Username and password

Your username and password give access to University IT services:

  • Cluster and staff desktop PCs
  • University Microsoft 365email
  • Student Portal
  • University WiFi and Internet
  • Canvas
  • Newcastle University App
  • Library systems, etc.

Usernames and initial passwords are sent to students via email before they arrive at University, staff passwords are set by the IT Service Desk on account registration.

Creating a strong password

It's important that you make sure your password is strong and secure: find out how to create a strong password. 

Password problems?

If you receive the following message "The referenced account is currently locked out and may not be logged on to." when logging onto a PC you have entered your password incorrectly 10 times, if this happens please wait 15 minutes and try again.

If you're having problems or you've forgotten your password, contact the IT Service Desk on (0191) 208 5999 or visit the staffed IT Service Support Hubs in the Frederick Douglas Centre or Philip Robinson Library. 

How to reset your password

To reset your password via MFA (Multi Factor Authentication):

  • Open the Authenticator App on your device
  • Select your Newcastle University account i.e. userid@newcastle.ac.uk
  • Change Password
  • Sign into Microsoft with your userid@newcastle.ac.uk and then select Forgot my Password
  • Enter the code from the picture, click Next
  • Select I've forgotten my password, click Next
  • Select “Enter a code from my authenticator app” and enter the code displayed when you open the Authenticator App
  • Enter a new password using the criteria from the website below

If you have a device setup to connect to university Wi-Fi, please ensure you update the password with your new one. You will also need to update any devices or browsers remembering your old password for University IT Systems.

How to unlock your IT account

The referenced account may not be logged into error appears if your IT account is locked.  This may be due to a number of reasons

  1. Your account has been locked due to too many incorrect password attempts
  2. Your account is locked for security reasons

To unlock your account:

  1. On your mobile phone, go to passwordreset.microsoftonline.com. Enter your university email address and captcha 
  1. Select the second option as below:
  2. Select ‘Next’ and the available options will depend on which MFA method you have setup. You should select an option and approve the MFA request which will be sent to your phone. 
  3. Your account is then unlocked, and you will be able to sign into your IT account.

 

Changing your password (Windows)

After logging in successfully on a University PC, simply press Ctrl-Alt-Del together and choose the Change Password option. See advice on Changing your password if you get stuck.

Passwords (Unix)

Unix accounts are linked to your Windows account and use the same password.  Changing your Windows password will also update your Unix password.

Usernames

Student usernames

Your username is made up of "c", "b", "a" or "n" followed by the middle seven digits of your Student Number. So if your Student Number is 079652243, then your username would be b7965224.

Staff logins

Your username is made up of "n" followed by your initials.

If another customer with the same initials already exists at the University (or has existed in the past), numbers are added to the username, eg nrs23.