Information Technology Services

UNCGenie "Forgot PIN" Feature

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Information System which is also known as UNCGenie now includes a feature to allow users who have forgotten their PINs to change the number themselves by answering a security question.  This document explains the use of this new feature when accessing UNCGenie. For additional UNCG PIN information, please contact 6-TECH Technical Support 336-256-TECH(8324).

• Setting the Security Question
• Using the "Forgot PIN" Feature
• Changing your Security Question or Answer
• Limitations of the "Forgot PIN" Feature

Setting the Security Question

The first time you log into Genie, you will be prompted to enter a security question and answer on the screen shown below. If you ever forget your PIN, you can reset it yourself without calling for assistance.

Enter your personal security question along with the answer.  This will enable you to reset your PIN and gain access to your information.  To help you remember your answer, keep it short, limit spaces, and do not use special characters.  Your answer is limited to 30 characters.

When selecting a security question, keep in mind the following:

• Your answer is limited to 30 characters.
• Answers to security questions are not case sensitive.
• Choose an answer that you can easily remember but that most others would not know.
• You may want your Genie security question to be the same as the challenge question you selected when activating your UNCG computer accounts.
  NOTE:  Prior to 2000, the only challenge question for account activation was mother's maiden name.  Beginning in 2000, additional options were place of birth and first school attended.

After entering the security question, press the Submit button to proceed.

Using the "Forgot PIN" Feature

1. If you are attempting to log into Genie and have forgotten your PIN, you must first enter your User ID and then press the Forgot PIN? button.
    
2. Genie will display your security question on a screen like the one shown here.  Enter your Answer and press the Submit Answer button.
   
3. If you enter an incorrect answer, you will see the error message Authorization Failure - Invalid Answer.  If you enter the incorrect answer five times, your Web access to Genie will be disabled.
4. If you answered your security question correctly, you will be prompted to reset your PIN.
   

NOTE:  Changing your PIN in UNCGenie also changes your PIN the Jackson Library system.

Changing your Security Question or Answer

 A Change Security Question option appears on the Genie Personal Information menu.

Use this option to view your current security question and answer or to change this information.

Limitations of the "Forgot PIN" Feature

If you have forgotten  your PIN and cannot use the "Forgot PIN" feature, you will need to contact 6-TECH Technical Support at 336-256-TECH(8324) to request a PIN reset.  The "Forgot PIN" feature will not work in the following situations:

• If your PIN is disabled in Genie.
  If you make five unsuccessful Genie login attempts or answer your security question incorrectly five times, your PIN will be disabled.  If you use the "Forgot PIN" feature, you will see a message stating that your Web access has been disabled.  You will not be able to reset the PIN yourself and must contact IT staff to get your account enabled and PIN reset.
• If your PIN is disabled in Pipeline.
  The "Forgot PIN" feature is currently not available when logging into Campus Pipeline.  If you have previously set up a security question in Genie, you may use the "Forgot PIN" feature by accessing UNCGenie . If you have not previously set up a security question, you will need to contact ITS staff to get your account enabled and your PIN reset.
• If you have not entered a challenge question.
  If you have never entered a challenge question in Genie, you will see an Authorization Failure - Security Question is not setup error after pressing the Forgot PIN? button.
• If you have forgotten the answer to your security question.
  If you have forgotten the answer, you will need to contact Information Technology staff to have your PIN reset.  After getting your new PIN, you will be able to enter Genie and review the answer to your security question.