Personal Zoom accounts using UB emails moving to UB accounts beginning October 5, 2020

student on laptop in NSC.

Published September 28, 2020

This change only affects those who signed up for a personal Zoom account (free or paid) using their @buffalo.edu email address.

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Switching your account to an official UB Zoom account will prevent errors when participating in UB-hosted meetings and help improve your security.

If you created a personal Zoom account with your UBmail address, you will be prompted the next time you log into your personal Zoom account to either switch your account to an official UB Zoom account or change the email address associated with your personal account.

You will receive a confirmation email from UB Zoom Admin with the subject line “Activate your account.” Follow the instructions in that email to complete the process.

If you know you created a personal Zoom account using your UBmail address, you can switch your account any time using the instructions on the UBIT website.

Why is this change happening?

Because a UB Zoom account is created automatically for everyone at UB, those who used their UBmail address to create a personal Zoom account now effectively have two Zoom accounts associated with their UB information.

This can cause confusion when trying to access meetings or classes hosted by others at UB—if you are unknowingly logged into your personal Zoom account, instead of your UB Zoom account, you may not be able to participate.

To further complicate matters, because of how Zoom’s login process works, you may have accidentally created a free personal Zoom account with your UBmail address without realizing it.

How do I know if I accidentally created a personal Zoom account with my UBmail address?

Beginning October 5, 2020, if you are using a personal Zoom account with your UBmail address, you will automatically be prompted the next time you log in to switch your account.

By following the steps in the “Activate your account” email that will be sent to you, you can ensure that the next time you log into your UB Zoom account, you’ll automatically be logging into the right account for your UB work and learning.

Alternately, you can opt to change the email address associated with your personal account, then log into your official UB Zoom account for work or school.

I followed the steps to switch my account. Do I need to do anything else?

If you were one of the people who accidentally created a free Zoom account using your UB email address, you should change your UBITName password, since you may have unwillingly used it to create a personal Zoom account.

You should never use your UB login information—especially your UBITName and password—on non-UB websites. If those sites are the target of a cyberattack where login information is stolen, your UB accounts will become compromised as well.

Can I get help with this change?

Yes! The UBIT Help Center is available to assist with your switch to an official UB Zoom account—visit buffalo.edu/ubit/help, or call 716-645-3542, to request help.