Microsoft Can Hand Over Your BitLocker Encryption Keys — Here’s What That Means

Hello,

Microsoft has confirmed something that should make every Windows user pause.

If asked through a valid legal order, Microsoft says it will work with the FBI to unlock encrypted data on Windows PCs.

Here’s the key detail most people miss:

When you enable BitLocker on Windows and back up your recovery key to your Microsoft Account, that key is stored on Microsoft’s servers in a way that Microsoft itself can access. It is not end-to-end encrypted on their side.

What happened

According to a Forbes report, Microsoft handed over BitLocker encryption keys to the FBI in early 2025. The device was already in the FBI’s possession, and Microsoft provided the keys after receiving a valid legal request.

This means:

• Microsoft can see your BitLocker recovery key if it’s backed up to your account

• Microsoft can provide that key to law enforcement if legally required

• Encrypted storage does not necessarily mean private from the platform provider

Why this matters now

Windows 11 increasingly pushes users to sign in with a Microsoft Account. In many cases, this leads to BitLocker recovery keys being automatically backed up to the cloud, often without users fully realizing the implications.

If your threat model includes:

• Journalistic confidentiality

• Corporate or research IP

• Political or activist work

• Strong personal privacy guarantees

…this setup deserves a second look.

How this compares to Apple, Google, and Meta

Apple, Google, and Meta also back up encryption keys to the cloud—but with a major difference:

Their systems encrypt the keys on the cloud side, meaning only the user can access them. Even the company itself cannot read or hand over the keys.

Microsoft, as of now, does not apply the same level of cloud-side encryption for BitLocker recovery keys.

What you can do

• Review where your BitLocker recovery key is stored

• Consider local-only storage for encryption keys

• Understand that cloud convenience often comes with privacy trade-offs

Encryption is only as strong as who controls the keys.

Stay informed.
Stay intentional.