Indiana University
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Imail and Umail

IU students have two options for email and other online communication services: Imail (powered by Microsoft) and Umail (powered by Google).

Eligibility and creating accounts

All students are eligible to create Imail and Umail accounts by following the appropriate instructions below:

Note: On October 29, 2009, UITS began migrating undergraduate student accounts from the IU Webmail (Cyrus) system to the Google-sponsored Umail system. For more, see About the automatic email account migration from IU Webmail (Cyrus) to Umail.

You can create both an Imail and a Umail account, but you must choose one account for your preferred email address.

IU faculty and staff are not eligible for Imail or Umail accounts, and should continue to use existing mail services (e.g., IU Webmail or Exchange).

Things to consider

If you create an Imail or Umail account:

  • Your full IU email address will contain your Network ID username and your campus domain regardless of the system you choose, because your preferred email address determines where you receive IU mail. Your reply-to address, however, will reflect the mail service you have chosen (e.g., username@imail.iu.edu or username@umail.iu.edu).

  • You are required to establish an IU email account and read email sent from IU faculty and administration; see official communications information.

  • You will manage your mail accounts through the Account Management Service (AMS).

  • While you are an enrolled student, advertisements will not appear in the IU-customized systems. After you graduate, you will have the option of keeping your account, at which time ads will appear.

  • Any accounts with Google Gmail or Microsoft email (e.g., Hotmail, Windows Live Mail, or Outlook Live) that you already have or create in the future will remain separate from your Umail or Imail account.

Important: Many students are employed in some capacity by Indiana University, and many use email in the course of their employment, either to communicate with their co-workers and supervisors or to carry out their job responsibilities. Because Imail and Umail accounts are hosted by vendors external to IU, student employees may use these accounts to conduct university business only if they do not receive or transmit any sensitive data via these accounts. For more, see Student use of email for work-related purposes.

Getting help

The Support Center provides help for all IU mail systems, including Imail and Umail. Both Microsoft and Google also offer 24/7 support.

Learn how to use Imail and Umail with free self-study tutorials and demonstrations from IT Training & Education.