Account Lockout Troubleshooting

Summary

This guide outlines common causes of account lockouts and how to clear cached credentials on computers and mobile devices to stop them.

Body

How-To Guide: Troubleshoot an Account Lockout

Overview

This guide addresses the most common sources of account lockouts and how to systematically remove cached credentials.

 

What You'll Need

  • Computer (Windows or Mac)
  • Personal computer at home
  • Smartphone
  • Tablets or EBook readers

 

Addressing an Account Lockout Issue

The most common sources of lockouts are:

  • Devices on CU Denver/CU Anschutz Wi-Fi
    • Forget CU Denver/CU Anschutz Wi-Fi
       
  • Mobile Devices
    • Remove email accounts, log out of Canvas, forget CU Denver/CU Anschutz Wi-Fi
       
  • Stored Credentials
    • Remove all UCDenver related entries from Credential Manager/Key Chain Access, disconnect all network drives

Be sure to restart the devices after troubleshooting steps, as there may still be a service using those credentials.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Which computers do you use at work?

  • Windows Computers
    • Check to see if you have connected to the CU Denver or CU Anschutz wireless network, then choose Forget Network if applicable.
    • For any desktops that you use regularly, make a not of what network drives you have, then right-click and choose Disconnect on each one.
    • Check Credential Manager and remove any entries.
      • Click the Windows icon, type "credential" and open Credential Manager.
      • Remove any entries you find in here.
         
  • Mac Computers
    • Delete any UCDenver/CU Denver/CU Anschutz entries from your Keychain Access.
      • Go to the Keychain Access app on your Mac.
      • To open Keychain Access, search for it in Spotlight, the press Return.
      • If your keychains aren't visisble, choose Window>Keychain Access.
      • Select a keychain in the Keychains list.
      • Choose File>Delete Keychain [keychain name].
      • Click Delete References.

 

Step 2: Do you use any computers at home?

  • Do you check your email with Outlook/Mail or just Webmail/MyEmail?
    • If you use a mail client, then remove any entries from Credential Manager (Windows) or from Keychain Access (Mac).
    • If it's just MyEmail/365, then continue with looking at other sources.
  • Do you may any network drives from this computer?
    • Disconnect any network drives, and remove entries from Credential Manager/Keychain Access then reboot.

 

Step 3: Do you have a smartphone?

  • Remove any Exchange/Corporate/Outlook accounts from your device.
  • Check to see if you have connected to the CU Denver or CU Anschutz wireless network and choose Forget Network if applicable.
  • Log out of Canvas app if applicable. 

 

Step 4: Do you have a tablet or EBook reader?

  • Remove any Exchange/Corporate/Outlook accounts from your device.
  • Check to see if you have connected to the CU Denver or CU Anschutz wireless network and choose Forget Network if applicable.

 

Troubleshooting & Tips

  • Really rare, but possible:
    • Non-domain joined computer with mapped printer connection and University credentials saved.
    • Virtual Machine running on computer with saved credentials inside.
    • Maybe the browser has auto-fill and it's filling in automatically
      • Check if the password box is being filled in automatically, then clear it.
    • Maybe your password didn't change and you need to go back to Password Reset
       
  • Other actions to try:
    • Contact the Service Desk at 303-724-4357 to see if they can find the name of the device locking you out.
    • If you can, log into MyEmail and go to the Settings gear icon, then click Settings>Mail>Mobile Devices. You can then view information about the device and choose Remove if desired.
      Outlook on the web showing the Mobile devices settings page with a list of connected devices and status indicators.

 

 

Conclusion

Great job! You have now learned how to troubleshoot account lockouts.

Details

Details

Article ID: 20166
Created
Wed 4/1/26 6:39 PM
Modified
Tue 4/21/26 11:55 AM

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