UCInetID Passwords
Your UCInetIDs is your key to online services at UCI. It serves as your Single Sign-on for most online services on campus. If somebody else knows your UCInetID and password, they can redirect your e-mail or access and abuse services under your name.
Choose a secure password, and treat it as you would any other important piece of your identity information. You should also be careful when using public or shared computers, borrowing a computer from an acquaintance, or using public wireless networking.
If you use a computer whose security status you cannot verify or have traveled and used your UCInetID, it is a good idea to change any passwords entered after you return to your own computer.
Passwords are encrypted, so unfortunately we can't tell you what your password was. You will need to have your password reset and re-activate your UCInetID. Your account and e-mail will not be affected.
- Reset
My UCInetID Password
If you activated after July 2003, you were asked to choose a reset question & answer for identification. You can reset your own password. - If you don't have a reset question on file or you can't remember your answer to the question, contact your local Computer Support Office or the OIT Help Desk for help in resetting your password.
Choosing a password can be a daunting task. You must choose one that no one can guess but you can remember! Here are some guidelines to help you.
Selecting a good password
- You may not re-use any of your past passwords.
- Pick a password that has at least 8 characters.
Generally speaking, the longer your password is, the more secure it is. - Our system requires that your password contains at least one alphabetical character [a-z/A-Z].
- Passwords are case-sensitive and can have both
upper and lower case letters.
Using MiXeD case in your password increases its security. - Our system also requires that your password contain at least one non-alphabetical character, which is not the first or last character of the password.
- Including numbers and punctuation increases the strength of your password.
- A good way to create a password is to think of a phrase and then use the first character of each word in the phrase, adding in punctuation and numbers.
Things to avoid
- Do not use your current password or any of your
previous passwords.
If someone previously obtained your password, they might try to use it again. - Do not use the space character in your password.
This is not allowed due to a current application limitation. - Do not use non printable characters such as those created by using the CTRL or ALT key on your keyboard.
- Do not use alphabetic or keyboard sequential characters such as "abcde" or "qwerty".
- Do not use the same character more than twice.
For example, we do not allow passwords that contain "aaa" or "jjj". - Do not use any part of your Employee, Student, or Sponsored ID numbers.
- Avoid using any part of your date of birth in your password.
- Do not use your UCInetID, forward or reverse.
- Do not use any part of your name, forward or reverse.
- Remember to keep your password a secret. Do
not share it with anyone!
It is your only protection from someone using your UCInetID and your are responsible for anything done with your account. - Change your password at least once per year.
- You may not re-use any of your past passwords.
- If you forget your password, you may re-activate your
UCInetID if you know your password reset question.
If you do not, you will need to visit the OIT Help Desk at Aldrich Hall room 115 and show them a photo ID to have your UCInetID enabled for re-activation. - If you need help, contact the OIT Help Desk by telephone at (949) 824-2222 or send e-mail to oit@uci.edu.
If you are having trouble logging in using your UCInetID Password, you can test your login and password using our Testing Tool.
If you have changed your UCInetID password and saved it in certain applications, you may have to clear the saved password. We have basic instructions for common Web browsers, e-mail software and Smartphones.
