Illinois App, Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
How do I sign in with my NetID?
Under the avatar at the upper right, go to Profile > Sign In/Sign Out.
If you don’t see this option, update your privacy settings. Under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My App Privacy Settings > Manage and Understand Your Privacy. Set your privacy level to 4 or 5.
How do I sign out?
Under the avatar at the upper right, go to Profile > Sign In/Sign Out.
How do I change the language used in the app?
Under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My Language.
Where can I see which version of the app I am running?
Tap the gear icon at the upper right. Scroll to the bottom of the screen to locate the app version.
Why do I see a “web content blocked” message on my iPhone?
This message appears when you follow a link to an external web page that uses cookies and your iPhone is blocking cookies. You must enable tracking in apps. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. Set the switch Allow Apps to Request to Track to the on position.
Why can’t I see the Laundry feature?
Only students living in University Housing have access to the Laundry feature. You must be signed in with your NetID and have your privacy level set to 4 or 5. To check your privacy settings, under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My App Privacy Settings > Manage and Understand Your Privacy.
How can I find an ADA-accessible entrance?
Tap the Campus Buildings tab at the top of the Maps feature. Tap the Amenities tab at the top of the screen and select "ADA Entrance." When you tap the back arrow to return to the map, only buildings with ADA entrances will be shown.
How do Favorites work?
The Favorites screen is like a customizable home page. You can put the features you access most there and organize them however you like.
To add a section to your Favorites screen, go to Home > Sections. Tap on a star. For sections with drop-down menus, you can select individual subsections only by tapping a star next to a subsection.
To add an event, news article, Campus Reminder, or resource to your Favorites screen, tap the star next to the item.
To rearrange the order on your Favorites screen, tap the Edit drop-down menu at the right near your name. Select Customize.
What happens to the demographic information that I enter into the Research Interest Form?
The information is stored in a confidential location. Each investigator identifies demographic characteristics for the people they are interested in recruiting for a research project. If your characteristics match, you will be given an opportunity to contact the investigator to express interest in participating. The investigator and the research team do not have access to your survey responses.
How do I list my research project in the Illinois app?
The Illinois app system for recruiting participants for research projects is under development. We invite researchers to partner with us to implement their ideas.
Why is my UIN shown on the Illini ID screen? Isn’t the UIN confidential information?
The UIN is not confidential. Just as it can be printed on a physical i-card, it can be displayed in the Illini ID feature in the Illinois app. The UIN is considered “directory information” that can be used “as a useful and unique number for business processes internal to the University.” Students may show an Illini ID wherever they would display an i-card.
The Office of the Registrar has more information about university policy on the UIN.
What personal information is collected?
The app may collect, store, and use some personal information that you provide according to the privacy level that you set. See more information on how to control your data or the Illinois Application and UIS Mobile Application Privacy Policy.
How do I delete my account?
Under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My App Privacy Settings. Tap the Delete My Account button. Learn more about deleting your account.
Wallet Questions
Why can’t I see my Wallet?
You must be signed in with your NetID and have your privacy level set to 4 or 5. To check your privacy settings, under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My App Privacy Settings > Manage and Understand Your Privacy.
Why can’t I see my Meal Plan?
Only students with dining contracts have access to their meal plans. You must be signed in with your NetID and have your privacy level set to 4 or 5. To check your privacy settings, under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My App Privacy Settings > Manage and Understand Your Privacy.
What should I do if my Dining Dollars or Meal Plan is charged incorrectly?
Return to where you made the purchase. The vendor can look up the transaction and adjust it so that the meal is charged to the correct account.
How do I get the balance corrected on my Meal Plan or Dining Dollars?
Get in touch with University Housing through the contact form, call 217-333-7111, or email housing@illinois.edu.
Why can’t I see my Bus Pass?
You must be signed in with your NetID and have your privacy level set to 4 or 5. To check your privacy settings, under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My App Privacy Settings > Manage and Understand Your Privacy. Unless you have a valid i-card, you will not have access to the Bus Pass feature.
Can I change my Illini ID photo?
You can change your Illini ID photo only if you have received a replacement i-card. You must meet specific requirements to receive a replacement. If you have a new i-card with an updated photo, delete the Illinois app from your device and install it again. The new photo may take up to 15 minutes to update in the app.
What happened to Illini Cash?
The program was discontinued on June 30, 2026.
Illinois Assistant Questions
What happened to the Illinois Assistant?
The Illinois Assistant is currently offline as the Illinois app team evaluates future directions for AI-supported student experiences and focuses development efforts on more general improvements.
Why was the Illinois Assistant removed?
The Illinois Assistant was part of a multiyear effort to explore how AI-powered tools could support students as they navigate university resources, events, traditions, and everyday campus life. Through that work, the team gained valuable insights into student needs, emerging technologies, implementation considerations, and the long-term requirements for supporting this type of experience. As the Illinois app continues to evolve, the team is prioritizing improvements and feature development that can benefit a broad range of users.
Did student feedback influence the decision to remove the Illinois Assistant?
Will the Illinois Assistant return in the future?
What should I use instead?
Was the Illinois Assistant a pilot project?
The Illinois Assistant was part of a broader effort to explore how AI-supported experiences could fit within the Illinois app and support student life. The project helped the team better understand student needs, technical requirements, and long-term sustainability considerations for this type of feature.
What is the Illinois app team focusing on now?
The team is continuing work on broader Illinois app priorities, including:
• New feature development
• Improvements to the interface
• Refinement of existing tools and features
• Enhancements of usability and reliability
Health and Wellness Questions
Can I make an appointment at McKinley Health Center through the app?
No. Appointments can be viewed in the Illinois app, but they cannot be made, modified, or canceled through the app. For quick access to appointment information, go to Home > Sections > Appointments.
I canceled an appointment through MyMcKinley but the app still says I have an appointment. How do I remove the appointment from the app?
Appointment cancellations or modifications made on the MyMcKinley portal make take up to 20 minutes to appear in the app. Wait 20–30 minutes and then close and reopen the Illinois app to check on your update.
Note that changes made to an appointment through the MyMcKinley portal are not automatically reflected in the calendar app on your personal device. You will need to manually remove or modify the appointment on your calendar app.
Who can see the symptoms I enter into the Illinois Health Screener?
Only you. The symptoms—and the suggestions from the tool—are completely confidential. They are not shared with anyone through the Illinois app or through the MyMcKinley portal. You can decide whether to share your results with your health care provider.
Are Illinois Health Screener results sent to McKinley Health Center?
No. The information you enter and the suggestions from the tool are completely confidential. They are not shared with McKinley Health Center or anyone else. If you would like to share your results with your health care provider, you can show your phone or a screenshot. Learn more about the Illinois Health Screener.
Groups Questions
Who can create a group?
New groups can be created by faculty, staff, or students. You must be signed in with your NetID and have your privacy level set to 4 or 5. Go to Home > Sections > Groups and tap the ⊕ symbol at the upper right.
Who can join or participate in a group?
Faculty, staff, and students can join or participate in a group. You must be signed in with your NetID and have your privacy level set to 4 or 5. To check your privacy settings, under the gear icon at the upper right, go to Settings > My App Privacy Settings > Manage and Understand Your Privacy.