UMail will be retired in early 2020 as it has reached end-of-life and will no longer be supported. Faculty and staff using UMail will receive additional information as migrations to Google Mail and Microsoft Exchange continue.
Need to change your IT Account password? Use SPIRE to change your password for all your IT accounts.
After you change your password in SPIRE, on all of your devices:
- You will be prompted to enter your new password for eduroam wireless and may need to run the JoinNow setup wizard again to successfully connect.
- You will be prompted to enter your new password if your university email is configured on that device.
Note: If you are an Exchange Email and Calendar user and are in the CAMPUS Domain, changing your password in SPIRE will also change your IT Active Directory/Exchange account password.
Change your IT Account password
Changing your IT Account password applies to everything you log on to using your NetID, including SPIRE, UMail, Apps at UMass Amherst, Library, Human Resources, and other campus services.
- If you are using Microsoft Exchange email and calendaring and have your email set up on your tablet or mobile devices, power off your devices (recommended).
- Log in to SPIRE with your NetID and password.
- *Faculty and Staff: On your Faculty Center or Employee Center page, on the top right in the IT Account Password block, click Change My Password (yellow button).
*Students: Click Main Menu > My SPIRE > Change My Password. - Follow the instructions to change your password. Be sure to click Change IT Password at the bottom of the page. This changes your password for UMail, Apps at UMass Amherst, Library, Human Resources, and other campus services.
- To connect to the eduroam wireless network, you will be prompted to enter your new password and may need to run the JoinNow setup wizard again.
- Note: If your Exchange email and workstation login password has been reset, you will see a message that your AD/Exchange account password has also been changed.
- Exchange Users:
- Confirm that you can log in to Exchange with the new password at exchange.umass.edu.
- Turn your mobile devices on one by one and change the password for the email account as prompted.
- Check any old or hand-me-down devices that still have the account set up on them.
- Update your password in any email software (e.g., Microsoft Outlook).
- If you used your old NetID password to log in to your current computer, log out and log back in with your new password.
Strong password tips
Weak passwords make your computer vulnerable to various types of attacks. Password-guessing software is sophisticated and can break passwords by means of "dictionary attacks," trying every possible combination of characters. It is critical that you:
- Never write down your passwords and keep them with your computer. Often people store their passwords on a post-it note next to their monitor or stuck on their laptop. This gives others an easy way to gain access to your computer. If you need to write down your passwords (or preferably just hints to the actual passwords), keep them in a secure location, such as a locked drawer.
- Change your passwords periodically. Remember to change important passwords every 90 days or at least every semester. This will make your passwords less vulnerable to "dictionary attacks."
- Always say 'No' to software prompts asking to "remember" the password for you. Some browsers and other types of software offer to save your passwords. Get in the habit of always saying ‘No.
UPDATE: Starting in June 2018, a new setup wizard replaced XpressConnect, making it even easier to connect to the eduroam wireless network. For more information, head to the Wireless Network Access page.