When a ROG Ally X will not start Windows, the commonest pattern in the owner threads is not a dead console but an automatic repair or BitLocker recovery loop. The Ally can enter automatic repair and then a BitLocker recovery screen when the system crashes during a heavy operation such as downloading games. The BitLocker screen asks for a recovery key, and the Ally's own touch input is the trick:
press the volume up button to bring up keyboard mode, tap inside the box to show a keypad and enter the key. The key is in your Microsoft account. If the key is not accepted or the loop continues, the documented steps are to turn off BitLocker if you can reach Windows, to disable the automatic repair loop with bcdedit, to rebuild the boot configuration with bootrec, or to boot from Windows installation media written to a USB drive.
Differential
Likely causes of “ASUS ROG Ally X handheld is stuck at startup, automatic repair or recovery”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A crash during a download that corrupts the boot
What separates it The Ally reboots into automatic repair and then a BitLocker screen
How to confirm Enter the recovery key using the volume-up keyboard, then let Windows finish repair
- 2
A BitLocker key that is requested after a firmware or hardware change
What separates it The Ally asks for a key at start
How to confirm Retrieve the key from your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey
- 3
A repair loop
What separates it Windows keeps trying automatic repair
How to confirm Command Prompt from the recovery environment: bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No, then diagnose
- 4
A damaged boot configuration
What separates it The Ally cannot find Windows
How to confirm Command Prompt: bootrec /fixmbr, /fixboot, /scanos, /rebuildbcd
- 5
A hardware or SSD fault
What separates it Every repair fails
How to confirm Contact ASUS support; the SSD may need service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the Ally shows automatic repair, a BitLocker key screen or a black screen
- Whether you know your Microsoft account recovery key
- What you were doing when it crashed, such as a game download
- The BIOS version and the time of the last Windows update
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedFind your recovery key
ReversibleOn another device sign in to your Microsoft account and open the recovery keys page.
Enter it on the Ally
ReversiblePress volume up for keyboard mode, tap the box to show a keypad and type the key.
Let automatic repair finish
ReversibleDo not interrupt it unless it loops.
Use the recovery Command Prompt if it loops
Reversiblebcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No, then try bootrec commands.
Boot from Windows media
ReversibleWrite the Windows installation media to a USB drive and choose Repair your computer.
Contact ASUS
ReversibleIf nothing works, give support the error and the steps tried.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The Ally's recovery tools
- The handheld has no keyboard, so the touch keyboard and volume keys are how you reach recovery screens.
- Back up the key
- Store the BitLocker recovery key somewhere other than the Ally.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If every repair fails and the SSD is not detected in recovery, contact ASUS under warranty
- !Keep your recovery key and a photo of the error screen for support
- !If data matters, ask ASUS or a repair shop to image the SSD before a reset
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Recovery key entry on the Ally's touch keyboard.
Automatic repair and BitLocker loops and the bcdedit and bootrec steps.
Where the recovery key is stored.
Specifications of the ROG Ally and Ally X.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my ROG Ally X ask for a BitLocker key?+
It can after a crash during heavy operations such as downloads. The key is in your Microsoft account.
How do I type the recovery key on the Ally?+
Press the volume up button to enter keyboard mode, tap inside the box and use the keypad.
Can I turn BitLocker off?+
If you can reach Windows, yes, under BitLocker Drive Encryption, but it removes disk encryption.
Will a reset delete my games?+
A Windows reset can; back up saves and consider installing games to the microSD card first.