To log into eduroam, you connect to the “eduroam” Wi-Fi network and sign in with your home institution’s credentials, using your username in the format yourID@yourinstitution.edu. The easiest approach is to use the official configuration tool, which sets up all the security settings automatically. If you prefer to connect manually, you’ll need to enter a few specific network settings on your device.
What eduroam Is and How It Works
Eduroam (education roaming) is a Wi-Fi network shared by universities, research institutions, and some public organizations worldwide. Your login credentials come from your home institution, the school or organization where you’re a student or employee. Those same credentials work at any participating institution you visit, whether that’s a university across town or one in another country.
The key detail that trips up most first-time users: your username isn’t just your campus ID. It must include your institution’s domain. So instead of entering “jsmith,” you’d enter “jsmith@youruniversity.edu.” Without the domain portion, the eduroam system can’t route your login request back to your home institution for verification, and the connection will fail silently.
Use the Configuration Tool for the Simplest Setup
The eduroam Configuration Assistant Tool (CAT) at cat.eduroam.org is the recommended way to connect. It builds a small installer customized for your institution and your device’s operating system. You select your institution from a list, download the installer, run it, and enter your credentials when prompted. The tool handles all the security certificate and encryption settings behind the scenes.
Beyond convenience, the CAT tool protects you from rogue Wi-Fi hotspots that mimic the eduroam network name to steal login credentials. The installer locks your device to your institution’s legitimate authentication server, so your username and password can’t be intercepted by a fake access point. If your institution supports the CAT tool, this is the fastest and safest option.
How to Connect Manually
If the CAT tool doesn’t support your device or your institution isn’t listed, you can configure the connection by hand. Go to your device’s Wi-Fi settings, select the “eduroam” network, and enter the following:
- Security: 802.1x EAP
- EAP method: PEAP
- Phase 2 authentication (inner authentication): MSCHAPv2
- Identity: your full username with domain (e.g., jsmith@youruniversity.edu)
- Password: your institution password
- Anonymous identity: leave this blank
The CA certificate field is where things vary by device. On Android 11 and newer, you’ll typically need to select “Use system certificates” and enter your institution’s domain (like youruniversity.edu) in the Domain field. Older Android versions may let you set the CA certificate to “Do not validate” or leave it unspecified, though this is less secure. On iPhones and Macs, you’ll usually be prompted to trust a certificate after entering your credentials. Accept it to complete the connection.
Windows and macOS laptops generally walk you through a similar process. When you click the eduroam network, a login prompt appears. Enter your full username with the domain and your password. If the system asks you to trust a certificate, verify it matches your institution’s name and accept it.
Your Username and Password
Your eduroam credentials are issued by your home institution, not by eduroam itself. At most universities, this means your campus network ID and the password associated with it. Some institutions use a separate “remote access” or “network” password rather than your main portal password, so check your school’s IT page if your usual password doesn’t work.
The username format is almost always yourID@yourinstitution.edu, but the exact domain varies. A student at Oxford, for example, would use abcd1234@OX.AC.UK. Your institution’s IT support page will list the exact format. Getting even one character wrong in the domain will prevent the login from going through.
Fixing Connection Problems
The most common reason eduroam stops working on a device where it previously connected is an outdated certificate. When your institution updates its authentication server or renews its security certificate, the old settings saved on your device become invalid. Symptoms include frequent disconnects, slow reconnection, or a flat-out authentication failure. The fix is to forget the eduroam network on your device and set it up again from scratch, ideally using the CAT tool.
If you’re setting up for the first time and can’t connect, check these things in order:
- Username format: Make sure you included the full domain (e.g., @youruniversity.edu), not just the short ID.
- Password: Confirm you’re using the correct password. Some institutions require a separate network password. If you recently changed your campus password, eduroam needs the new one.
- EAP settings: If you configured manually, verify the EAP method is set to PEAP and the inner authentication is MSCHAPv2. Other combinations won’t work with most institutions.
- Certificate field: On newer Android devices, selecting “Use system certificates” and entering your institution’s domain in the Domain field is often required. Leaving these blank may cause the connection to fail.
If none of that works, your institution’s IT help desk is the right place to go, since they manage the authentication server your device is trying to reach.
Finding eduroam Hotspots
Eduroam is available at thousands of locations across more than 100 countries. To check whether a specific campus or location has coverage, visit eduroam.org/where, which has a searchable hotspot map. You can also download the eduroam companion app for Android or iOS, which shows nearby hotspots on a map using your phone’s location. This is especially useful when traveling, since eduroam access points often extend to libraries, conference centers, and hospital campuses connected to participating institutions.