E-ID
How do I activate my E-ID?
Activating Your E-ID
- Navigate to www.siue.edu/eid
- Select I want to get an E-ID
- Enter your information:
- Enter your University ID/800# (all 9 digits required)
- Complete all required fields
- Click Continue
- Note: If you receive an error, try removing your middle initial
- Review the User Agreement:
- Read the terms
- Select Agree and click Continue
- Record your credentials:
- Note your assigned E-ID
- Save your new password
- Your E-ID will be used for all SIUE services
- Your email format: yourid@siue.edu (example: ecougar@siue.edu)
Need Additional Support?
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk:
- Call: (618) 650-5500
- Email: help@siue.edu
- Visit: Lovejoy Library Room 0005 during regular business hours.
This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!
How do I change my E-ID Password?
If you know your current password
Go to https://myaccount.microsoft.com/
- Select Change Password
- Create a new password that meets these requirements:
- Minimum length of 14 characters
- Must not contain your name or more than two consecutive characters from it
- Must include characters from at least three of these categories:
- Uppercase letters (A-Z)
- Lowercase letters (a-z)
- Numbers (0-9)
- Special characters (!, $, #, %)
- Enter your new password again in the "Confirm password" field
- Click Submit to save your changes
You should never share your password with anyone, and avoid using the same password across multiple accounts. By taking these precautions, you can help protect your personal information and maintain the security of your account.
If you do not know your current password
If you have forgotten your E-ID password, there are several options available to reset your password and regain access to your account.
Option 1: Use Microsoft Self-Service Password Reset
If you have set up the Microsoft Self-Service Password Reset (most users have been prompted to set this up), follow these steps:
- Navigate to https://myaccount.microsoft.com
- Click on your SIUE email address if it is already displayed. If not, enter it in the email field and click Next.
- Click the Forgot Password link to proceed to the password reset page.
- Enter the captcha image displayed into the text box and click Next.
- Verify Your Identity: You will be presented with options to verify your identity based on how you configured your Microsoft Self-Service Password Reset. Common verification methods include:
- Authenticate phone number: A verification code will be sent to your registered mobile device via text message or phone call
- Authenticate email: A verification code will be sent to an alternate email address you have registered
- Answer security questions: You will be prompted to answer the security questions you previously configured
- Approve a notification on my authenticator app: If you use an authenticator app (such as Microsoft Authenticator), you will receive a notification on your device to approve the sign-in
- Create a New Password: Once your identity is verified, you will be prompted to create a new password. Your new password must meet these requirements:
- Minimum 14 characters in length
- Include a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters
- Confirm and Submit: Enter your new password twice to confirm it, then click Finish or Submit. Your password will be reset, and you can use your new password to access SIUE services.
SMS and Phone Call Verification Are Being Retired
Microsoft is retiring SMS text message and voice call verification for Microsoft 365 accounts. If a phone number is one of your sign-in or password reset methods, review the timeline below and add a replacement method before it takes effect.
- September 1, 2026: If your account still relies on SMS or voice verification, you will see a passkey prompt at every sign-in. You can dismiss the prompt for now, but it will appear again at your next sign-in.
- February 1, 2027: SMS and voice call verification stops working entirely. If your only alternate method for self-service password reset is a phone number, you will no longer be able to reset your password on your own after this date.
The verification methods that will continue to work for self-service password reset are Microsoft Authenticator app approval, alternate email, and security questions. Set up at least one of these before February 1, 2027.
Recommended: Install and register Microsoft Authenticator as your primary verification method. On a device that supports it, you can add a passkey as an additional sign-in method. Choose the method that fits you at Passkeys, then add it to your account by following How to Register for Self-Service Password Reset.
Option 2: Contact the ITS Help Desk
If the above self-service options are not available to you, you can contact the ITS Help Desk for assistance:
Visit the Help Desk on Campus
You can visit the Help Desk located in the basement of Lovejoy Library, Room 0005. Bring a government-issued ID card such as a driver's license, passport, military ID, or SIUE ID card with you to the Help Desk and we will print a new password for you. Our office hours can be found here.
Call the Help Desk
You can call the ITS Help Desk at (618) 650-5500. A representative will ask you a series of questions to verify your identity. Once verified, they will reset your password, allowing you to get back into your account. You will be provided with a temporary password, and you will be required to change that password when you first log into a service.
Email for a Web Conference Reset
If you're unable to visit or call the Help Desk, you can sign up for an online meeting where we will ask you a series of questions to verify your identity and assist you with a password reset. You can email us at help@siue.edu or schedule a meeting with us here.
It is important that your contact information is always up to date. You can update your phone numbers and addresses either by logging into your CougarNet account or by filling out the Address Change form in the Forms section of the Registrar's website. It's important to keep your password safe, but don't worry if you forget it - just contact the ITS Help Desk and we'll be happy to assist you.
Need Additional Support?
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk:
- Call: (618) 650-5500
- Email: help@siue.edu
- Visit: Lovejoy Library Room 0005 during regular business hours.
This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!
Why doesn't my E-ID password work?
Your password may be expired. (Have you changed your password in the last 365 days?)
Have you changed your password in the last year? If not, your E-ID may have expired. But don't worry! Updating your password is easy. Instructions can be found here: E-ID - Changing your E-ID Password
For added convenience, SIUE Windows users can also change their password directly from their keyboard by pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL. When your password expires (after 365 days), you'll simply be prompted to change it at your next login, regardless of your location. If you need assistance with any of these features, our ITS Help Desk is ready to support you at (618) 650-5500 or help@siue.edu.
You may not have signed up for your E-ID yet.
During your time at SIUE, your E-ID will serve as your primary username for accessing all university systems. Many users encounter login issues simply because they haven't yet activated this credential. Follow the instructions at E-ID - Activating your E-ID to complete this one-time setup process and ensure seamless access to all SIUE resources.
Your E-ID could be locked. (Has it been more than 1 year since you were enrolled in a class?)
Your SIUE E-ID is only valid for 1 year after you stop taking classes at the University. If your E-ID has been recently locked, there is still a chance to unlock it one time for 30 days so that you can download any necessary files or documents from your account. However, after the 30-day period, you will not be able to access your account unless you enroll in classes. It is important to note that your data may not be available if there is too large of a gap between the times you take classes at the University. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your E-ID, you can contact the ITS Help Desk at 618-650-5500 or help@siue.edu, and we'll be happy to assist you.
Your password could be wrong.
As the number of passwords we are forced to remember increases, it's easy to occasionally recall our password incorrectly. If you are unable to log in to your account, the first step you should take is to attempt to change your password. Instructions can be found here to change it with, or without, the current password: E-ID - Changing your E-ID Password.
Your E-ID username could be wrong. (Your E-ID is not the same as your 800 number)
Your E-ID is a combination of your first and last name (for example John Doe's E-ID would be "Jdoe"). Your exact E-ID can vary slightly from what you would anticipate if someone with a similar name is already enrolled in the university. If the system you are trying to log in to asks for your E-ID make sure you are not using your 9-digit University ID (sometimes referred to as your "800 number). If you are not sure what your E-ID is, you can contact the ITS Help Desk at 618-650-5500 or help@siue.edu, and we'll be happy to assist you.
Need Additional Support?
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk:
- Call: (618) 650-5500
- Email: help@siue.edu
- Visit: Lovejoy Library Room 0005 during regular business hours.
This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!
Need Additional Support?
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk:
- Call: (618) 650-5500
- Email: help@siue.edu
- Visit: Lovejoy Library Room 0005 during regular business hours.
This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!
