Last Updated: April 7, 2024 1:40:35 PM PDT
UC San Diego email requires two-step login (Duo) to improve security. Find out how to solve problems getting email on your Apple mobile device.
Background
Two-step login is a more secure way to access systems. Email systems are now required to use two-step login, just like other UC San Diego applications. This is to help ensure hackers don't compromise our email accounts.
Most modern email clients, such as Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail support Duo two-step login. If you are using these clients, you will now see the DUO prompt when you authenticate. If you are using an older client, you will need to upgrade to a supported client. More information on that below.
Older (insecure) email clients don't support two-step login
Older email clients will no longer be able to access UC San Diego email services. Below is a list of common older email clients and their recommended new client.
| Unsupported client |
Replacement |
| Outlook for Windows prior to Outlook 2013 |
Update Outlook by going to File, Office Account, Update Options,Update Now |
| Outlook for Mac 2016 and older |
Update Outlook by launching Outlook then go to Help → Check for Updates |
| Mac OS mail prior to v.10.14 |
Update Mac OS Mail by clicking on the Apple icon and then App Store. |
| iOS mail prior to v11 |
Upgrade your phone to the latest version of iOS or download Outlook from the App Store |
| Android Mail App |
Download the Outlook App from the Google Play Store |
| Thunderbird prior to v78 |
Update to the latest version of Thunderbird |
| Email clients using the POP protocol |
Download one of the mail clients listed above |
Make sure you can access email
- Configure your email client.
- 2. Access Your Email via the Web:
We strongly encourage users of insecure mail clients to access email via a web browser until they can set up a new email client.
Receiving an error message?
If you receive an error message when checking your email stating “Dept IT has blocked your email access," follow these instructions to remove the block from your email access.
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What is an email client?
An email client is an application that you install on your computer or mobile device to check email. Common examples of email clients are Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, and the Mail app on your Apple device.
Which email clients will no longer be supported?
Older email clients that do not support current connection and security protocols will no longer work, such as:
- Outlook for Windows prior to Outlook 2013
- Outlook for Mac 2016 and older
- Mac OS mail prior to v.10.4
- iOS mail prior to v11
- Thunderbird prior to v78
- Android Mail App
- Email clients using POP
If my email client is affected, what should I do?
You can always check your email from a web browser. If you are using the campus Exchange environment, go to https://mail.ucsd.edu and log in with your AD username and password. If you are using the campus Gmail environment, go to https://mail.google.com and log in with your UC San Diego email address and AD password.
You can also install a new email client.
I received an error message when checking my email on my Apple mobile device that says “Dept IT has blocked your email access." What should I do?
Will my mobile app (Apple iOS mail client, Outlook client, etc.) be affected?
Most of the email applications on mobile devices are kept up-to-date, so they should not be affected by this change. It is important to point out that the default Mail application on most Android devices is NOT compliant. You will need to install one of the email clients recommended on this page.
Apple IOS mobile device users may receive an error message when checking your email stating “Dept IT has blocked your email access," follow these instructions to fix it.
How frequently will my email client ask for DUO authentication?
There are many factors related to the set up of your computer and email client that affect this. Most will be asked once per day.
Is having two-step login really necessary for my email?
Yes. Two-step login is how we as a university make sure all our approved users really are who they say they are. Unfortunately, recent attacks through the use of email clients such as Outlook, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail, which do not require the use of DUO, warrant the inclusion of two-step login for email. Hackers are installing email clients to log into accounts to send phishing messages and download email folders to their computer. This also gives them full access to any information stored in the account.