CU Guest Wi-Fi

 New Campus Wi-Fi Networks 

As of Dec. 17, 2025, the new CU Secure and CU Guest Wi-Fi networks are live in all campus buildings. eduroam is still available, but UCB Wireless and UCB Guest were discontinued. Learn how to connect to campus Wi-Fi.

 

Overview

The CU Guest Wi-Fi network is intended for:

  • temporary use by campus visitors who don't have an IdentiKey
  • daily use by specialty Wi-Fi devices (e.g., gaming systems, smart TVs)
 

Features

Guest Access

  • Provides visitors with general internet access while protecting internal resources.
    • Available: Library eResources (if guests are located within Norlin Library's Wi-Fi bubble)
    • Unavailable: Internal CU Boulder resources, including protected servers and services provided strictly to CU Boulder-affiliated students, faculty and staff members
  • Requires daily login (resets occur at 3 a.m. MT).
  • Allows guests to log in with the same credentials for seven consecutive days.

Please note: CU Guest is not encrypted. When sending sensitive information over a Wi-Fi connection, use a VPN to transmit the data securely.

Device & Event Access

  • Device portal allows self-enrollment of gaming consoles, smart TVs and other specialty Wi-Fi devices
  • Event portal allows event managers to generate guest Wi-Fi credentials for attendees
 

Cost

CU Guest Wi-Fi is provided as a common good to the campus, which means there is no direct cost to anyone.

 

Who Can Get It

Anyone who's in range of CU Guest Wi-Fi can request guest login credentials and use them to connect to the network.

How to Get It

Once on campus, visitors may submit a brief form to request that guest Wi-Fi credentials be sent to their email account.

Note: Guests who received pre-assigned guest Wi-Fi credentials from an event organizer should skip to step 2.

Step 1: Request Guest Wi-Fi Credentials

To register for CU Guest Wi-Fi credentials:

  1. Open your device's Wi-Fi networks and select CU Guest.
  2. On the CU Guest login page, click Register for CU Guest.
  3. On the registration page, enter your contact information, accept the terms of service, and click Register.
  4. A confirmation page will indicate that your guest Wi-Fi credentials were sent to the email account you provided.
  5. Check your email for a new message from CU Boulder Campus Wi-Fi (wifi_noreply@colorado.edu) with your temporary guest Wi-Fi credentials.
Step 2: Log in to CU Guest Wi-Fi

To log in to CU Guest Wi-Fi:

  1. On the CU Guest login page, enter the guest username and password provided to you, then click Log in to CU Guest.
  2. On first login only: For security purposes, guests are required to change their password upon first login. New passwords must be at least eight characters long and use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers. Record the password in a secure location, then click Change Password.
  3. A confirmation page will indicate that you've logged in successfully and recommend checking your connection to CU Guest Wi-Fi. If your device isn't connected, follow the troubleshooting steps on the page.

Guests are required to log in daily. Guest credentials remain active for seven days and can be used on up to three different devices.

 

Event-Based Guest Credentials

When hosting an on-campus event, especially if a large number of attendees don't have an active CU Boulder IdentiKey, an event manager may choose to pre-assign unique Wi-Fi credentials to each attendee or set up shared Wi-Fi credentials for the duration of the event.

Information for Event Attendees

If you don't have an active CU Boulder IdentiKey and are attending an on-campus event:

  • Review your event materials and on-site signage for Wi-Fi login instructions.
  • If the event manager pre-assigns unique Wi-Fi credentials to each guest attendee, you'll receive them at the email address you used for your event registration.

If you arrive on campus for the event and haven't received any guest login credentials, follow the steps under "How to get it" above to request them yourself.

Note: CU Guest Wi-Fi's self-registration portal cannot be accessed from off campus.

Information for Event Managers

CU Boulder faculty and staff members who manage an on-campus event can improve the Wi-Fi experience for non-CU Boulder attendees by pre-assigning their guest Wi-Fi credentials.

Use the Campus Wi-Fi Special Request Form (login required) to either ask OIT to generate the guest Wi-Fi credentials for you or request access to the Event Wi-Fi Management Portal so you can generate the Wi-Fi credentials yourself.

