This site requires JavaScript to be enabled
An updated version of this article is available
Knowledge Base: Public
Category: Information Security / Identity & Access Management
387478 views

13.0 - Last modified on 2025-04-30 Revised by Stephanie Holmes

12.0 - Last modified on 2025-01-10 Revised by Stephanie Holmes

11.0 - Last modified on 2024-10-31 Revised by Tanner Davis

10.0 - Last modified on 2024-10-16 Revised by Tanner Davis

9.0 - Last modified on 2024-08-06 Revised by Stephanie Holmes

8.0 - Last modified on 2024-08-05 Revised by Tobi Paton

7.0 - Last modified on 2024-03-04 Revised by Tobi Paton

6.0 - Last modified on 2024-01-31 Revised by Tobi Paton

5.0 - Last modified on 2024-01-29 Revised by Destiny Valentine

4.0 - Last modified on 2023-12-13 Revised by Destiny Valentine

3.0 - Last modified on 2023-07-28 Revised by Edgar Nunez

2.0 - Last modified on 2023-07-28 Revised by Stephanie Holmes

1.0 - Created on 2014-02-14 Authored by IET

Question

How do I change my passphrase?

   Looking for help as a UC Davis Applicant? Visit applicant.ucdavis.edu

Overview

Your UC Davis Computing Account consists of two key components:

  1. Your Kerberos LoginID (typically 6 to 8 alphanumeric characters)
  2. Your Kerberos Passphrase (between 12 and 48 alphanumeric characters)
Several helpful tips regarding your passphrase and account:
  • Please allow up to 24-hours before using your account when you first create it.
  • It can take up to 20-minutes after resetting your passphrase before some services will recognize the new one.
Some advice for tips on creating a strong passphrase:
  • It must be a minimum of 12 characters.
  • It cannot start with a ($) or end with a space (_)
Here are examples of some helpful passphrases (please do not use these):
  • FALL Quarter 2019
  • I Like Coffee!
  • MyP@$$w0rd2018

Answer

We offer five methods for resetting your passphrase:

  1. Use your current passphrase
  2. Use your challenge questions
  3. Visit an IET lab on campus - If you are not on attending classes on campus and need assistance, please CALL IT Express. You can reach us at 530-754-4357 from 7 am to 6 pm PST Monday through Friday. We are closed university holidays. 
  4. Visit an account proxy
  5. Contact IT Express

Use your current passphrase

Tip: In order to follow steps for this method, you will need to know your current passphrase.

  1. Go to Computing Accounts
  2. Click Change your passphrase.
  3. Enter your authentication information. It must match what is on file with payroll (faculty/staff) or the registrar (students).
  4. Click Submit Information.
  5. Enter your Kerberos LoginID and select Kerberos Passphrase for your authorization method.
  6. Make sure the checkbox for Change Passphrase For All Services is checked.
  7. Click Continue.
  8. Enter your current Kerberos Passphrase into the Old Kerberos Passphrase field.
  9. Enter your new Kerberos Passphrase into the New Passphrase field.
  10. Re-enter your new Kerberos Passphrase in the Confirm Passphrase field.
  11. Click Continue.
  12. Review the confirmation page, then click End Session.
You will receive an email to your official @ucdavis.edu usually within a few minutes whether you were successful or not. That email will not contain your passphrase. If you were unsuccessful in resetting your passphrase, try another method.

Use your challenge questions

Tip: In order to successfully use this method you will need to be able to answer all of your challenge questions. Challenge questions were set by you when you created your account, and they are not randomly assigned.
  1. Go to Computing Accounts
  2. Click Change your passphrase.
  3. Enter your authentication information. It must match what is on file with payroll (faculty/staff) or the registrar (students).
  4. Click Submit Information.
  5. Enter your Kerberos LoginID and select Passphrase Challenge Questions for your authorization method.
  6. Make sure the checkbox for Change Passphrase For All Services is checked.
  7. Click Continue.
  8. You may have anywhere from 3 to as many as 8 challenge questions. You will need to answer them all. They are not case sensitive.
  9. Click Continue.
  10. Enter your new Kerberos Passphrase into the New Passphrase field.
  11. Re-enter your new Kerberos Passphrase in the Confirm Passphrase field.
  12. Continue.
  13. Review the confirmation page, then click End Session.
You will receive an email to your official @ucdavis.edu usually within a few minutes whether you were successful or not. That email will not contain your passphrase. If you were unsuccessful in resetting your passphrase, try another method.

Visit an IET lab

Please see this link for Computer Room availability.

Tip: You will receive a temporary authorization number (5-digits) that you will use to reset your passphrase. This is not your new passphrase, rather it is required to reset the passphrase.

There are six locations on campus:

IET Labs hours of operations. IET lab resets are only available during hours that IT Express is open.

Due to COVID mitigations the Blaisdell Medical Library in Sacramento is only doing Passphrase Reset Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm.

Visit an account proxy

Tip: You will receive a temporary authorization number (5-digits) that you will use to reset your passphrase. This is not your passphrase. It is required to reset the passphrase.

See the list of account proxies

Contact IT Express

If you are unable to reset using one of the options above, please call IT Express at (530) 754-HELP (4357), Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. or you can start a chat session at letschat.ucdavis.edu, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m

Revised by Edgar Nunez
Last modified 2023-07-28 02:52:58 PM