While the recovery key is by default mandatory when using Bitlocker from the UI, it's not actually required for Bitlocker in general a drive might not have one. You can get the recovery key, if there is one, via the manage-bde command you mentioned if present, it's under 'Numerical password' (see ). It won't be stored in a recoverable form anywhere, though.

However, if manage-bde says there's a password, that suggests there is.

Bitlocker doesn't require one, and it doesn't even make sense to create one without asking the user. Probably not, most likely because there almost certainly isn't any password.