Log in help

The first time you log in there are a few steps you need to follow before you can get into the MyOP learner portal and from there access your online courses:

1. Create a new password – see the strong password tips in the Passwords section below
2. Set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – which will help keep your account secure. You need a mobile phone or landline for this (see the MFA section for more information.).
3. Password reset – set up options that will let you reset your password yourself if you need to (see the guidelines for making a strong password below).

What you need to log in the first time

Look in your email for the ‘Username and log in details' email we sent you when you first enrolled to find your: 

• Learner email address – which uses the format 'FirstnameLastname@myop.ac.nz'. Some email addresses may include numbers, and there is no full stop  between the first and last name
• Temporary password – This will be ‘MyOP’ followed by your date of birth in ddmmyyyy format. For example, if your birthday is 28 December 1999, your password will be: MyOP28121999. 
  
  

Setting up password reset options

There are two options:

• Authentication phone – You will be asked to enter your phone number then verify that number via a text or call. If you ever reset your password, you will get a text to that number with unique code to enter on screen or a phone call where you need to press the ‘pound’ (#) key.
• Authentication email – You need to enter an email address to verify. If you ever need to reset your password you will get an email with a unique code to enter. 
  
  

If you have forgotten your learner email address you will need your Student ID.

Recover your user name 

Unable to log in

If you are unable to log in your account may be locked. This may have been done if you have not logged into any Open Polytechnic system for more than 12 months.

To get your account unlocked please contact our Service Desk team:

• 0508 650 200
• helpdesk@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
  
  

Enrolled but never logged in

If you enrolled in the past, but didn't log in you may still be able to log in following our instructions for new learners above. If that doesn't work, please get in touch for help:

• 0508 650 200
• Customer.Services@openpolytechnic.ac.nz 
  
  

If you are studying from overseas, and are not in the countries listed below, you need to contact our Service Desk to request access the Open Polytechnic network:

• Australia
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• United States of America.
  
  

Using MFA to log in from overseas 

If you are travelling overseas and use your phone for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) please be aware that your network provider may charge you to receive texts or phone calls while abroad.

To avoid this, you can download the free Microsoft Authenticator app for MFA and set it up to allow you to authenticate your account. The app does not require a data/wifi connection to work, so you won’t incur roaming fees when you use it. Check the MFA section for more information about MFA.

Passwords are case sensitive, and can include numbers and characters. The information will help you to make a strong password.

Tips to make a strong password

• It should be easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess
• Long passwords are usually more secure
• Use a mix of capital and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols throughout the password to make it more secure
• You could create a passphrase with multiple words that uses a mix of capitals, lower case, numbers, letters and symbols
• Make it different to passwords you use to log into other accounts such as your online banking or email, and old passwords.
  
  

Make sure you don't

• Use any of the following forwards or backwards:
  • names of people, places or things associated with you (for example, family members, pet, sports teams)  
  • numbers such as such as birth dates, phone numbers or car licence plate numbers
• Don't use words with numbers and symbols at the beginning or end (for example, ‘1234HelloThere!’)
• Include alphabetic or numeric sequences of three or more characters or keyboard sequences (for example, 123, abc, qwerty)
• Use common words or phrases such as ‘password’. Some commonly used passwords will be blocked
• Share your password with anyone.
  
  

We recommend you don't use the 'Remember Password' option on your device. These are a security risk as they could be accessed by others from your computer or through attacks on outdated browsers.   

If you have set up password reset options you will be able reset your password yourself. Check out the tips for making a new password in the section above.   

Reset your password

If you have not set up password reset you need to contact us to have it reset:

• 0508 650 200
• Customer.Services@openpolytechnic.ac.nz 
  
  

To change your password you need to be logged into your @myop.ac.nz account. You can then click the button below to go to the Microsoft 'Security info' page and select 'Change' in the Password section.

Change password

You can also get to this page from MyOP by clicking your name on the top right to go to the 'My Account' page to find the 'Change your password' section. 

MFA is a security feature where you need to provide two or more forms of verification (authentication) to log in. So as well as using a password to log in, you also need to use another way to authenticate it is you logging in such as your mobile or landline phone number. 

• MFA helps to protect your @myop.ac.nz account, so that if someone else gets your password, they cannot log in and access your account without the second factor. This includes the MyOP learner portal, iQualify, and Microsoft 365 applications you have access as part of your @myop.ac.nz account (Outlook, Word, Excel, OneDrive).
• It can also help you access you account if you forget your password.
• MFA does not give Open Polytechnic access to your device. 

Why your mobile or landline number is needed

For the system to verify your identity, MFA requires information which is unique to you, such as a personal phone number. You can use the phone number you provided to Open Polytechnic when you enrolled as long as it is your own, personal number.

You can use a mobile phone or landline to set up MFA.

If you do not have either of these please contact our Service Desk.

Mobile phone 

This is called 'Authentication phone' in the MFA set up process.

Do not use a mobile phone used by other people, as they may be able to use it to access your account. 

During the MFA set up:

1. Enter a phone number that you have access to, such as your mobile phone.
2. Choose text or call.
3. You will then get a text or call with steps to follow to verify your number.  

