How do I get my first computing accounts at IU?

Important: After you have created your first Indiana University computing accounts, they should be active within 20 minutes. Since the information must propagate through IU systems, however, it may take up to 24 hours before you can log into some services.

On this page:

• Students, faculty, staff, and affiliates
• Groups, organizations, and departments

Students, faculty, staff, and affiliates

If you are a student who has been admitted to the university and to the appropriate school within the university, a faculty or staff member whose paperwork has been processed by IU Human Resources (HR), or a sponsored IU affiliate, you can create your first Indiana University computing accounts by using the Starter Kit, part of the Account Management Service (AMS).

Note: You will need to know your 10-digit University ID number to create your initial accounts.

1. Go to the Account Management Service at: https://itaccounts.iu.edu/
2. Click Create my first IU computing accounts.
   
   
3. Enter your last name, date of birth, and University ID number in the fields provided. Click Continue.
   
   
4. The AMS will display the Guidelines for Appropriate Usage, which are rules and policies for IT account use at IU. After you have read the Guidelines, enter Yes to agree to these policies, and then click Continue.
   
   
5. If you have multiple roles at IU (e.g., if you are both a student and a staff member), you will have to select one role to be your primary affiliation at IU. Select the role you want, and then click Continue.
   
   
6. From the available options, select where you want to receive your IU email. Faculty and staff should usually choose Create Microsoft Exchange account. Students can choose either an Imail account (Microsoft) or a Umail account (Google).

   Click Continue.

7. Enter the passphrase you want to use in both fields. For information on selecting a valid and secure passphrase, see Passwords and passphrases.
   
   
8. Next, you will enroll in the Passphrase Self-Service Reset System. If you forget your passphrase, this system will allow you to reset it yourself without having to visit a Support Center walk-in location in person.

   Either select a question from the drop-down list, or enter your own question. Type and re-type the correct answer in the fields provided. Click Continue to enter further questions, to a maximum of ten.

   Once you have entered at least three questions and answers, you will have the option of clicking Done to complete your enrollment.

9. Click Print page if you want to print a copy of your account information. To end your AMS session and close your browser, click Exit.

Note: For the AMS, use a web browser capable of making a secure connection (one that supports SSL), such as the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari, and be sure you are able to accept cookies.

Allow 10 to 15 minutes to go through the process of creating your accounts. Your AMS session will time out if you leave it inactive for more than 5 consecutive minutes during the account creation process, and you will have to start over.

If the account creation process doesn't work for you or you encounter problems with the AMS, be sure to copy the full text of any error messages, and then contact the UITS Support Center.

Groups, organizations, and departments

Note: For information on computing accounts for student organizations, see What is UITS policy on computing accounts for IUB and IUPUI student organizations?

Before your group or department can be issued computing accounts at IU, you will need a faculty or staff sponsor to request a username for the account:

1. Go to the Account Management Service at: https://itaccounts.iu.edu/
2. Select Manage my IU computing accounts.
   
   
3. You might see a page asking you to log into the Central Authentication Service; if so, enter your Network ID. If not, skip to the next step.
   
   
4. Click manage group accounts, and then click request new group username.
   
   
5. The following page will display the current status of your group account requests. Click Request New Username.
   
   
6. Enter and re-enter the group username you want in the first two fields; in the "Display name:" field, enter the full name of your group. Select the campus and department associated with the group, and enter a brief description of the group's purpose.
   
   
7. Click Submit.

When your username request has been approved, you can create your group's first IU computing accounts by using the Account Management Service (AMS).

Your group or departmental accounts will usually include a Network ID account, which allows you to create and manage other technology accounts as well as log into certain university services; an ADS domain account, which allows you to authenticate to university resources; and an email account.

To create your initial IU group or departmental accounts:

1. Go to the Account Management Service at: https://itaccounts.iu.edu/
2. Select Manage my IU computing accounts.
   
   
3. You might see a page asking you to log into the Central Authentication Service; if so, enter your Network ID. If not, skip to the next step.
   
   
4. Click manage group accounts, and then click create group accounts.
   
   
5. If your group account request has been processed, the username you requested will be displayed. Click Select next to the username.
   
   
6. Select the email options for the group account, and click Continue.
   
   
7. Create a passphrase for the group account (see Passwords and passphrases) and enter it in both boxes. Click Create Accounts.