Welcome to Cal!
A CalNet ID is your unique username at UC Berkeley. Along with a CalNet Passphrase, it allows you to access campus services and applications available to the campus community.
Key Information Before You Begin
- Email Address: Your CalNet ID will become the first part of your campus bMail address (e.g., oski.bear @berkeley.edu). Choose your ID carefully, as it is difficult to change later.
- Recovery Email: To claim a CalNet ID, you must have a non-berkeley.edu email address (Recovery Email Address) on your record.
- Terms of Service: By creating an account, you agree to the CalNet User Terms of Service.
- 2-Step Verification: All users are required to enroll in CalNet 2-Step immediately after creating or activating an account.
Eligibility: When and How to Get a CalNet ID
Students
Students are invited to create a CalNet ID by the Registrar once admitted.
- Undergraduate Admits: Check your Admissions Status portal for a link to CalCentral to begin the process.
- Graduate, Summer Sessions, and Concurrent Enrollment: Use the CalNet Account Manager once you receive your invitation.
- CCES Students: Use the CCES link to create your ID.
- Delegates: Students may issue delegate accounts for parents or guardians through CalCentral.
- Extension Students: Generally not eligible for CalNet IDs (excluding Fall Program for Freshmen).
Faculty, Staff, and Affiliates
Employees and affiliates are eligible as soon as their data is entered into the UCPath HR database.
- Obtain your UCPath ID number from your supervisor or department.
- Visit the CalNet Account Manager.
- Follow the prompts to claim your account. (Note: Entering your ID multiple times will not cause an error; it will simply resend the claim email.)
Visiting Scholars & Sponsored Guests
- Visiting Scholars: You must register with the VSPA office before obtaining an affiliate CalNet ID from your sponsoring department.
- Sponsored Guests: You must be invited by a campus employee. See Sponsored Guests information for details.
Alumni
Find out about options for alums on Alumni CalNet Account Lifecycle.
CalNet ID Requirements
Recommendations
- keep it short -- you will be typing it often
- keep it professional -- professors and future employers will see you CalNet ID in your campus email address
- make it yours -- since your CalNet ID serves as your username in many campus collaboration systems, consider including all or part of your name
- keep it real -- you may use a pseudonym for privacy or other reasons, so long as the pseudonym does not constitute a false identity
- We recommend that CalNet IDs do not include identifying data other than your name, e.g., birthdate. For example, Oski1225 for a birthdate of December 25 is not recommended.
CalNet ID Requirements
- Must be 2 or more characters in length (maximum 19)
- Must contain at least 1 lowercase English letter, but no uppercase letters
- Must not contain your Student, Employee, or Affiliate ID
- Must not start with cads followed by a number
- Must not start with pvt-
- Must not start with svc-
- Must not start with app-
- Must not start with app_
- Must not start with guest-
- Must not start with spa-
- Must not start with a period (.)
- Must not end with a period (.)
- Must not start with a hyphen (-)
- Must not end with a hyphen (-)
- Must not contain two or more periods in a row (..)
- Only the following characters are allowed:
- Lowercase letters (a through z)
- Numbers (0 through 9)
- Periods (.)
- Underscores (_)
- Hyphens (-)
- Must not start with uid or contain uid followed by a number
Troubleshooting and Next Steps
- Technical Support: For troubleshooting or reporting a service interruption, please submit a support ticket or contact the Service Desk at itcshelp@berkeley.edu.
- Forgot Passphrase: If you have an ID but cannot log in, use the Self-Service Passphrase Reset Tool.
- Cal1Card: For information on obtaining your physical campus ID card, see Cal1Card instructions.
- Leaving Berkeley: For information on account expiration and grace periods, see CalNet Lifecycle Management.