How to Recover Data from an Accidentally Formatted BitLocker-Encrypted Drive?

Updated on January 8, 2026 by Admin to BitLocker Data Recovery

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:

A Real User Case: "I Accidentally Formatted My BitLocker Drive"

"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.

Why Formatted BitLocker Data Can Often Be Recovered?

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.

  • High-Level Formatting Prevails: User-initiated formatting typically only rewrites the file system table (e.g., from NTFS to FAT32), without immediately erasing the actual encrypted data blocks.
  • Data Persists Until Overwritten: Your original files remain on the drive until new data occupies their space. Immediate action is key.
  • BitLocker Recovery is Specialized: While standard recovery tools may fail, software designed for BitLocker drives can decrypt and reconstruct files after formatting.

Recommended Solution: Hasleo BitLocker Data Recovery

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.

  • Recovers from Formatted BitLocker Drives: Specifically designed to handle NTFS, FAT32 (or other) formatting errors on encrypted volumes.
  • Retains File Structure: Attempts to restore original filenames and folder hierarchies where possible.
  • Free Preview & Selective Recovery: Scan first and preview recoverable files before purchasing.
  • Read-Only Operation: Guarantees your original drive is not further modified during recovery.
Download Hasleo Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Recover Data from an Accidentally Formatted BitLocker Drive

Step 1: Choose BitLocker Data Recovery

Download, install, and run Hasleo Data Recovery. From the main screen, select BitLocker Data Recovery mode.

select bitlocker data recovery mode

Step 2: Select the drive to scan

1. Please select the drive where you lost your files, then click "Scan" to find all BitLocker-encrypted partitions on the device.

select drive to scan bitlocker partition

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.

enter bitlocker password before scanning

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.

select bitlocker encrypted 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.

enter bitlocker password

Step 3: Preview and Recover Deleted Files

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.

preview lost files

 

Conclusion

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:

  1. You must enter the correct Bitlocker password or the 48-digit Bitlocker recovery key to successfully recover data from a BitLocker-encrypted drive.
  2. If the metadata area of a BitLocker-encrypted drive is severely corrupted, data recovery from that partition may fail—even with the correct password or recovery key.
  3. Do not save recovered files to the original partition where the lost data was stored. This prevents the data from being overwritten.
  4. You can export or save the scan results for later use or future recovery sessions.