If your Ithaca College computer starts to a blue BitLocker recovery screen, you need a 48-digit recovery key to unlock it. This article explains what BitLocker is and how to get your recovery key yourself with a phone or another computer.
Audience
This article is intended for faculty and staff who use a college-owned Windows computer.
Platform
Microsoft Windows 11
What BitLocker Is
BitLocker is the disk encryption built into Microsoft Windows. It scrambles everything stored on your computer so that nobody can read your files if the computer is lost or stolen. Ithaca College turns BitLocker on for you; you do not need to set it up.
Windows asks for a recovery key when it detects a change that could mean someone is tampering with the computer, such as a hardware change or certain updates. This is a safety check. It does not mean your files are damaged.
Check Whether Your Computer Is Encrypted
- Click Start
- Enter Manage BitLocker
- Open Manage BitLocker
- Look next to the C: drive. BitLocker on means the drive is encrypted
Get Your Recovery Key
Use your phone or another computer. Your locked computer stays on the recovery screen while you do this.
- Open a web browser on your phone or another computer
- Enter myaccount.microsoft.com/device-list in the address bar
- Log in with your IC account and approve the multi-factor authentication prompt
- Choose your locked computer in the list of devices
- Click View BitLocker Keys
- Match the Key ID in the list with the Recovery key ID on your locked computer's screen
- Click Show recovery key for the matching Key ID
- Enter the 48-digit recovery key on your locked computer
- Press Enter
The recovery key contains numbers only: eight groups of six digits. You do not need to type the hyphens.
If You Cannot Get Your Key
- Your computer is not in the list: Shared, lab, and loaner computers do not show a key for you. Contact the IT Service Desk
- You cannot log in to your IC account: Contact the IT Service Desk
- The key does not work: Check that the Key ID matches, then type the key again
- The recovery screen keeps coming back: Contact the IT Service Desk so the cause can be fixed
Have your IC account username and the Recovery key ID from the screen ready.
Getting Help
For assistance with a BitLocker recovery key, please reach out to the Ithaca College Service Desk.