OU policy requires device encryption on laptop computers that may store sensitive or confidential information (e.g., SSN and financial information, patient information). For laptops used by OU Health Sciences Center, the presumption is that the device may be used for this purpose so it must therefore be encrypted. For this reason, students should backup and encrypt their laptops. The instructions below outline how to update your computer to Windows 10/11 Education, encrypt your device and then get it set up for encryption management.
These responsibilities apply to Approved Personal Devices:
Follow this guide to upgrade your computer from Windows 10/11 Home to Windows 10/11 Education in preparation for encrypting your device.
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To begin, clear the cache and cookies of the browser you are using.
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Use InPrivate or Incognito browser.
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Go to https://signup.azure.com/studentverification?offerType=3.
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Enter your school email address and password then hit ‘Next’.
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Upon signing in, you may be asked to agree to the terms and conditions and the Academic/Student verification. If not, you should be routed to the Education | Overview page.
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To see software available, please click ‘Software tab’, search for the software needed (either Windows 10 Education or Windows 11 Education), click on ‘View Key’ to get the Product key, and ‘Download’ to download the software. 
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Click the Windows key in the lower left corner of your computer’s desktop, type Notepad and then press the Enter key.
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Paste the Product Key, click File, Save As.. and enter the file name as “Windows10ProductKey”.
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In Windows, click the Windows start button in the lower left corner; click “Settings” (gear icon on the left). 
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Click “System” (upper left corner). 
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Scroll down on the left; click “About”. Scroll down on the right to “Windows specifications”. If you’re running Windows 10 Home, click the option for “Change product key or upgrade your edition of Windows”. 
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In the Activation window, click “Change product key”. 
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If you still have the product key copied, paste it in the field provided and click “Next” (If you don’t have the product key copied, navigate to where your saved it earlier, copy it, and paste it in the field provided and click “Next”). 
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Windows will now upgrade to Education edition; click “Start”. 
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After preparing the upgrade, Windows will restart and add new features. 
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Once Windows has restarted again, sign back in.
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Click the Windows start button in the lower left corner; click “Settings” (gear icon on the left). 
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Click “System” (upper left corner) 
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Scroll down on the left side; click “About.” scroll down on the right to “Windows specifications” and verify you’re now on Windows 10 Education.
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Click “Settings” in the upper left corner. 
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Click “Updates & Security”. 
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Click “Advanced options”.
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Under “Update options,” turn ON updates for other Microsoft products. Under “Update notifications,” turn ON notifications for restarts (in some versions of Windows 10, notifications and options have merged to “Update Options”).
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Click “Settings” in the upper left corner.
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You should be on the “Windows Update” window. Click “Check for updates”.
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Updates will install and Windows will probably need to restart.
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Once Windows restarts, sign back in.
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Click the Windows start button in the lower left corner; click “Settings” (gear icon on the left).
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Click “Updates & Security”.
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Click “Check for updates”.
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Repeat steps 32-35 until the message states, “You’re up to date”.
Now that your computer has updated to Windows 10 Education, you can encrypt your device with BitLocker. For instructions on enabling BitLocker on Windows 10 Professional or 10 Education, please see our guide for turning on BitLocker encryption.