the Microsoft Store icon on the taskbar, or, in the search box on the taskbar, type Microsoft Store, and then select it from the results.

Select your version of Microsoft 365 below to learn how to activate Microsoft 365. Activate Microsoft 365 or a non-subscription version of Office. Activate Office that's pre-installed on a new Windows device. Activate an Office purchase or offer that's included on a new Windows device.

If you pre-ordered a game and want to cancel, you can do so up to 10 days before the game launches at: Order history. After this time, you may be billed, and you’ll need to request a refund to cancel your order. For more info about digital game pre-orders, see: Pre-order Xbox digital games in the Microsoft Store.

Open Game Bar to take control of all your favorite gaming activities while playing on your Windows 10/11 device. Note To use many of the Xbox features within Game Bar, you must have the Xbox app for Windows installed and be signed in. Get the Xbox app for Windows.

Along with software updates for Windows 10 or Windows 11, it's important to make hardware updates, also known as updates for drivers and firmware. You can quickly check the health of your Surface drivers and firmware using the Surface app. Open the Surface app.

If some Windows functions aren't working or Windows crashes, use the System File Checker to scan Windows and restore your files. Though the steps below might look complicated at first glance, just follow them in order, step-by-step, and we’ll try to get you back on track.

Record game clips and take screenshots. While you’re playing a game, press the Windows logo key + G to open Game Bar. Choose Widget Menu > Capture. Choose Start recording, Take screenshot, or Record last…. Record last… turns the most recent moments of play into a game clip when background recording is turned on.