New semester, new tech? Use this checklist

New to UNC-Chapel Hill? Or starting the semester with some new tech? Save yourself a headache by setting up your new laptop, phone, tablet or smartwatch before the first day of classes. That way, you’ll be able to dive into the semester without scrambling.

This checklist will help you connect to Wi-Fi, configure 2-Step, register for all the perks of Carolina Key, get print-ready and download some essential apps. If you want to dive deeper, check out our getting started guides — for students or for employees.

A cartoon woman holds a giant checklist and pencil.

Connect to eduroam

Connecting to Wi-Fi is probably the first thing you do when you get new tech or visit a new location. At UNC, our primary wireless network is eduroam.

Whether you have a new device or are new to Carolina, just follow these steps to get connected.

Some devices, like gaming consoles, aren’t compatible with eduroam. But you can connect to another UNC network, UNC-PSK. The PSK password changes once a year, so even if you’re returning with last year’s tech, you’ll need to use the new password.

And while most Wi-Fi is easy to love, eduroam has a few perks that elevate it beyond your standard networks — and even the other networks at UNC. Not only is eduroam secure — it’s an encrypted network based on the highest security standards — it’s also available worldwide. When you register your device with eduroam at Carolina, you’ll automatically connect to other eduroam hotspots — more than 10,000 of them! And if you ever wondered why it’s called eduroam, check out 10 things you didn’t know about Wi-Fi at Carolina.

Register or reactivate 2-Step Verification

UNC protects campus with two 2-Step Verification tools — Duo Security and Microsoft.

A cartoon woman gives a thumbs up and stands behind a giant shield

If you’re new to campus, first time setup is a snap.

If you’re returning to campus with a new smartphone, you’ll need to reactivate your account. Until you reactivate, you won’t be able to approve push notifications on the new phone — they’ll still go to your old one. Until then, you can still authenticate using an alternate method, like a code texted to a registered phone number. Depending on your settings, reactivating your account might be as simple as tapping “restore,” but here are in-depth guides for reactivating Duo and Microsoft.

That’s a great reminder to enroll additional devices or methods so you don’t get stuck if your primary is unavailable. Other methods might include a tablet or another phone number like a landline.

If you don’t have other 2-Step methods or need help reactivating your device, the ITS Service Desk can verify your identity and help you access your account. Just call 919-962-HELP (4357) or chat live using the Help Portal.

Register for Carolina Key

If you’re not using Carolina Key, you’re missing out. You could skip typing your password for fast and secure logins to many web-based UNC-Chapel Hill systems, including ConnectCarolina, Canvas, Time Information Management (TIM) and more.

All you need to do is register your device, like your smartphone or laptop, with Carolina Key.

Carolina Key swaps your password with device-based passkeys that use built-in biometrics (or a PIN) instead of your password. That means you could use facial recognition or fingerprint scanning to log in — much faster than typing.

And Carolina Key is so secure that it can also replace Duo 2-Step Verification on some systems. Imagine how fast your logins will be when you can skip typing your password and waiting for a push notification.

For more on how passkeys work at UNC, check out 3 reasons to go passwordless with Carolina Key.

Get print-ready

Printing at Carolina has a new name — Carolina Print Hub. This summer, ITS Educational Technologies, which manages the service, renamed the service previously known as CCI Printing. All the perks are the same — 70 print stations across campus, mobile printing, touchless release and print allotments for students.

While the new name doesn’t change the service, you’ll want to be ready to print before the last minute.

To get your new tech print-ready, visit Carolina Print Hub to find a convenient print location and links to install printing software onto your laptop or the touchless printing app on your smartphone.

Install apps

While we do a lot in the cloud these days, you’ll need (or want!) some software. Here are a few recommendations from ITS to get you started.

Microsoft apps should be some of the first you install on your new device. For your phone, consider Outlook and Teams apps, from your app store. On a laptop, log into Microsoft 365 at UNC, then click “install apps” in the upper right. You can download and install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive and more.

When you need software for your laptop, you should visit ITS Software Distribution. It’s Carolina’s central location for software for students, faculty and staff. Software licensing includes tools for work and play, like Adobe Creative Cloud and SAS. Students and instructional staff can request their free license of Adobe Creative Cloud straight from Software Distribution.

CarolinaGO is your everything-in-one-place app at Carolina. From dining menus to bus tracking to maps, it’s all in CarolinaGO. Download from Google Play or the App Store.

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