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How to Choose and Manage a SUNet ID Password

Password standards

To protect university resources, Stanford requires all passwords to meet minimum standards for length, complexity, reuse, storage, and more. Review the Password Standards page before creating or updating your password.

How to change or reset your password

Stanford's computing infrastructure offers several methods for changing or resetting your password.

Change your password through the Accounts page

When you update your password, you must log in using multi-factor authentication (MFA) to verify your identity. Duo Push is UIT’s recommended MFA method. If you do not use MFA to log in, call the UIT Service Desk for help.

  1. Point your browser to accounts.stanford.edu.
  2. If the WebLogin page opens, enter your SUNet ID and password and click Login.
  3. On the Accounts page, Select the Password Management tile.
  4. Select the Change Password tile.
  5. Type your current password in the Current Password field.
  6. Type your new password in the New Password field.
  7. Type your new password again in the Verify New Password field.
  8. Click Save.
  9. For security purposes, close your browser completely to complete the transaction.

Change your password through the StanfordYou page

  1. Point your browser to stanfordyou.stanford.edu.
  2. If the WebLogin page opens, enter your SUNet ID and Password and click Login.
  3. Select Manage your SUNet ID password. The Stanford Accounts page opens.
  4. Select the Change Password tile.
  5. Type your current password in the Current Password field.
  6. Type your new password in the New Password field.
  7. Type your new password again in the Verify New Password field.
  8. Click Save.
  9. For security purposes, close your browser completely to complete the transaction.

Change your password using the command line

  1. Log on to any Unix workstation.
  2. After logging on, type kpasswd sunetid@stanford.edu at the system prompt.
  3. Enter your old (current) password when prompted.
  4. Enter your new (proposed) password when prompted.

Change your (Win) IT account password using the command line (only if you have an IT account)

  1. Log on to any Unix workstation to verify your IT account.
  2. After logging on, type kinit it.sunetid@IT.WIN.STANFORD.EDU at the system prompt.
  3. Enter your current password when prompted.
  4. If logon is successful, type kpasswd it.sunetid@IT.WIN.STANFORD.EDU at the system prompt.
  5. Enter your old (current) password when prompted.
  6. Enter your new (proposed) password when prompted.

Reset your forgotten password

If you have forgotten your SUNet ID password, you can reset it. This is a different process than changing your password because it requires you to confirm your identity first. You will need your SUNet ID, university ID number, and Social Security number.

When you reset your password, you must use Duo Push multifactor authentication to verify your identity. If you do not have the Duo app on your authentication device, you will be asked to contact the UIT Service Desk to set up an alternative authentication method.

  1. Point your browser to accounts.stanford.edu.
  2. Select the Password Management tile, then the Forgot password tile.
  3. Enter your SUNet ID and click Continue.
  4. You will be sent a Duo push to authenticate. If you are not set up to authenticate with Duo, submit a Help ticket or call 650-725-4357 (5-HELP).
  5. Verify your identity.
  6. Type and verify your new password. Click Submit. Your password has been changed.
  7. For security purposes, close your browser completely to complete the transaction.

How the system validates passwords

The password-checking system screens all passwords against its own large dictionary of over 63 million English and non-English common words, common passwords, passwords that have been leaked by various compromises, and other passwords that attackers may be able to guess.

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