CougarNet account lockouts occur for one of the following reasons: 

1. You try to login with your CougarNet account using the wrong password.
2. Your CougarNet username and password are stored and being used by a service or program to authenticate you to CougarNet, but the stored password is not your current password.

After 5 unsuccessful attempts by either of these your account will be locked out.

How long will my CougarNet account be locked out? 

Your CougarNet account will automatically unlock itself after 30 minutes.

How do I determine what is causing the lockout?

The majority of the time, the lockout is being caused by a service or program using an old password.  Once your account is unlocked, check your mobile devices to try and identify exactly which service or program is causing the lockout.

Mobile Devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.)

1. Turn off all of your mobile devices and wait 30 minutes.  If the lockout happens before you power them back on, you most likely have a mobile device you forgot about, and it is probably the source of the lockout.
2. If after 30 minutes your account is not locked out, turn on your mobile devices one at a time in 30 minute intervals.  If the lockout happens after a particular device is powered on, check that device for each of the following: 
   • E-mail:  verify that your e-mail application or program is using your current password.  You will either be asked for your password when you try to access your E-mail, or you will need to change it in your e-mail settings.
   • UHSecure Wireless Network: UHSecure holds your Cougarnet username and password to automatically connect you to UHSecure. Try and change the password in the device network settings.  If you are unable to access the network settings, delete the UHSecure profile from your mobile device and reconnect using the UHSecure wizard at www.uh.edu/uhsecure.
      NOTE:  UHSecure will only cause a lockout when the mobile device is on campus and within range of the UHSecure wireless network.  If you are performing troubleshooting while off campus and you do not have a lockout issue, be aware you may experience the lockout again once your device is back on campus and trying to connect to UHSecure.  Follow step B above to update your password for UHSecure.
   • VPN:  If you have a VPN application on your device, it may be setup to log on automatically.  Delete the old password and enter your current password.
   • Web Browser:  You may have stored your CougarNet username and password on a website.  Delete the saved passwords from the preferences or tools menu of your browser.  (Security Alert: Never save your CougarNet username and password on a website.

Desktop Workstation

1. Shared Drives: shared drives store your CougarNet username and password to reconnect you to the drives. Disconnect from any mapped drives and then remap them with your current password.
2. Shared Printers: shared printers store your CougarNet username and password to access printers.  Delete any shared printers from your system and then add them back with your current password.
3. Web Browser:  You may have stored your CougarNet username and password on a website.  Delete the saved passwords from the preferences or tools menu of your browser.  (Security Alert: Never save your CougarNet username and password on a website.)

Why does the lockout only occur when I am on campus?

If the lockout on your CougarNet account only occurs when you are on campus, UHSecure may be the reason for the lockout since your device can only attempt to connect to UHSecure on campus.  Follow the steps above for updating your password for UHSecure.

I changed my CougarNet password a month ago.  Why am I being locked out now?

You may be using a mobile device to connect to CougarNet that hasn’t been on campus in a while and still has an old password on it. Review the list above and see if any of those items could be the cause.

If your CougarNet account is still being locked out after completing these steps, contact UIT Security at 832-842-4695 or security@uh.edu for further assistance.