Your MyChart username is usually the email address you registered with, and you can find it by entering that email on your health system's login page

Most health systems that use MyChart — the patient portal made by Epic Systems — will show you your username if you enter the email address associated with your account. Go to your health system's MyChart login page, look for a link that says "Forgot username?" or "Need help signing in?", and enter your email. The system will either display your username or send it to you by email within a few minutes.

If that does not work, it usually means the email address you are entering is not the one attached to your MyChart account. This happens often when someone registered years ago with an old email, or when a family member set up the account using a different address than the one you remember.

Key Takeaways

  • Your MyChart username is almost always the email address you used when you first registered, not a separate name you created.
  • The "Forgot username?" link on your health system's login page will retrieve it if you enter the correct email address.
  • If you do not remember which email you used, call your health system's patient portal support line — they can look it up using your name and date of birth.
  • Once you have your username, you can reset your password separately using the "Forgot password?" link on the same login page.

What happens when you click "Forgot username?"

When you select the "Forgot username?" option on your health system's MyChart login page, you will be asked to enter an email address. The system checks whether that email is registered to any MyChart account at that health system. If it finds a match, it will either show your username on the screen right away or send it to that email address within a few minutes.

The email you receive will come from your health system, not from Epic directly. The sender address usually includes the health system's name — for example, "noreply@myhealthsystem.org" — so check your spam folder if you do not see it in your inbox within five minutes.

When the email address you remember does not work

If you enter an email and the system says it is not found, the most common reason is that you registered with a different email address than the one you are trying now. People often forget they signed up with an old work email, a spouse's email, or an email address they no longer use.

The fastest way forward is to call your health system's patient portal support line directly. They have access to all registered accounts and can look you up by your name and date of birth. Once they confirm your identity, they can tell you which email is on file or help you update it. Most health systems have this number on their MyChart login page, or you can find it by searching "[Your Health System Name] MyChart support phone number."

Resetting your password is separate from finding your username

Once you have your username, you may still need to reset your password if you do not remember it. These are two different steps. Your username is the email address you log in with; your password is what you type after that.

On the same MyChart login page where you found "Forgot username?", there is usually a "Forgot password?" link. Click that, enter your username (the email address), and the system will send you a password reset link. Click the link in that email, and you can create a new password. This process typically takes less than ten minutes.

If you registered but never received a confirmation email

Some people create a MyChart account but never see a confirmation email, and then cannot remember whether the registration actually went through. If you are in this situation, try entering your email in the "Forgot username?" field anyway — if the account exists, it will be found even if you never confirmed it.

If the system still says the email is not found, the account may not have been created. Call your health system's patient portal support line and ask them to check. If no account exists under your name, they can walk you through creating one, or they may be able to set one up for you over the phone.

What to do if you share an email address with someone else

If you and another person (a spouse, parent, or adult child) share the same email address, you cannot both have separate MyChart accounts under that email. MyChart ties each account to one email address, and one email address can only be registered once per health system.

The solution is to create a separate email address for one of you — even a straightforward one like firstname.lastname@gmail.com — and use that to register a new MyChart account. Once that account is set up, you can manage it independently. If you need help setting up a second account, call your health system's patient portal support line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my MyChart username to something other than my email?

No. MyChart requires your username to be an email address. You cannot change it to a name or number. If you want to use a different email address, you can contact your health system's patient portal support and ask them to update the email on your account, which will also change your username.

How long does it take to receive the username recovery email?

Usually within five minutes. If you do not see it after ten minutes, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes the email gets filtered there. If it is not there either, call your health system's support line to confirm the email address is correct.

What if I do not know my date of birth or legal name exactly as it appears in the system?

Tell the patient portal support person what you do know — your approximate age, the spelling variations you have used, or any other details that might help them find your record. They are used to working with incomplete information and can often locate you with a phone number or address instead.

Can I recover my username if I no longer have access to the email address I registered with?

Yes. Call your health system's patient portal support line and explain that you no longer have access to your original email. They can verify your identity using other information (name, date of birth, medical record number, or phone number) and update the email address on your account to a new one you provide.