Windows users are facing a challenging week. Just five days after a major CrowdStrike update caused significant IT disruptions globally (a problem primarily with CrowdStrike, not Windows), a new Windows security update has triggered its own issues, sending many PCs into BitLocker recovery mode. The dreaded Blue Screen of Death is becoming a common sight for IT admins this summer.
The July Windows security update is causing problems for users who have BitLocker encryption enabled. According to a message on Microsoft’s support page, as noted by BleepingComputer, the update affects all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, as well as Windows Server installations dating back to 2008.
For those who have their BitLocker recovery key, the issue can be resolved by simply entering the key to regain access. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and is currently investigating it, so additional updates may follow.
If you don’t have your BitLocker recovery key handy, it can be retrieved through the online recovery portal linked to your Microsoft account. While these issues with Windows updates are not unprecedented, and BitLocker is used by a relatively small portion of users, the timing—following closely on the heels of the CrowdStrike incident—is certainly unfortunate.
