Learn how to safely recover lost files from an accidentally formatted BitLocker-encrypted drive using Hasleo Data Recovery. This guide covers the following key topics:
"I had some data stored on a BitLocker encrypted NTFS format drive, which was 100% encrypted at the time of the accident. I accidentally formatted the drive by selecting the wrong drive while using a third-party software to create a bootable USB drive. This software attempted to write over the BitLocker encrypted drive with a FAT32 partition, so I lost all my data on the BitLocker encrypted NTFS format drive. How to recover data from accidentally formatted BitLocker encrypted drive? Any help is appreciated."
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Accidentally formatting a BitLocker-encrypted drive can feel catastrophic, but in most cases, data recovery is still possible.
Many users don't realize that "formatting" can mean two very different things: low-level formatting (performed at the factory, erases data permanently) and high-level formatting (performed by users, often leaves data recoverable). Fortunately, when you accidentally format a drive in Windows, it's almost always a high-level format—meaning your files may still be restored.
For the scenario described above, we recommend Hasleo Data Recovery—a BitLocker Data Recovery software that combines BitLocker decryption with deep scan technology to retrieve files from formatted Bitlocker encrypted drives.
Download, install, and run Hasleo Data Recovery. From the main screen, select BitLocker Data Recovery mode.
1. Please select the drive where you lost your files, then click "Scan" to find all BitLocker-encrypted partitions on the device.
2. A pop-up window will appear asking you to enter the BitLocker password or 48-digit BitLocker recovery key. If you don't want to enter the password or BitLocker recovery key here, just click the "Skip" button to skip it.
3. Hasleo Data Recovery will display all detected BitLocker-encrypted partitions on the target device. If you provided the password or BitLocker recovery key in the previous step, the password status will show whether they match the partition.
4. Double-click the partition you want to recover data from. If you've already entered the password or BitLocker recovery key and the password or recovery key matches, Hasleo Data Recovery will start scanning lost files. Otherwise, a prompt will appear asking for your BitLocker password or 48-digit recovery key. After entering the correct credentials and clicking "OK", the scan will start.
After scanning, the software will display a list of found files. You can preview them by browsing their paths or types. Select the files you wish to recover, then click the "Recover" button to save them to a destination of your choice. If your desired files are not found, click "Deep Scan" to initiate the Deep Scan Recovery process. This process takes additional time but can recover many more lost files.
A: Yes, in most cases you can recover data from an accidentally formatted BitLocker encrypted drive. When you format a drive in Windows, it's typically a high-level format that only rewrites the file system table without immediately erasing the actual encrypted data blocks. As long as the data hasn't been overwritten, specialized BitLocker recovery software like Hasleo Data Recovery can help restore your files.
A: Low-level formatting is performed at the factory and permanently erases data. High-level formatting, which is what users typically perform in Windows, only rewrites the file system table (e.g., from NTFS to FAT32) without immediately erasing the actual data. This is why data recovery is often possible after a user-initiated format.
A: Yes, you must enter the correct BitLocker password or 48-digit recovery key to successfully recover data from a BitLocker-encrypted drive. Without these credentials, the recovery software cannot decrypt and access the encrypted data on the drive.
A: Stop using the drive immediately to prevent new data from overwriting the old data. Download and install Hasleo Data Recovery on another computer, then use it in BitLocker Data Recovery mode to scan the formatted drive and attempt recovery. The sooner you act, the higher your chances of successful recovery.
A: Standard recovery tools often fail with BitLocker encrypted drives because the data is encrypted. Specialized BitLocker recovery software combines BitLocker decryption with deep scan technology to properly decrypt and reconstruct files after formatting, which regular tools cannot do.
To sum up, you can recover data from an accidentally formatted BitLocker drive with the right tool and prompt action. By using specialized software like Hasleo Data Recovery, you give yourself the best chance to restore what seemed permanently lost.
As professional BitLocker data recovery software, Hasleo Data Recovery can not only recover data from formatted BitLocker encrypted drives, but also recover data from crashed BitLocker encrypted drives or recover data from inaccessible BitLocker encrypted drives.
Important Notes:
