Introduction
When signing into a St Thomas Mac, you may be asked to enter your credentials more than once. This is expected.
On your first sign-in, you’ll use the Microsoft sign-in page to verify your account. After that, the Mac will ask you to sign in again so it can create your local Mac account and sync your username and password. Once setup is complete, future sign-ins should be quicker and more familiar.
Before you begin:
If this is your first time signing in to this St. Thomas Mac, you must connect the device to the wired network using Ethernet, usually through a docking station.
Important: UST Wi-Fi will not connect from the lock screen!
If Ethernet is not available, a mobile hotspot may also work if available.
New Users: First-Time Sign In
1. Sign in at the St. Thomas Login Page
When the Mac starts, you should see a St. Thomas sign-in window. If you do not see a sign in window like below, may be stuck at the FileVault lock screen. Skip to Troubleshooting Notes below for more info.
- Enter your full company email address
- Complete the normal Microsoft sign-in process
- If prompted, complete multifactor authentication (MFA)
2. Sign in again when prompted
After the Microsoft sign-in finishes, the Mac may ask you to enter your credentials again.
This second sign-in is what creates your local account on the Mac and syncs it with your St Thomas account password.
- Enter your username and password as prompted
- Wait while the Mac finishes setting up your account
3. Wait for setup to complete
The first sign-in may take a little longer than normal while the Mac finishes preparing your profile.
Once complete, you should be taken to your desktop. Future sign-ins should be much easier!
Returning Users: Signing Into a Mac You’ve Used Before
If you've signed into a particular Mac previously, you can follow the previous instructions for first-time sign ins and log into the computer. Alternatively, you can follow the below method to expedite the sign in:
- In the top-right corner of the lock screen, click the laptop icon to toggle between the St. Thomas/Mac standard sign-in windows.
NOTE: If this icon does not appear in the top-right, you may be stuck at the FileVault lock screen. Skip to Troubleshooting Notes below for more info.
- Once at the standard Mac login screen, it should look like this:
- From here, simply sign in with your St Thomas username (not email!) and password.
TROUBLESHOOTING NOTES:
Stuck at the default Apple lock screen?
When signing into a Mac, you may see a basic Apple login screen instead of the usual St. Thomas/Microsoft sign-in page.
If you have signed into this Mac before, you can sign in from this screen using your normal St Thomas username and password.
If this is your first time signing into this Mac, look in the top-right corner of the screen for a small computer icon. Selecting this icon may allow you to switch back to the St. Thomas/Microsoft sign-in page so you can complete your first-time sign-in.
If you cannot switch back to the St. Thomas/Microsoft sign-in page, the Mac may be at the FileVault screen. FileVault is a security feature that helps protect the Mac after it has been restarted or powered off. At this screen, only someone who has already signed into that Mac before can unlock it.
If this is your first time using the Mac and you are stuck at this screen, contact the Tech Desk for assistance.
Can't sign in after a password change?
If your password has changed since you last logged onto a particular Mac, you may need to re-sync your passwords on the device. See here for instructions and information.