You can log in to Blackboard Learn on a web browser on your computer or mobile device.
To access Blackboard, you need:
- The web address of your institution's Blackboard Learn site
- Your username
- Your password
In most cases, the web address given by your institution directs you to the login page. If you're directed to another location, look for a login button or a special portal area.
If you can't find your institution's site, search the web for your institution's name + Blackboard, or contact your IT help desk.
For more information about logging into the Blackboard app, see Questions about the Blackboard App.
Need help with login issues? See Student Questions About Logging In to Learn
On this page, learn more about:
- What happens after I log in?
- Accessing your institution's Blackboard Learn site
- Setting up and logging in using multi-factor authentication
- Retrieving a lost or forgotten password
- Changing your password
- Logging out
- Accessing your account when locked out
- Understanding session control
- Logging in to Blackboard Learn (video)
What happens after I log in?
New users see a welcome page that invites them to create a profile. Before you create a profile, you must accept the Blackboard Profiles Terms of Service in the pop-up window. If you don't agree to the terms of service, you won't be granted access to some tools. You can choose to create a profile later.
Existing users see the My Institution tab. From this tab, you can access the courses where you're enrolled.
Accessing your institution's Blackboard Learn site
Contact the computing help desk at your institution. Blackboard doesn't have access to your institution's Blackboard Learn site and can't help you with these types of questions.
If you're not sure how to contact them, look for the technology office on your institution's website. You can also search the web for your institution's name + Blackboard + help or support.
Setting up and logging in using multi-factor authentication
If your institution enables multi-factor authentication, you need to start the MFA registration process after providing a correct name and password. You can use an authenticator app of your choice or the one suggested by your institution.
For the initial set up and login with MFA:
- Download and install any authenticator app (such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, or Authy) on your phone or device. Your institution may also have a preferred app that’s used.
- Open the authenticator app and scan the image that displays using your phone's camera or copy the key that is listed.
- Press Next to enter the code and associate it with your account.
- Once you receive the 6-digit temporary code generated by your authentication app, type that code into the field provided and select Submit.
Once you have enabled MFA, you are now asked for a login code each time you log in.
If you lose access to your trusted device, you can request a reset of your MFA (via normal institution-defined support channels). This allows you to start the registration process of a new device.
Retrieving a lost or forgotten password
If you forgot your password, use the Forgot Your Password? link on the login page. You must complete one of the two options on the Lost Password page to obtain a new password. After you submit your information, you can create your new password based on instructions you receive in an email. Passwords are case sensitive, must not contain spaces, and must contain at least one special character.
Changing your password
After you log in, you can change your password. We recommend that you change your password periodically to ensure security. Don't use common personal information as your password, such as your name.
Passwords are case-sensitive, must not contain spaces, and must contain at least one special character.
Use the Forgot Password? link on the login page to change your password. Log out to access that page again. You must complete one of the two options on the Lost Password page to obtain a new password. After you submit your information, you can create your new password based on instructions you receive in an email.
You can also change your password from your Profile page. Go to your profile and select Change Password. On the Change Password panel, type your old password and your new password. Select Save when you're finished.
If you change your system password, it won't affect any external accounts (such as Google) that you use to log in to Blackboard Learn.
When you change your password, all other sessions end to protect your security. If your account is logged in on another browser, the session is terminated, and you need to log in again.
Your institution may not allow you to change your personal information, password, or settings through Blackboard Learn. Because Blackboard Learn often shares data with other systems on campus, such as the registrar's office, it may be necessary to ensure that your information is the same everywhere. In this case, your institution will have a different way to change your information. Contact your institution to learn more.
Logging out
Select Sign Out at the bottom of the list.
If your institution uses single sign-on (SSO) to authenticate users in Blackboard Learn, an additional message appears when you log out. With single sign-on, you can use multiple applications after you log in to only one. The applications are set up to trust each other and share your authentication in one session. For example, your institution may let you use your Google account to log in to Learn. If you’re already logged in to Google on your current browser, Learn logs in automatically as well.
When you log out of a single sign-on session, Blackboard Learn asks you if you want to end all related sessions or continue. If you do nothing, the system ends all sessions in two minutes. If you want to continue your session, log in again.
Accessing your account when locked out
For your security, the system might lock you out if you incorrectly enter your username or password too many times or the login process takes too long.
Your institution may allow you to unlock your account if you reset your password. Select Forgot Password? and follow the instructions to reset your password and unlock your account.
If your institution doesn’t allow you to unlock your account, wait until the lock period expires or contact your institution’s IT help desk to unlock your account. If you don’t know how to contact the help desk, search the web for your institution’s name + help desk. Or you can check your login page for a support link or contact information.
Understanding sessions
Session timeout
When you are idle for over three hours, your user session ends, and you are logged out automatically. Sometimes you can appear idle even when you're actively working in Learn, such when you are:
- authoring an Assignment submission in the rich contenteditor.
- creating an Ultra Document.
You must log in again to continue to use Learn. If you save a page or select a button, the session refreshes and stays active for three more hours.
You'll see a warning six minutes before you are signed out. Close the warning to stay active.
If you are away from the computer for an extended time, you will not be able to extend your session. When you close the warning, you'll return to the current page instead of returning to the login page. This allows you to copy anything authored before it is lost. You will return to the login page when you select any link or button on the page.
Active session termination
To enhance your data security, your institution may require you to log in again during your session after a time specified by the system administrator. Session termination happens regardless of your current activity. You’ll receive a warning that says, “Your Blackboard Learn session is about to end. Save your work and log back in.” Once you are logged out, you can log in again and continue your work.
Concurrent session restrictions
Your institution may restrict you from accessing Learn on multiple devices at the same time. You will be logged out automatically if you exceed the number of concurrent sessions your institution allows. For example, if your institution allows two concurrent sessions, and you are logged onto your laptop and your phone, you are logged out of your earliest session if you log onto a third device.
In addition, being signed in on two separate browsers on one device counts as two concurrent sessions. If you signed in to another device, it would count as a third concurrent session in this case.
Watch a video about how to log in to Blackboard Learn
The following narrated video provides a visual and auditory representation of some of the information included on this page. For a detailed description of what is portrayed in the video, open the video on YouTube, navigate to More actions, and select Open transcript.
Video: How to log in to Blackboard Learn
