The Locked Diary opens the Dark Aether Rift in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Zombies. Read on to learn what to do with the Locked Diary, how to use it, and what it is!

What Does the Locked Diary Do?

Used to Open the Dark Aether Rift

Once you have the Locked Diary, take it to the large vortex found in Grid F6 of the High Threat Zone (Red Zone). Place it on the Rift Pedestal that has the Cryo symbol to activate one of the 4 pedestals needed to open the Dark Aether Rift.

Tip: If you have the Locked Diary in your inventory, it is lost if you die during the Zombies match. To avoid having to redo Bad Signal, make sure to store it in your Acquisitions tab until you can get remaining 3 keys during different zombies matches.

Rift Pedestal Bug Explained and How to Fix

Collect 3 More Pedestal Keys to Open the Dark Aether Rift

Before you can open the Dark Aether Rift, you will need to collect the remaining 3 keys. These can be done across 3 separate matches to make the process easier. Just make sure to grab all 3 plus the Locked Diary once you plan to finally activate the Dark Aether Rift.

How to Get All Pedestal Keys

Pedestal Keys Allow You to Return to the Dark Aether

Once you have all 4 Pedestal Keys, you will be able to use them to return to the new Dark Aether Map where you first fought Gorm'gant. The Dark Aether will have stronger bosses but will also reward you with Elder Sigils and Classified Schematics.

How to Enter Dark Aether Rift

How to Get the Locked Diary

Defeat Gorm'gant During the Bad Signal Mission

The Locked Diary can be obtained after you defeat the worm boss, Gorm'gant, during the Zombies Act 4 mission - Bad Signal. Pick it up from the Reward Rift that spawns after killing the boss to get the first of 4 keys needed to open the Dark Aether Rift.

Note: As of the December 19 Update, Gorm'gant's boss fight difficulty now scales with the number of players doing the mission. This gives solo players an easier time when completing the mission.

Bad Signal Act 4 Mission Walkthrough

Re-Do Bad Signal if You Lose Your Locked Diary

Players who die in a Zombies match with the Locked Diary in their backpack will lose it. In order to get another copy, you will need to re-do the Act 4 Mission - Bad Signal. This means defeating Gorm'gant for a second time if you manage to lose your Locked Diary in a normal match.

What is the Locked Diary?

Reward for Defeating Gorm'gant

The Locked Diary is the reward you get from the Gorm'gant Orcus boss Reward Rift at the end of the Zombies Act 4 mission Bad Signal. You can pick up multiple Locked Diaries and you can succesfully exfil with them.

Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Related Guides

Zombies Mode Walkthrough and Guide

All Zombies Guides

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