What Eduroam Is and Who Can Use It

Eduroam is a WiFi network run by universities, colleges, and research institutions across more than 100 countries. If you attend a school or work at a research facility that participates, you can connect to Eduroam on any campus that supports it — not just your own. Your login credentials work the same way everywhere the network exists.

Eduroam is different from your home WiFi because it uses your institution's username and password rather than a shared network key. This means each person logs in individually, and the network knows who you are. Your school controls whether you can access it and can revoke your access if you leave.

Check your school's IT website or contact their help desk to confirm Eduroam is available at your institution and to get your login username. Some schools use your student ID number; others use an email address or a separate account. Do not assume — ask first, because the wrong format will fail to connect.

Key Takeaways

  • Eduroam requires your institution's username and password, which you get from your school's IT department or student portal, not from a public sign-up page.
  • The network name you search for is always "eduroam" (lowercase), and it appears on every participating campus worldwide.
  • Connection steps differ slightly between Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, but all require you to enter your full login credentials in the authentication screen.
  • If you cannot connect, the most common causes are a typo in your username, using the wrong password, or your account not being activated yet by your school.
  • Eduroam disconnects automatically when you leave campus or when your school account expires, so you will need to reconnect each time you return.

Getting Your Eduroam Login Information

Before you try to connect, you need your institution's username and password. This is not the same as your email password, even if your email is through your school. Go to your school's IT support page or student portal and look for "Eduroam" or "WiFi" in the help section.

Write down exactly what your school tells you to use as your username. Some institutions require your full email address (like student@university.edu), while others want just the part before the @ symbol (like student), and some use a completely different account name. A single character wrong will cause the connection to fail.

If your school has not given you Eduroam credentials yet, contact your IT help desk directly. New students sometimes need to set up their account through a portal first, or their access may not be turned on until a certain date. Waiting a day or two after enrollment sometimes fixes this.

Connecting on Windows

Open your WiFi network list by clicking the WiFi icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. Look for the network named "eduroam" (all lowercase) and click it. Do not click any network that says "eduroam-guest" or has a different name — those are not the main Eduroam network.

When you click eduroam, a window will appear asking for a username and password. Enter your institution's username in the first field exactly as your school specified it. In the password field, enter the password your school gave you for Eduroam (again, not your email password).

Windows may also show a checkbox that says "Connect automatically" or "Remember this network". You can check this so you do not have to log in every time you return to campus. Click "Connect" and wait 10 to 20 seconds. If the connection succeeds, you will see "Connected" next to eduroam in your network list.

If a security warning appears asking about a certificate, click "Yes" or "Connect anyway". Eduroam uses a security certificate to protect your login, and this warning is normal and safe to accept.

Connecting on Mac

Click the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your menu bar and look for "eduroam" in the list. Click it, and a login window will appear. Enter your institution's username in the first field and your Eduroam password in the second field, exactly as your school provided them.

Mac may ask you to confirm a certificate or show a security prompt. Click "Continue" or "Connect" to proceed. The connection usually takes 15 to 30 seconds. Once connected, you will see a checkmark next to eduroam in the WiFi menu.

If you want to reconnect automatically in the future, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), click Network, select WiFi, and click Advanced. Find eduroam in the list and make sure it is checked. This saves your credentials so you reconnect without typing them in each time.

Connecting on iPhone and iPad

Open Settings and tap WiFi. Find "eduroam" in the available networks list and tap it. A login screen will appear with fields for username and password. Enter your institution's username and Eduroam password exactly as your school specified.

Tap "Join" and wait for the connection to complete. This usually takes 10 to 20 seconds. Once connected, you will see a checkmark next to eduroam and a WiFi symbol in the status bar at the top of your screen.

If a certificate warning appears, tap "Trust" to accept it. Your iPhone or iPad will remember this network and reconnect automatically when you return to campus, so you will not need to enter your credentials again unless you forget the network or your school account expires.

Connecting on Android

Open Settings and tap WiFi or Wireless & Networks (the exact name varies by phone model). Find "eduroam" in the available networks list and tap it. A login screen will appear asking for a username and password.

Enter your institution's username and Eduroam password exactly as your school provided them. Some Android phones also ask you to select an authentication method or certificate type — if you see this, leave it set to the default option unless your school's IT page says otherwise.

Tap "Connect" and wait 10 to 20 seconds for the connection to complete. Once connected, you will see a WiFi symbol in the status bar. Android will save this network and reconnect automatically when you return to campus.

Troubleshooting Connection Problems

If you cannot connect, the most common cause is a typo in your username or password. Disconnect from eduroam, wait 10 seconds, and try again. Type your credentials very slowly and check for extra spaces or capital letters where there should not be any. Your school's IT page should show exactly how your username should be formatted.

If you are certain your username and password are correct, your account may not be activated yet. New students sometimes have a delay of one to three days before their Eduroam access turns on. Contact your school's IT help desk and ask them to check whether your account is active. They can set up it when ready if it is not.

If you see a message about a certificate error or security warning, this usually means your device is trying to connect but cannot verify the network's security certificate. This is common on older phones or devices that have not been updated in a long time. Try updating your device's operating system, then try connecting again. If the error persists, contact your school's IT help desk — they may need to add your device to an approved list.

If you can see the eduroam network but it will not let you click it, your device may have a problem with its WiFi radio. Try turning WiFi off and back on, or restart your device. If eduroam still does not appear, move closer to a campus building or ask your IT help desk whether Eduroam coverage reaches the area where you are trying to connect.

What Happens When You Leave Campus or Graduate

Eduroam access ends automatically when your school account expires. If you graduate or leave your institution, your login credentials will stop working, usually on your last day of enrollment. Your device will still see the eduroam network, but you will not be able to connect to it.

If you try to connect after your account has expired, you will see a login failure message. At that point, you can delete the saved network from your device if you want to clean up your network list. Go to your WiFi settings, find eduroam, and select "Forget" or "Remove".

If you attend multiple institutions, each one may have its own Eduroam account. You can save credentials for both networks on your device, and your phone or computer will automatically connect to whichever eduroam network is available based on your location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my device say "incorrect password" when I know the password is right?

The most common cause is that you are using your email password instead of your Eduroam password — these are usually different. Check your school's IT page again to confirm which password Eduroam requires. Also check that your username is in the exact format your school specifies (full email, username only, or something else). A single space or capital letter in the wrong place will cause a failure.

Can I use Eduroam at other universities besides my own?

Yes. Eduroam works at any participating institution worldwide. Your school's username and password work everywhere the network exists. Just look for "eduroam" in the available networks list, log in with your credentials, and you will be connected. Your school controls your access, so if your account is active at your institution, it works everywhere.

Is Eduroam safe to use?

Yes. Eduroam uses encryption to protect your login and your data while you are connected. It is safer than most public WiFi networks because each person logs in individually and the connection is encrypted. You should still avoid entering sensitive information like banking passwords on any public network, but Eduroam is designed to be find for school and work use.

What if I see multiple networks that look like Eduroam?

Only connect to the network named exactly "eduroam" (all lowercase). Networks with names like "eduroam-guest", "eduroam-5g", or "Eduroam" (with a capital E) are not the official Eduroam network and may not be legitimate. If you are unsure which network to use, ask your school's IT help desk.

Do I need to reconnect to Eduroam every time I come back to campus?

No. Once you connect and save the network on your device, it will reconnect automatically when you return to campus and are in range of the network. You only need to enter your credentials once. If your device does not reconnect automatically, you can manually select eduroam from your network list and it will connect using the saved credentials.