Introduction
A University Account is automatically created through the Office of Information Technology for individuals when they become associated with the university as a student, faculty, staff, or Affiliate. To activate this account you are required to:
- Connect to Microsoft's Self Service Password Reset URL or Chose the link for Activate or Forgot Password on the log in page of the portal
- Verify your identity with a security code.
- Change password.
To complete these steps make sure you know your University Email Account, something like sycamoresam@sycamores.indstate.edu, or First.Last@indstate.edu, and are able to receive email messages to the personal email address you provided ISU.
Steps To Reset Your Forgotten Password for your University Account
Note: If you know your password and just want to change your password, log into the portal and use the "Change Password" Link.
- Go to aka.ms/sspr or portal.indstate.edu and click on the "Activate Your Sycamore Login" link.
- Enter Your Email Address or Username
On the Microsoft password recovery page, enter your University Email Address or Username associated with your university account.
- Enter the Characters from the Picture or the Words in the Audio
You will be prompted to verify that you are not a robot by entering the characters shown in the picture or the words provided in the audio.

- Proceed to the Verification Step
After entering the required characters from the picture or audio, you will be directed to the verification step page. (See the image below for reference.)

- Reset your password using an email address
This method sends a verification email to the alternate email address you previously set up for two-step verification or security info.
- Select Email my alternate email, and then click Email.
- Check your email inbox for the verification code. Enter the code into the box on the page and select Next.
- Type and confirm your new password, then click Finish to complete the reset process.
- Reset your password using a text message
This method sends a text message to the phone number you previously set up in your security info.
- Select Email my alternate email, and then click Email.
- Check your email inbox for the verification code. Enter the code into the box on the page and select Next.
- Type and confirm your new password, then click Finish to complete the reset process.
- Reset Your Password Using a Phone Call
This method places an automated voice call to the phone number you previously set up in your security info.
- Select Call my mobile phone, type in your phone number, and then select Call.
- Answer the phone call and follow the instructions to verify your identity, then select Next.
- Type and confirm your new password, and then click Finish to complete the reset.
- Reset Your Password Using a Code from Your Authenticator App
This method accepts a random code provided by your authentication app. If your administrator has enabled the security info experience, you can find more information about setting up an authenticator app to provide a code in the Setup security info to use an authentication app (preview) article. If you're not yet using security info, you can find more details about setting up an authenticator app to provide a code in the Set up my account for two-step verification article.
- Select Enter a code from my authenticator app, then click Send Notification.
- Open your authenticator app, find the verification code for your account, and enter it into the provided box. After entering the code, click Next.
- Type and confirm your new password, then click Finish to complete the process.
- Once you see the confirmation message saying that your password has been reset, you can sign in to your account using your new password.
Important Notes:
- Microsoft's Password Protection identifies, detects, and blocks known weak passwords and their variants.
- The password you choose must meet the ISU password requirements configured in ISUAD.