AccountID (Z-ID) and Password
Your Z-ID is assigned to you when you are admitted to NIU. This unique ID grants access privileges to university resources such as:
Your Z-ID and Password
- Your Z-ID password will expire every 130 days. Your initial password is your date of birth in this format: yyyymmdd
- You must change your password the first time you use it.
- At any time before your password expires you can change your password at password.niu.edu
- When using password.niu.edu for the first time you will be required to set up your verification questions. This will enable you to use this service at any time.
- At any time while you have a working password you can modify your verification questions and answers at password.niu.edu
A correct Z-ID password must:
- Be exactly 8 characters in length
- Have a mix of numbers and lower case letters. Do not use upper case letters
- Cannot be a password you have used previously
To change your password online:
Go to password.niu.edu and select “Change my Password.” Follow the onscreen instructions.
- Accept the Security Certificate. You can install the root security certificate by visiting go.et.niu.edu/certificate
- Cookies must be enabled
If you change your temporary or expired password in any ITS or ResTech computing lab:
- Logon and select YES when prompted to be taken to a password change screen. If you do not remember your password or it does not work:
- If you have set up your verification questions, go online to password.niu.edu and reset your password by selecting “Reset your password”
- If you have not set up your verification questions, call the ITS Helpdesk at 753-8100
When You Leave NIU Your Z-ID Will Be Disabled
If you have not been enrolled in classes at NIU for approximately one semester (not including summer), your Z-ID will be disabled. Access to all NIU resources will be prohibited. Any files you want to keep must be saved to an external media source before you leave.
Look up your Z-ID Online
Or call the ITS Helpdesk at 753-8100.
