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CU Guest Wi-Fi

 Early-Access Wi-Fi Networks

CU Secure and CU Guest Wi-Fi are now live in select early-access buildings and will expand to the rest of campus over winter break. Learn more.

 
Overview​Features​Cost​Get Started​Event Credentials​Specialty Devices​Credential Expiration​Policies
 

Overview

The CU Guest Wi-Fi network is intended for temporary use by campus visitors who don't have an IdentiKey.

To request guest credentials, users must select CU Guest from their Wi-Fi networks and follow the on-screen instructions. Users will receive an automatically generated username and temporary password via email.

Upon initial login, users will be required to set a new password.

 

Features

  • Provides visitors with general internet access while protecting internal resources.
    • Available: Library eResources (if guests are located within Nolin Library's wireless 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 wireless connection, use a VPN to transmit the data securely.

 

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 log in to the network.

At this time, CU Guest is only available in a handful of early-access buildings. In late December 2025, UCB Guest will be permanently replaced by CU Guest across campus.

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. The credentials provide single-day access to CU Guest Wi-Fi.

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 the CU Guest registration form link.
  3. On the registration page, enter your contact information, accept the terms of service, and click Register.
  4. Check your email for a new message with this subject: "Your CU Guest Wi-Fi Login 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 your guest username and temporary password, then click Sign in to CU Guest Wi-Fi.
  2. On first login only: For security purposes, you'll be required to change your temporary password. Your new password must be at least 8 characters long and use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers.

You should now be connected to CU Guest Wi-Fi. Your connection will time out after 24 hours; however, you can log in using the same guest credentials for the next seven days.

 

Pre-assigned Guest Credentials (Coming Soon)

If you're attending a large event on campus and you don't have a CU Boulder IdentiKey, your event organizer may choose to pre-assign guest Wi-Fi login credentials to you or set up event-specific login credentials.

  • Guests: If the event organizer pre-assigns guest credentials, you'll receive them via email at the account you entered during registration. If you don't receive any credentials before you get to campus, follow the steps above (How to get it) to request your credentials and sign in to CU Guest Wi-Fi.
  • Event organizers: CU Boulder faculty or staff members who manage an on-campus event can choose to pre-assign guest Wi-Fi credentials to attendees who aren't affiliated with CU Boulder. Check back in late October 2025 to learn more.
 

Register a Specialty Wi-Fi Device

Also known as headless or Internet of Things (IoT) devices, these are personal consumer devices that don't have an integrated screen or keyboard, so they use a Wi-Fi connection to communicate with something that does (e.g., an app on your phone).

At CU Boulder, the most common specialty Wi-Fi devices are gaming systems and smart devices, including smart TVs, speakers, plugs and light bulbs.

How to Register a Specialty Wi-Fi Device

To connect a specialty device to CU Guest Wi-Fi:

  1. Make sure you're using a non-guest CU Boulder internet connection (e.g., UCB Wireless, CU Secure, campus VPN).
  2. Log in to the Specialty Wi-Fi Devices Portal with your IdentiKey credentials.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Enter a device nickname and the device's Wi-Fi MAC address. (Learn how to find a Wi-Fi MAC address.)
  5. Click Submit.
  6. On the Your Specialty Wi-Fi Devices page, click Refresh to view your device.

You may need to restart your specialty device for it to join CU Guest Wi-Fi.

Known Issue: Can't Play Online Games Using a Console (Fix in Progress)

At this time, CU Guest only allows for local play in most instances.

A solution is currently in development, but until then, the easiest way to do online gaming is to plug your console into the network jack in your room. This method also provides better gaming speeds.

Depending on your room's setup, you'll have either an Ethernet wall jack to plug into or a white device that says "Cisco" on it (the ports are on the bottom of that device).

 

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 credentials.

 

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