Whenever you need to authenticate it is you logging in you can choose to get a text with a six-digit number to enter on the log in screen, or a phone call. 

Landline phone

This is called ‘Office phone’ in the MFA set up process. This can be any landline that is a direct dial and does not have an automated welcome message. 

During the MFA set up:

1. Choose 'Office phone'.
2. Choose your country and enter your phone number.
3. You will then get a call asking you to verify the number by pressing the ‘pound key (#).  

Whenever you need to authenticate it is you logging in you will get a phone call and need to press the # key.

Getting help to set up MFA 

If you need any help with the MFA set up process, contact our Service Desk. They are available from 8am – 5pm weekdays: 

To get your account unlocked please contact our Service Desk team:

• 0508 650 200
• helpdesk@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
  
  

After you set up MFA for your account, we recommend you download and set up an authenticator app to your mobile phone as it is the most secure MFA method (see below).

After you set up MFA for your account, we recommend you download and set up an authenticator app to your mobile phone as it is the most secure MFA method. 

The Microsoft Authenticator app free to download and use. Once it is set up on your phone you will not need wifi or data when you are asked to authenticate yourself. 

You can  download and install the app from the Microsoft website, or look for this logo in Google Play or the App Store:

After you download the app:

1. On your computer go to https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info. If needed, sign in with your @myop.ac.nz username and password. This should take you to Security Info page.
2. Click 'Add sign in method'.
3. Choose Microsoft Authenticator app and follow the instructions.
4. Click 'Next'.
5. If asked choose 'Work or school account' then select 'Scan QR code'.
6. Open the app on your phone and scan the QR code with your phone to set it up.
7. Check your phone number is correct then click on Done and a 2-digit code will appear.
8. Enter the 2-digit code into the authenticator app and click 'YES'.

This should then authenticate and let you into your account. 

What data the Authenticator app collects 

If you use the Microsoft* Authenticator app for MFA, the app will collect three types of information:  

• Account info you provide when you add your account to the app. This data can be removed by removing your account. 
• Diagnostic log data – this stays in the app until you select ‘Send Logs’ in the app's Help menu, which send them to Microsoft. The logs contain personal data, such as your email addresses, server or IP addresses, and device data (such as device name and operating system version). This data is limited to information necessary to help the app engineers troubleshoot issues. If you want to see this information you can view these log files in the app.
• Non-personally identifiable usage data, such as ‘started add account flow/successfully added account’ or ‘notification approved’. This data helps Microsoft determine what features are important to you and where improvements need to be made. You, as an app user, see a notification of this data collection on the first launch of the app and are informed that it can be turned off on the app's Settings page. You can enable or disable this setting at any time. 
  
  

*If you use another type of authenticator app, the above will be in relation to that app .

Learn more about Microsoft's privacy information

If you have any other questions or concerns about MFA, please contact us. 
 

If you already have a Microsoft account that you use for work or personal use the easiest thing to do is use a different web browser to log in and set up MFA for your @myop.ac.nz account. This is because switching between different Microsoft accounts is not always smooth. 

If you want to use your usual browser, the easiest way to do this if you are already logged into that browser with your work or personal email is to:

1. Open an Incognito (Google) or InPrivate (Edge) window
2. Paste the link https://aka.ms/mfasetup into the address bar
3. Follow the set-up process.
   
   

Switching between accounts in the same browser

To switch between Microsoft accounts if you are not in an incognito or private window:

1. Click your name or initial icon or image on the top right of the screen.
2. Select ‘Sign in with a different account’ and follow the steps required.
3. You may need to close all browser windows.  
   
   

If you are not on your device or trying to access an application and you are asked to approve an MFA request decline the request.

You should also contact our Service Desk team:

• 0508 650 200
• helpdesk@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
  
  
  

If you added a landline (such as office or home phone) for MFA you can use this to authenticate it is you logging in. 

If you did not register a landline you need to contact our Service Desk:

• 0508 650 200
• helpdesk@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
  
  

If you use your mobile phone to authenticate for MFA you can update your phone number by:

1. Logging into office.com
2. Under 'View Account' select 'Security' info
3. Follow the prompts to change your number.

If you need help to update your phone number contact our Service Desk:

• 0508 650 200
• helpdesk@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
  
  

If you still have access to the Microsoft Authenticator app you can still use it to approve your login request. 

If you use the Microsoft Authenticator app for MFA it can generate verification codes offline. It does not require a voice, text, or data plan. 

If you need help to update your device information contact our Service Desk team: 

• 0508 650 200
• helpdesk@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
  
  

After you set up MFA on your account, you will be prompted to authenticate it is you every 30 days when you log in on each device you use to log in.

But if you enter an incorrect password or behave outside of your usual pattern you will be asked to re-authenticate as a safety precaution. This could include if you:

• Connect to your @MyOP account from multiple locations 
• Enter an incorrect password repeatedly 
• Sign in from different devices frequently (they will each have their own 30 day cycle)
• Change your password
• Use a different internet browser.