Applicable to
Students, faculty, and staff with Windows computers
What is BitLocker?
BitLocker Drive Encryption is a data protection feature that integrates with the operating system and addresses the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately decommissioned computers.
All University Windows computers have Bitlocker installed. Personal computers may or may not have Bitlocker preinstalled.
An example of the Bitlocker recovery screen is shown below.
University-owned Computers
If you are working on a university-owned computer and get a Bitlocker recovery screen upon log-in, please call the Help Desk at 715-836-5711. We will work with you over the phone to resolve the issue.
Personal Computers
If you are working on a personal computer and get a Bitlocker recovery screen, you should go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/finding-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-in-windows-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6 and follow the suggestions there to find your recovery key. If this doesn't work, you will need to reset your device using one of the Windows recovery options. Doing so will remove all your files.
Unfortunately, Microsoft support is unable to provide or recreate a lost Bitlocker recovery key.
Required Information in Ticket
You will need the following information to submit a Bitlocker Issues ticket:
- Whether the computer is university-owned or personal
- If the computer is university-owned, provide us with the asset tag (a 7-digit number on a Property of UWEC sticker located on the bottom of the computer (if it's a laptop) or on the computer tower (if it's a desktop))
- If the computer was restarted since the issue occurred