How to factory reset my surface pro windows 10 computer that is bitlocked

To factory reset your Surface Pro that is BitLocker encrypted and you cannot find the recovery key, you can use the Surface recovery image to reinstall Windows. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Obtain the Surface Recovery Image: Use another computer to download the Surface recovery image from the official Microsoft support site.
2. Create a USB Recovery Drive: Use the downloaded recovery image to create a USB recovery drive. You can follow the instructions provided in the Surface IT Toolkit to create this USB drive.
3. Boot from the USB Drive: Insert the USB recovery drive into your Surface Pro and boot from it. You may need to hold the volume-down button while pressing the power button to access the boot menu.
4. Select Language and Keyboard Layout: When prompted, select your operating system language and keyboard layout.
5. Troubleshoot Options: Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. You will have options to keep your files or remove everything. Since you want to reinstall Windows, select the option to remove everything.
6. Follow the On-Screen Instructions: Complete the reset process by following the on-screen instructions.

Please note that this process will erase all data on your device, so ensure that you are ready to lose any data that is not backed up.

References:

• Prompted for BitLocker recovery key after installing updates to Surface UEFI or TPM firmware on Surface device
• BitLocker recovery: known issues
• Recovery tool (IT Toolkit)
• BitLocker recovery process

Hello there Philip,

BitLocker keeps your data safe, so you need the recovery key to unlock the drive. Lose it, and you'll have to wipe the drive and reinstall Windows, which deletes everything.

Why? BitLocker uses the recovery key to keep your data secure. Without it, Windows can't decrypt the drive, not even for a reset.

To reinstall Windows without the key:

1. Make a USB installation: Use another PC to download the Windows 10 tool and create a bootable USB drive.
2. Boot from USB: Plug the USB into your Surface Pro, restart, and press Volume Down + Power.
3. Install Windows: Pick Custom Install and delete all partitions. This gets rid of BitLocker and all your stuff. Then, do a clean install.

Or, you can download the Surface recovery image from Surface Support and follow the steps to reset your device.

Heads up that once you reinstall, back up your recovery key to your Microsoft account or somewhere safe. That way, this won't happen again.

Regards,

Rez

You need to use the official recovery image for your Surface https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface-recovery-image -- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/creating-and-using-a-usb-recovery-drive-for-surface-677852e2-ed34-45cb-40ef-398fc7d62c07#download

If prompted for a Bitlocker key, select skip this drive. Do NOT use the generic Windows installer as Rez is incorrect. Note that unless you opted in for Extended Security Updates for Windows 10, you will not receive security updates. If your Surface is new enough to be eligible for Windows 11, you should upgrade through Windows Update. Hard to give more advice without knowing the exact model of your "old" Surface Pro.