On Campus

1. Make sure that the computer is connected to the internet with an ethernet cable or the IllinoisNet wireless network.
2. Click the Switch user button or choose the Sign in as another user option to reach the screen prompting for username and password. You may need to restart the computer to see these options.
3. In the username field, add ad.uillinois.edu\ or UOFI\ before your NetID. This will tell Windows to look for your account credentials in the online Active Directory rather than locally. For example, our office would use ad.uillinois.edu\consult in place of consult or consult@illinois.edu.
4. Enter your password and log in to Windows with the modified username.
   Once Windows logs in once with the modified username and most recent password, it will remember who you are and allow you to simply use your NetID in the future.

Individual devices sometimes continue to refuse sign-ins, even after specifying the domain. If you are able to use other Illinois services, or sign in to other devices on the same network, contact the departmental IT group that initially configured the problem device. A list of IT units across campus can be found in the Illinois Help Center here: https://help.illinois.edu/helpdesks/

Off Campus

The Windows sign-in system will not learn about a new password for your account until the computer connects to Illinois networks, such as the on-campus IllinoisNet wireless or the VPN.

If you're unable to bring the device to campus (for example, if you are working remotely), connect it to the campus VPN from the Windows sign-in screen:

1. Look for the VPN connection icon next to the power, Ease of Access, and network icons at the sign-in screen. It is shaped like two overlapping monitors (Windows 10) or a lock and key (Windows 11).
   If you do not see the VPN connection icon, click the network icon to make sure that the device is connected to the internet, then click the power icon and choose Restart. Once the machine finishes rebooting, the VPN connection icon should appear.
2. Click the VPN connection icon. If the computer was configured for the Urbana campus, a Cisco-branded popup will appear. If the computer was configured by AITS or intended for System Office use, you will instead see a built-in Windows VPN configuration screen; see AITS - Service Desk - System Office - Unable to Log into Windows (10 or 11) PC After Netid Password Change.
3. Authenticate at the VPN popup; it will accept the most recent password for your account, even if the Windows sign-in screen would not. Make sure you have the 4 Computer Login profile selected.
4. Once the device is connected to the VPN, attempt to sign in to Windows again with your most recent password.
   You may need to follow the 'On Campus' steps above once connected to the VPN.

If you do not see the VPN connection icon at the Windows sign-in screen after restarting, the start-before-login software component may have been misconfigured. Try using a previous password to sign in to Windows, or reach out to your departmental IT group to inquire about the VPN.