Sign in to Notability with your Bowdoin account

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Questions

  • How do I sign in to Notability?
  • Do I need to sign in to Notability?
  • Which sign-in option in Notability should I use with my Bowdoin account?
  • Will I be asked to use Okta and Okta Verify when I sign in to Notability?
  • Does signing in with Google in Notability mean my Bowdoin email is in Gmail?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff using Notability on macOS or iPadOS, on College‑managed devices (via Jamf Self Service). It assumes your Bowdoin account is set up with Okta and Okta Verify for multi‑factor authentication. Notability supports sign-in with Google and Microsoft. Both Google and Microsoft sign-ins use Bowdoin’s Identity Provider (Okta) when you enter your @bowdoin.edu address.

Resolution

Signing in to Notability is not a requirement to use the app on macOS or iPadOS. When you sign in to Notability, you add the ability to share note links with other people and browse a few additional page templates. Otherwise, Notability will work without signing in. All backups are kept on your device or synced between devices when you use your Apple ID on both devices as it leverages iCloud for storage.

  1. Install Notability:
    • On College‑managed Macs or iPads: open the Self Service app and install Notability.
  2. Open Notability, then choose the gear icon in the upper-left corner.
    1. Choose Account and then choose Sign In
    2. Select “Continue with Google” or "Continue with Microsoft" and enter your Bowdoin email (yourname@bowdoin.edu).
  3. When prompted for your email, type your full Bowdoin address (yourname@bowdoin.edu). You will be redirected to Bowdoin’s Okta sign‑in.
  4. Sign in with your Bowdoin password on the Okta page, then approve the Okta Verify prompt on your phone to complete multi‑factor authentication.
    1. If you are asked to choose an account type, pick “Work or school account.” If you are already signed in to a personal Google/Microsoft account in the browser, choose “Use another account” and enter your Bowdoin email.
  5. Complete any on‑screen prompts (such as permissions). You should now be signed in to Notability with your Bowdoin account.

    NOTE: If you receive an error message that the sign in couldn't take place or that something went wrong, try again in 5 minutes. We've experienced issues where the app is attempting to create a Notability account but it doesn't complete fast enough to log you in right away.
     
  6. Notes on email and sign‑in:
    • Using Google to sign in does not mean your Bowdoin email is in Gmail. Bowdoin does not use Gmail for email; authentication still goes through Okta. See Outlook on the web for Bowdoin email.
    • You can also access many Bowdoin services via the Bowdoin Login Portal (Okta).
    • For Notability account basics and sign‑in options, see the Notability Help Center.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you can chat with Bowdoin Bot of contact the Bowdoin College Service Desk by phone at (207) 725-3030 or in person at the Tech Hub in Smith Union.

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