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0x00000120BSODCritical

0x00000120 — Bitlocker Fatal Error | Blue Screen Fix Guide

BITLOCKER_FATAL_ERROR

Windows 10Windows 11

What Does 0x00000120 Mean?

A fatal error occurred in BitLocker drive encryption. BitLocker detected an unrecoverable error.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1BitLocker encryption/decryption failure
  2. 2TPM communication error
  3. 3Corrupted BitLocker metadata
  4. 4Hardware change detected by BitLocker

Symptoms

  • ⚠Blue screen with stop code BITLOCKER_FATAL_ERROR
  • ⚠System reboots unexpectedly
  • ⚠Possible data loss from unsaved work

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Restart your computer
  2. 2Run full antivirus scan
  3. 3Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
  4. 4Check Windows Update

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Analyze minidump for security subsystem failure
  2. 2Check security event logs
  3. 3Verify system file integrity with DISM
  4. 4Review Group Policy and security settings

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes BITLOCKER_FATAL_ERROR?
A fatal error occurred in BitLocker drive encryption. BitLocker detected an unrecoverable error.
Can I fix Bitlocker Fatal Error myself?
In many cases yes. Start with basic troubleshooting like restarting, updating drivers, and running System File Checker. If the issue persists, advanced analysis of crash dumps may be needed.

Related Error Codes

0x00000109Critical Structure Corruption0x000000EDUnmountable Boot Volume

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.