NetID: Overview of Signing In at UT

Overview

At the University of Tennessee, faculty, staff, and students use multiple services that require authentication. While we standardize on NetID and password with two-factor authentication (2FA), vendors implement sign-in differently. This guide explains the primary sign-in methods, their differences, and provides tips for success.

Authentication Methods at UT

1. Central Authentication Service (CAS) (Now based on Microsoft Authentication)

• Used by most UT services like Canvas, MyUTK, Microsoft 365, Google Services, and others.
• Use your full UT email address (UPN):
  • Faculty/Staff: NetID@utk.edu
  • Students: NetID@vols.utk.edu
• Enter your NetID password and complete 2FA.

2. External Services (Zoom, Adobe, etc.)

• These services require additional information to direct you to CAS.
• Zoom: Choose SSO, enter tennessee before zoom.us.
• Adobe: Enter NetID@tennessee.edu when prompted for email.

Why Can’t I Use My NetID Everywhere?

Different vendors have different sign-in systems. Even when UT standardizes on NetID and password, the format (NetID vs. email address) and sign-in flow vary because:

• Some services are campus-specific (use utk.edu).
• Others are system-wide licenses (use tennessee.edu).
• Cloud providers (Microsoft, Google) require full email addresses to identify your UT account.

The @tennessee.edu Email Alias

Every UT student, staff member, and faculty member has an email alias ending in @tennessee.edu. This alias delivers messages to the same inbox as your NetID@utk.edu address and is sometimes required when signing into certain UT services, as explained in this article.

Tips for Successful Sign In

• Start at MyUTK: Links to CAS-enabled services like Canvas, Zoom, and Microsoft 365.
• Use UT-specific URLs: Example: linkedinlearning.utk.edu for LinkedIn Learning.
• Pay attention to prompts:
  • If it says NetID, enter your NetID.
  • If it says Email, use your UT email address.
• Check KB for step-by-step guides:
  • Zoom Sign-in Instructions
  • Adobe Sign-in Instructions
  • LinkedIn Learning Sign-in Instructions

Having Trouble Signing In?

If you're unable to access a University of Tennessee service using your NetID and password, there are several things you can try: 

• Verify that you are using the correct UPN (your UTK email address)
  • Students: NetID@vols.utk.edu
  • Faculty/Staff: NetID@utk.edu
• Make sure you have completed the 2FA/Duo setup either while setting up your password or at Two-Factor Authentication | Office of Innovative Technologies.
  • If 2FA is not set up prior to creating a 12+ character password, the password will expire and need to be reset.
• Verify that your Caps Lock is off.
• Check if your password works on other UT sites, such as Canvas, MyUTK, or your UT email.
• Clear your web browser cache - Article - Web Browsers: Clear the Cache in the Most Common Web Browsers.

If you are unable to sign in, you can call the OIT HelpDesk at (865) 974-9900, and a technician can look at your account with you.

Additional Details

Microsoft and Google require full email address + NetID password + 2FA. External services may need extra steps to redirect you to CAS.