It depends. Encrypted drives present unique challenges, but recovery is often possible — particularly when the encryption keys or credentials are available, or when the drive’s controller can be restored to a state where it can decrypt as intended.

When encrypted drive recovery is possible

You have the password or recovery key: If BitLocker, FileVault, VeraCrypt or another encryption system was in use and you know the credentials or have the recovery key, we can often recover the data even from a physically damaged drive. We recover the raw data, you decrypt it.

The controller is intact: Many drives use hardware encryption that’s transparent to the user — the drive encrypts and decrypts automatically using keys stored in the controller. If the controller (PCB) can be restored or repaired, the drive may be able to decrypt normally during imaging.

When encrypted drive recovery is not possible

No keys and destroyed secure element: Modern SSDs — particularly NVMe drives and many laptop SSDs — use hardware-encrypted NAND where the encryption keys are stored in a secure element on the controller. If the controller is destroyed and no backup key exists, the data is mathematically unrecoverable. This is by design.

Self-encrypting drives (SED) with failed controllers: Some enterprise and consumer drives implement automatic hardware encryption. If the controller fails and no key backup exists, the encrypted data cannot be accessed even if the NAND chips are physically intact.

If you’re unsure whether your drive is encrypted, tell us the make, model, and operating system when you book in — we’ll advise during the assessment.