Passwords are kept in an encrypted database and cannot be looked up by anyone – including Cornell IT administrators and support representatives.

If you have set a recovery email, you can go to Forgot Password page on the Manage Your NetID website to get an email sent to your recovery email address that contains a special link to reset your password.

If you have not yet set up a recovery email, but you previously set your password's security questions, you can go to the Forgot Password page to reset your password. This may require you to authenticate with Two-Step Login. If you have not yet done so, you are strongly encouraged to set up a recovery email address at your earliest convenience.

When Can I Not Use a Recovery Email Address?

This option is not available if any of the following happened:

• You forgot your password and have not yet set a recovery email address.
• Your account has been hijacked by a hacker who logged in as you and changed your password and recovery email address.
• The IT Security Office determined that your password has been compromised, and scrambled it to stop further abuse. For more information and a possible automated recovery option, see If the Security Office Locks Your Account After Detecting It's Compromised.

In these cases, you will need to request a new activation code so that you can reset your password.

To make this request, contact the IT Service Desk to set up a video chat. During the chat, you will need to provide proof of identity: your Cornell ID card or your valid government-issued photo ID card, such as a driver's license or passport.

As soon as you have reset your password, if you have not already done so, you should consider setting up a recovery email address so that if you have trouble with your password again, you can set a new password yourself.