Login tips

1. To prevent navigation issues, you should have cookies "enabled" (see 'Cookies' section below).
2. For security and privacy, please ensure that you log out of the system, using the "Log out" button. Also, please remember to close down your browser if you are using a public PC, to prevent unauthorised access of your information. If the service you are using does not offer a logout button, please visit MyAthens and logout from there.
3. For your privacy and safety OpenAthens uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). This ensures that your information cannot be intercepted, manipulated or misused by anyone during transmission. All recent browsers support SSL. For more information you can refer to our Security
4. If this is the first time you log in, you will be presented with the Terms and Conditions of OpenAthens use. You will need to accept these before you can continue.

Forgotten passwords

1. If you know your OpenAthens username but have forgotten your password, you can reset your password online.

SSL and cookies

1. To access protected services using OpenAthens, your browser MUST be set up to use SSL (SSL is compatible with all recent web browsers) and should accept cookies.
2. OpenAthens Session Cookies contain the OpenAthens username and an OpenAthens token and are used to facilitate the OpenAthens single sign-on service, enabling you to access all of the OpenAthens protected resources which you are entitled to access. Neither the OpenAthens username nor the token contain any personal information. These cookies remain in the cookie file of your system for a maximum of eight hours after they were initially created and are automatically removed if your browser session is terminated before the eight hour period has elapsed.
3. OpenAthens Persistent Cookies contain information to identify the login point for the user's organisation and are only used where your organisation operates local authentication. They remain in the cookie file of your browser for eighteen (18) months from their creation unless deleted earlier..

Troubleshooting

Why can't I login?

1. Make sure you are logging in using the right account. Are you using the correct credentials? To use OpenAthens you need a username and password provided to you by your OpenAthens administrator. If you are not sure please contact your administrator. If your site uses a local authentication (such as AthensDA, OpenAthens LA or Shibboleth) you may need to navigate to your site's own login point by following the 'alternative login' link.
2. Check that you are typing your username and password correctly. It is very easy to accidentally insert a typo in the login fields, especially the password as you can't see what you are typing.
3. Remember that passwords are case sensitive.
4. If the above tips don't help, please contact your OpenAthens administrator and describe step-by-step how you are logging in, the error message you're receiving, the browser you're using and your username.
5. If you do not have a username and password, the first thing you must do is check that your place of work or study uses OpenAthens. If they do your local OpenAthens administrator will be able to provide you with a username, password and advice regarding logging in and what to expect. To find out if your organisation uses OpenAthens, please check the OpenAthens organisations list.

Need more help?

To find your Athens administrator contact details enter your organisation name below: