University of Wisconsin Knowledgebase

NetIDs are used to access many campus applications and services like the My UW-Madison, Web Enrollment, WiscMail, and WiscCal. All students, faculty, and staff should activate their NetID as soon as possible upon entering the university. Instructions for activating differ for students and faculty/staff.

• Applicants Activating NetID
• Students Activating NetID
• Faculty/Staff Activating NetID
• Step by Step Activation

Applicants activating a NetID will need to use a web browser and go to the following link: https://www.mynetid.wisc.edu/activate. On this page you will be prompted to enter information to verify your eligibility. Follow the step by step activation instructions below to finish activating. For assistance, contact the Help Desk at 608-264-HELP (4357).

Undergraduate applicants may obtain their Campus ID Number from their admissions materials, or by contacting their admitting office.

Graduate applicants may obtain their Campus ID Number by referring to the email sent after application submission or by logging into their online application and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Students activating a NetID will need to use a web browser and go to the following link: https://www.mynetid.wisc.edu/activate. On this page you will be prompted to enter information to verify your eligibility. Follow the step by step activation instructions below to finish activating. For assistance, contact the Help Desk at 608-264-HELP (4357).

New, incoming students may obtain their Campus ID Number from their admissions materials, or by contacting their admitting office. Former students that were last enrolled in the Summer 2010 semester and forward will continue to be eligible for NetIDs. If you were last enrolled in Summer 2010 you will need to reactivate your NetId and will need to know your campus id number. Your campus id number is printed on your campus id/Wiscard.

Faculty/Staff activating a NetID will need to use a web browser and go to the following link: https://www.mynetid.wisc.edu/activate. On this page you will be prompted to enter information to verify your eligibility. Follow the step by step activation instructions below to finish activating. For assistance, contact the Help Desk at 608-264-HELP (4357).

If you are a newly hired university employee and unable to come to campus to obtain a photo ID, you should contact your department human resources office to obtain the necessary information for activating your NetID account.

Note: If you are a faculty member and a student with an activated NetID, you will have a student view of the portal.

1. Navigate to the NetID Account Activation page, https://www.mynetid.wisc.edu/activate.


2. Enter your 10-digit university ID number, or your 12-digit activation key, in the ID number field. Use the drop down menus to select your date of birth. Click the Activate button.



3. Please read the Appropriate Use Guidelines on page two of the activation process. Scroll down to the bottom of this window and highlight the I Accept radio button. Click Next.



4. The Appropriate Use Guidelines continue on page three of the activation process. Please read these guidelines and click the I Understand button at the bottom of the screen to continue.



5. Page four of the activation process requires that you set Account Recovery Questions for your account. If you cannot remember your NetID password, you can answer these questions online and reset your password.


6. Select the question you would like to answer using the drop-down arrows to the right of the question. Type your answer in the box below the question. When you have answered all three questions, click the Save my answers button.



7. You must now set a password for your NetID account. Please note the password requirements on this screen. Enter your password twice at the bottom of this screen and click the Activate Account button.



8. If you have successfully activated your account you will see the screen below. Please note your NetID and email address in the middle of this screen.



9. If you have any problems activating your account please contact the DoIT Help Desk at 608-264-HELP (4357).