BitLocker asks for a recovery key – Drive is protected

After certain hardware, firmware, or startup changes, Windows may require the 48-digit recovery key.

Stop using a drive with unusual noises, read errors or data loss. Do not format, initialise or repair speculatively; seek qualified recovery advice.

Record the key ID on the screen, not the secret key for public requests.
Find the appropriate key in your Microsoft account via another trusted device, in a secured printout, or from company IT.
Without a key, no formatting and no BIOS/TPM experiments. Microsoft and a workshop cannot simply bypass the encryption.

Test after each step and stop when the issue is solved. Checkmarks are not permanently saved.