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Student account information

Here you will find answers to the most common questions on student accounts.

If your query is not answered here, please contact the IT Service Desk for more information.

Passwords

I am trying to access my MyZone account for the first time and my password doesn't work

Have you activated your Trinity computer account via my.tcd.ie and set up your account via Microsoft 365? If not, please follow the instructions on our web page for Obtaining your student computer account.

How can I change my password?

See How students can change their password for available options.

I have forgotten my password, what can I do?

If you have forgotten your network password, you can:

My password won’t work.

On the keyboard check that CAPSLOCK isn’t turned on by mistake. Also check that NUMLOCK is on if you are using the number keypad.

Another possibility is that your account may be locked out, please see the advice below.

I am trying to set a new password but I keep getting errors

To ensure your password is secure it must follow the below regulations:

  • be at least 8 characters long
  • have a mix of upper and lowercase characters
  • include at least one numeric character OR a special character such as ! @ $ % * _ - + = ~
  • not include £ € : ? | space
  • not include part of your first name, last name or username
  • not be the same as any of your previous 24 passwords

Good to know: your password can only be changed once in any 24 hour period

Will my network login password expire?

New students

After activating their computer account via my.tcd.ie, students receive an Intray message at my.tcd.ie containing their Trinity username and initial network login password. All students are required to change their initial network login password. Full step-by-step instructions are available on our web page for Obtaining your student computer account. Once the student has set their own password there is no password expiry policy implemented.

All other students

There is no set time limit on your network login password, but it is recommended that you change your password regularly to ensure security of your account.

Will my MyZone password expire?

There is no expiry policy implemented for MyZone passwords.

Why should I change my password?

Passwords are often broken, stolen or cracked without the knowledge of the victim. For instance, this can happen as a result of a phishing email or through malware.

Very often stolen passwords are not used immediately. If you change your password regularly, even if your password is somehow stolen, the thief does not have the opportunity to use it.

Usernames

How do I get access to my username and initial network password?

See our Obtaining your student computer account webpage.

Can I change my Trinity username?

It is not possible to request that usernames be changed unless your personal details are entered incorrectly in Trinity's student records. In such case, please contact the Academic Registry. Once your student record has been updated please contact the IT Service Desk to have your username likewise updated.

Locked accounts

Why is my account locked out?

In some cases your computer account can become 'locked out'. There are several reasons why this can happen:

  • You enter your password incorrectly 15 times
  • An application which stores your Trinity network login password tries to login multiple times unsuccessfully
  • Someone tries to access your account without your knowledge

To protect against potential hacking in to an account, if there are 15 consecutive unsuccessful attempts to login to the network within any 30-minute period, the account is automatically locked for the period of 4 hours.

What if my account is repeatedly locked out?

We will need to investigate the problem in more detail. If your account is repeatedly locked out, please contact the IT Service Desk and be prepared to provide the following information:

  • The exact lockout times
  • List devices you are using on the Trinity network
  • List applications that are using your Trinity network login password
  • Try to recall if you have revealed your password to anybody either in person or via the web

How do I unlock my account?

If you need to unlock your account, you can:

Expired accounts

Will I be informed when my account will expire?

As you approach the completion of your time as a registered Trinity student you will be notified by email that your Trinity username, and associated computer account, will expire. You will be emailed with at least 2-week's notice prior to the date of expiry and your computer account will expire automatically after that date.

Good to know:

  • Most students will retain access to records at my.tcd.ie after leaving Trinity.

What will happen to my data when my account expires?

Prior to your Trinity computer account expiring, you should remove any data held in your personal filestorage folder, OneDrive, Myzone (Drive and Photos) or on other IT systems in Trinity as you will lose access to this data.

Will I still have access to my student email at myzone.tcd.ie?

You will retain limited use of your MyZone account (Gmail, Calendar, and Contacts apps only) if you fulfil the following two requirements:

  1. You are a graduate of the University;
  2. You commenced your studies prior to October 2023.

Please be aware that a storage quota of 5GB will be applied to your student email after your Trinity IT computer account expires. You should ensure that your student email does not exceed 5GB; accounts consistently over 5GB will be closed.

You will lose access to any files or photos stored in other MyZone apps, including Google Drive and Google Photos. If you wish to retain files stored in other MyZone apps, then you will need to move them to another location of your choosing (for example a personal Google account). You must ensure that you move or delete all files from your other MyZone apps; accounts with photos remaining in the Google Photos app will be closed.

Finally, you are advised not to use your student email as an account username for online services (e.g. online shops, airlines, and banking). Access to student email as an Alumnus / Alumna is provided at the discretion of the University and thus the terms of your student email are subject to change in the future.

Will I still have access to information at my.tcd.ie?

Yes, after your Trinity computer account expires you will still be able to access your records at my.tcd.ie. If you have difficulties logging in at my.tcd.ie then select the 'Forgotten your password' option on the login page at my.tcd.ie and follow the steps on screen.

Can I request that my data files be retrieved after my account expires?

IT Services will not be in a position to retrieve any data files subsequent to the expiry date of the account.

What should I do to save any files I have on the network?

It is vital that you create a copy of any files you wish to keep as you will not be able to access files saved on the Trinity systems after your account has expired. See our page on how to backup files from personal filestorage for examples of the recommended approach. Backing up of files must be done prior to the account expiry date. There is no need to backup data held at my.tcd.ie as you will still have access to this service after your account expires.

What do I do if I believe my account should not be expired?

If you believe your account has been incorrectly set to expire, then you should contact the Academic Registry during the two-week notice period in order to avoid the automatic expiring of the account.

Should your computer account have already expired then it cannot be reactivated until you have been re-registered for Trinity.

My device connects to the Trinity network, how do I remove the settings?

Those connected to the Student Wi-Fi service should follow the instructions for removing the settings from their device.

Postgraduates connected to the wired network in Trinity offices and labs should follow the steps for removing Trinity software and settings.

Disabled accounts

Why is my account disabled?

Accounts are disabled for various reasons. If your account has been disabled please contact the IT Service Desk.

Change in status

Changing from Undergraduate to Postgraduate

If you are progressing directly from undergraduate to postgraduate status then you will keep the same username and your current password.

Changing from Student to Staff

If you are changing status from student to staff, you will not be able to retain your student username when you move to staff status. You will receive a new staff number and also a new Trinity username and email address. As a Trinity staff member you are obliged to use this new username and email address.

Students going off-books

Students who go off books and who will not be sitting exams will have their main Trinity computer account expired. For that reason it will be necessary to backup any important data from Trinity IT systems before going off-books. Upon returning to Trinity and re-registering your computer account will be re-activated.

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