Requested ServiceBest ForTiming Considerations
OIT-generated guest Wi-Fi credentialsEvent managers with one or two events per yearThe request should be submitted at least one month before the event.
Access to generate guest Wi-Fi credentials yourselfEvent managers with three or more events per yearThe approval and training process will take approximately one month.
 

Register a Specialty Wi-Fi Device

Also known as headless or Internet of Things (IoT) devices, these devices typically don't have an integrated screen and/or keyboard, and they rely on wireless networks to communicate.

At CU Boulder, personal specialty Wi-Fi devices typically include:

  • gaming systems
  • smart TVs
  • streaming devices (e.g., Amazon Fire TV stick, Google Chromecast)
  • smart plugs & bulbs
  • smart speakers & hubs
How to Register a Personal Specialty Device (e.g., Gaming System, Smart TV)

Do not use the Specialty Wi-Fi Devices Portal to register devices related to administrative or research activities. Follow the business device process instead.

Use the Specialty Wi-Fi Devices Portal to register up to five personal specialty Wi-Fi devices on CU Guest Wi-Fi:

  1. Using a CU Boulder internet connection other than CU Guest,* log in to the Specialty Wi-Fi Devices Portal with your IdentiKey credentials.
  2. Click Add.
  3. Enter a device nickname and the device's Wi-Fi MAC address. (Learn how to find a Wi-Fi MAC address.)
    • Note: If you choose to enter a device description (optional), avoid using punctuation or special characters. This is one potential cause for an "Error Loading Page" notification.
  4. Click Submit.
  5. On the Your Specialty Wi-Fi Devices page, click Refresh to view your device.

You may need to restart your specialty device and/or directly select CU Guest through the device's interface to connect it to Wi-Fi.

*The portal is only accessible using CU Secure, eduroam, the campus VPN or the wired campus internet.

How to Register a Business Specialty Device (e.g., Scanner, Temperature Sensor)

Many on-campus departments, research institutions and retailers use specialty Wi-Fi devices to support business, administrative or research operations.

OIT has approved many such devices, including:

  • wireless point-of-sale devices (e.g., Square, Clover)
  • scanners
  • smart refrigerators
  • temperature sensors

Use the Campus Wi-Fi Special Request Form (login required) to register a previously approved business device or request approval for a new business device.

Device Approval StatusSelect This Option WhenTiming Considerations
Previously approved deviceYou've purchased additional units of a device that OIT previously approved.If the device is still compatible with campus Wi-Fi and there haven't been any changes to relevant OIT security policies, you can expect OIT staff to add your submitted device(s) to the CU Guest Wi-Fi network within five business days.
New, unapproved deviceYou have a new business device that OIT hasn't approved before.If a demo device is available for testing,* OIT will typically complete the new device review, testing and approval process within two months.

*OIT cannot approve a new device without the ability to perform hands-on testing. A demo or testing device can typically be obtained from the device manufacturer or product vendor.

Please note: To ensure these devices remain operational in the event of a staffing change, do not use the Specialty Wi-Fi Devices portal to self-enroll business devices.

Transfer an Existing Device from UCB Wireless to CU Guest

In late 2025, OIT migrated all previously approved business devices from UCB Wireless to CU Guest. If your specialty Wi-Fi device was approved and working on UCB Wireless as of fall 2025, complete the following steps to connect it to CU Guest:

  1. Ensure you've configured your device to connect to CU Guest. It may not connect automatically.
  2. If your device still won't connect to CU Guest, power cycle your device, then confirm that it's still configured to connect to CU Guest.

If you're still having issues, submit a request to the IT Service Center and include a copy of the ticket or email in which the device was originally approved.

 

What to Do When Your Credentials Expire

One day before your guest credentials expire, you'll receive an automated email from CU Boulder Campus Wi-Fi (wifi_noreply@colorado.edu) with the subject "Guest Account Expiration Notice."

If you're still on campus and need to use the CU Guest Wi-Fi network, follow the steps above (How to get it) to request new guest Wi-Fi credentials.

 

Accessibility Notification

CU Boulder is committed to making information and resources available in the digital environment accessible to all users.

The CU Guest Wi-Fi process has accessibility issues that may negatively affect users of assistive technologies or those using alternative access methods. We are addressing the issues and working with the supplier to make this experience accessible to all.

If you have trouble accessing or using CU Guest Wi-Fi, you can get help by:

 

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