Microsoft Confirms Windows Update Mistake—Do Not Get ‘Locked Out’

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Microsoft’s busy October has left the Windows-maker with several hangovers. Multiple Windows 11 emergency updates, erroneous warnings plaguing Windows 10 users, and now a fear its latest update mistake may lock users out of their PCs.

This is the painful BitLocker error that Microsoft has now confirmed. “After installing Windows Updates released on or after October 14, 2025, some devices might encounter issues during restart or startup." If you see this “issue,” it could be terrifying.

Whilst this is generating headlines now given the new update fail affecting enterprise PCs, it’s a much wider issue and all users should ensure they never get caught out.

As Neowin warns as the first of its “five important things” to do after installing Windows 11, “this one is actually very important," because Windows 11 "encrypts drives by default, regardless of your edition and without any notification or telling the user where the key is. This behavior just begs for trouble, and there are already reports about frustrated users not knowing how to decrypt their drives.”

Your BitLocker key is stored in your Microsoft Account. Get it now. Even if you’re not an enterprise user and so not at risk from the specific new bug, there are plenty of reports on Reddit forums and elsewhere of users getting “locked out,” as Neowin explains.

Microsoft provides details on finding your recovery key here. Note down the key somewhere other than your PC. A password manager on your phone, ideally. Don’t wait until you see the blue screen and find yourself under pressure.

Story: Zak Doffman