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.

For Windows 8.1, see Create a USB recovery drive. To download Windows 11 installation media, see Recovery options in Windows. Create a recovery drive so you can reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11 in case you experience a major issue such as hardware failure.

If you can't find a file on your computer or you accidently modified or deleted a file, you can restore it from a backup (if you're using Windows backup) or you can try to restore it from a previous version. Previous versions are copies of files and folders that Windows automatically saves as part of a restore point.

Booting from a USB device doesn’t refresh or reset your Surface. Instead, it lets you start your Surface using Windows or another operating system that’s on your USB device. For info about how to create a bootable USB drive for your Surface, see Creating and using a USB recovery drive for Surface.

Learn how to activate Windows using a product key or digital license, check your activation status, and link your Microsoft account.

Experience Microsoft Copilot on windows devices using the Copilot app! The Copilot app helps you get answers and inspiration from across the web, supports creativity and collaboration, and helps you focus on the task at hand.

With a USB-C connection, you can charge your Windows 11 PC, and you can also connect to other USB Type-C devices such as mobile phones, docking stations, display adapters, and other devices that have a USB-C port. Unfortunately, some combinations of hardware and software may cause problems. If this happens, you may get a notification that there ...

If you're having problems with Windows 11 on your PC or you want a fresh copy of Windows 11 without the clutter of old files or apps, you can reinstall Windows 11 to try and fix your issues and return your PC to a cleaner state.

Get Windows updates as soon as they're available for your device. When the latest Windows update is ready for your device, it will be available to download from the Windows Update page in Settings.

Make sure apps have access to the microphone. If your microphone isn't detected after updating Windows 11, you may need to give your apps permission to use it. Here's how: Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and make sure Microphone access is turned on.