Trouble Logging in to Handshake

Students and Alumni

Are you eligible for a UMN Handshake account?

Handshake is provided for life to active, degree seeking students and alumni (those who have obtained a degree from the University). If you did not graduate with a degree, have been on leave from the University for two or more academic semesters, or are a non-degree seeking student, you do not have access to Handshake.

If you are eligible for Handshake, please select your group:

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Students

Are you using the correct portal?  

On the Handshake login page, make sure you login through the blue tab labeled, ‘University of Minnesota Student & Alumni Login’.

If you receive an error message:

As a UMN student or alumni, you already have an account created for you. All you need to do is login with your UMN ID (first part of your UMN email without @umn.edu) and password. You do not need to request an account. If you requested an account and received a message that your account needed to be approved or was declined, try going back and logging in using the method outlined above. When you select ‘University of Minnesota Student & Alumni Login’ it will take you to a UMN branded login page, which will indicate you are logging in correctly. Handshake may remember your previous login attempt, so you may need to clear your cache, open a new browser, or try from an incognito window.

Still need help?

Contact your college’s career center.

Alumni

Lifetime Handshake Access

As a graduate of the University of Minnesota, you have lifetime access to Handshake with your UMN ID and password. You will be able to continue logging into Handshake with your UMN ID and password even after you lose access to your UMN gmail account. However, your primary email account in Handshake will need to be updated to a personal email address to continue receiving notifications, employer messages, and outreach from other students and alumni. You also have the option of setting up new login credentials with Handshake when you graduate. See details below.

Updating Your Email

Update your email with the University, and your primary email in Handshake will be updated as well. You will receive a confirmation email from Handshake when this takes place. This may take about a month to process after you graduate. If you do not want to wait, you can update your email in Handshake directly.

To update your email with the University:

  1. Go to the My Info tab in MyU. If you no longer have access to MyU, visit update.umn.edu.
  2. Select Edit in the Email block.
  3. Select Add an Email Address.
  4. Select Home as the Email Type.
  5. Enter your personal email address in the Email Address field.
  6. Select Save.

Logging into Handshake

Option 1: UMN ID and Password

As an alumni, you can continue to login to Handshake using your UMN ID (first part of your email address before @umn.edu) and password even after you lose access to your UMN email. Go to umn.joinhandshake.com and select University of Minnesota Student & Alumni Login.

Option 2: Personal Email Address

Getting or Reactivating a UMN ID and Password: If you have not accessed UMN online resources in 6 months or more, your ID and password are likely inactive. You may also have graduated before the University provided IDs. Contact UMN IT, and they will provide you with new credentials or reactivate your account. Let them know you are not requesting access to Gmail or the Google Workspace, rather you need a UMN ID in order to login to Handshake:

Still need help?

If you have tried all of the above and still do not have access, please complete the Handshake @ UMN Account Request Form

Employers

If you are having trouble setting up or logging into your account, see the following help articles for assistance:

For other questions, see the Handshake Help Center or contact us at [email protected] or 612-624-7577.