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KAUST IT · Accounts & Security

Reset or Change My Password

Locked out, updating your password, or changing your recovery email? Choose a task below and follow the steps.

Locked out and cannot sign in? Reset. Can already sign in and just want a new password? Change.

Recently graduated? Alumni email runs on Outlook or Gmail, not your KAUST account, so it has its own reset steps. Alumni email reset

Change your password

Use this if you can already sign in and want to update your password. We recommend doing this every six months.

Open the KAUST Portal About 5 minutes
Change Password and Recovery Email both live on your KAUST Portal home.
KAUST Portal home showing the Change Password and Recovery Email tiles
  1. Open the Change Password tile

    On the KAUST Portal home, under Self-Services, select the Change Password tile.

    The Change Password tile
    The Change Password tile
  2. Confirm your identity

    Sign in with your KAUST username and password, then approve the Duo push on your phone. This extra check protects your account when you change a password.

    KAUST login page
    KAUST login
    Approve sign-in with Duo
    Approve with Duo
  3. Select Change Password

    On the Password Self-Service page, select Change Password at the lower right.

    Password Self-Service page with the Change Password button
    Password Self-Service page
  4. Enter your old and new password

    Enter your current password, then your new password twice, and select Start process. Your new password must follow the rules below.

    Password rules
    Do
    • 12 to 40 characters.
    • At least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character.
    Do not
    • Start with ! or ?.
    • Use your username or any part of your name.
    • Reuse your last three passwords.
    • Repeat characters such as aaa or 111, or use consecutive spaces.
    Old, new, and repeat password fields
    Old, new, and repeat password
  5. Check your email to confirm

    A confirmation email tells you whether your password change succeeded or failed, usually within a few minutes. It is sent to both of these:

    Your KAUST email Your recovery email

    Once it succeeds, reconnect to KAUST Wi-Fi and sign back in to your devices with the new password.

Update your recovery email

Your recovery email is how you reset your password if you get locked out, so keep it current.

Open the KAUST Portal About 2 minutes
Change Password and Recovery Email both live on your KAUST Portal home.
KAUST Portal home showing the Change Password and Recovery Email tiles
  1. Open the Recovery Email tile

    On the KAUST Portal home, under Self-Services, select the Recovery Email tile.

    The Recovery Email tile
    The Recovery Email tile
  2. Enter your new recovery email

    Type the email address you want to use, then select Set Recovery E-mail. Your current address is shown for reference.

    Enter your recovery email
    Enter your recovery email
  3. You are done

    You will see a confirmation that your recovery email has been updated.

    Recovery email updated confirmation
    Recovery email updated

Reset your password

Use this if you have forgotten your password and cannot sign in.

  1. Open the reset page and enter your details

    Go to mypassword.kaust.edu.sa, enter your KAUST username and your recovery email, then select Send.

    Validate user data for password reset
    Validate user data for password reset
  2. Check your recovery inbox

    We send a reset link to your recovery email. You will see a confirmation that the link was sent.

    The link was sent to your email
    The link was sent to your email
  3. Open the email and select the link

    Open the message from KAUST Connect and select the link to continue. If you did not request a reset, you can ignore the email.

    Password reset verification link email
    Password reset verification link
  4. Set your new password

    Enter your new password twice, then select Start process. Your password must follow the rules below.

    Password rules
    Do
    • 12 to 40 characters.
    • At least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character.
    Do not
    • Start with ! or ?.
    • Use your username or any part of your name.
    • Reuse your last three passwords.
    • Repeat characters such as aaa or 111, or use consecutive spaces.
    Enter and confirm your new password
    Enter and confirm your new password
  5. Check your email to confirm

    A confirmation email tells you whether your password reset succeeded or failed, usually within a few minutes. It is sent to both of these, so you are covered even if you cannot sign in yet:

    Your KAUST email Your recovery email
Your recovery email must match the one registered in the KAUST Portal. Not sure which address is on file? Switch to Recovery email to update it, or contact the IT Service Desk through VITA.

Need help?

If something is not working, we are here for you.

Call us

910 on campus, or +966 12 808-0910.

7 days a week, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM AST

Chat with VITA

Our IT chatbot at vita.kaust.edu.sa, with live agents during business hours.

Visit us

IT Walk-In Support, Building 14, Ground Floor.

Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM AST

Common questions

I do not know which recovery email is on file.

It must match the address registered in the KAUST Portal. Update it from the Recovery email tab, or contact the IT Service Desk through VITA.

How often should I change my password?

Every six months is recommended, in line with the Identity and Access Management Policy.

What makes a strong password?

Length helps the most. A long phrase with an uppercase letter, a number, and a special character is both strong and memorable. Avoid reusing an old password.

KAUST Portal home showing the Change Password and Recovery Email tilesThe Change Password tileKAUST login pageApprove sign-in with DuoPassword Self-Service page with the Change Password buttonOld, new, and repeat password fieldsKAUST Portal home showing the Change Password and Recovery Email tilesThe Recovery Email tileEnter your recovery emailRecovery email updated confirmationValidate user data for password resetThe link was sent to your emailPassword reset verification link emailEnter and confirm your new password