myPassword - Unlocking Your Password

After three unsuccessful attempts to login to your MC domain (computer login) or Exchange password, your account will be locked. There may not be a message that will appear, you may simply be prompted to login over and over again when you are sure that you are typing in the correct password.

Your account may also become locked if you have just changed or reset your password, but it is stored on another device such as a smartphone, tablet or off-campus computer that is manually mapped to a campus network drive. See instructions to Synchronize Your Password for details on how to prevent this.

The myPassword web site allows you to instantly unlock your account. Please note that you must have already set up your profile with security questions before you can change, reset or unlock your password. Click here for instructions on setting up your myPassword profile.

1. Go to https://mypassword.cumc.columbia.edu.
2. You will be prompted to login with your Columbia UNI account and password. This is not the same login as your computer or Exchange account, though they may all use your Columbia UNI for your account name.

   

3. The myPassword Self-Service page will appear. Select the link to Unlock my Account.

   

4. You will be prompted to login with your MC account, the same login you use for your computer and/or you Exchange email account.
   NOTE: There is a 6 minute Inactivity Countdown timer at the bottom of most pages in the myPassword web site. This is a security feature to prompt another login if there is no activity on the page within that time, preventing someone else from changing information if you have left your computer unattended. If you require more time to fill out fields on a myPassword page, you can simply click any blank spot on the myPassword page to start the timer over again.

   

5. The security questions you selected when you set up your myPassword profile will appear one by one. Type in your answer and click once on the Continue button until you have successfully answered all of the security questions.
   • Answers are case-sensitive; if you used any capitals when creating your profile they will be required here.
   • Be sure to click on the Continue button after answering each question rather than hitting the Enter key on your keyboard.
   • If you are not able to correctly answer any of the questions, you must call the Service Desk at extension 5-Help (212-305-4357), option 5 to have your password reset. Once this is done you must log back into myPassword, select Edit Your Profile and select new security questions and answers that you will be able to remember.

   

6. After successfully answering all security questions, you will see a message that your account has been unlocked. You can immediately log back in to your MC domain (computer login) and/or Exchange account using your current password.