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Questions
- How do I sign in to Claude with my Bowdoin account?
- How do I log in to Claude using single sign-on?
- Can I use my Bowdoin username and password for Claude?
- Why doesn't my personal Claude account work with Bowdoin?
- Claude is asking me to log in with single sign-on. What do I enter?
- How do I sign in to the Claude desktop app or mobile app?
- I get an error or cannot reach the Okta login. What do I do?
- How do I sign out or switch from a personal account to my Bowdoin account?
Environment
This article applies to Bowdoin community members whose Bowdoin-managed Claude account has been set up.
- Who: Students, faculty, and staff with an approved Claude account.
- What: Claude on the web (claude.ai), the Claude desktop app, and the Claude mobile app.
- Authentication: Bowdoin single sign-on (SSO) through Okta.
- Not in scope: LibreChat, which uses its own Bowdoin sign-in. This article covers the Claude apps only.
Important: If you have not yet been set up for a Bowdoin Claude account, sign-in will not work. To request access first, see Get Access to Claude at Bowdoin in the Related Articles section.
Resolution
Note: Always sign in with your Bowdoin email address (username@bowdoin.edu). If you previously created a personal Claude account with your Bowdoin email, Claude may prompt you to sign in with single sign-on instead of a password.
Sign in on the web (claude.ai)
- Go to claude.ai/login.
- Enter your Bowdoin email address (
username@bowdoin.edu).
- Click Continue with SSO. Claude detects that the bowdoin.edu domain uses single sign-on.
- Claude opens the Bowdoin Okta sign-in page. Enter your Bowdoin credentials and complete multi-factor authentication (MFA) if Okta prompts you.
- After Okta verifies your identity, Claude returns you to the app and signs you in.
Sign in on the desktop app
- Open the Claude desktop app. Download the app from claude.com/download if it is not installed.
- Click Log in and enter your Bowdoin email address.
- Choose Continue with SSO. The Claude desktop app opens the Bowdoin Okta page in your browser.
- Complete Okta sign-in. The Claude desktop app finishes logging you in automatically.
Sign in on the mobile app
- Install Claude by Anthropic from the App Store or Google Play.
- Tap Log in, enter your Bowdoin email, and choose Continue with SSO.
- Authenticate through Okta to finish signing in.
Confirm you are in the Bowdoin workspace
Once signed in, confirm you are working in the Bowdoin organization rather than a personal account:
- Click your name or initials in the lower-left corner of the Claude window.
- If more than one workspace is listed, select the Bowdoin College workspace.
Note: To switch from a personal account, sign out completely, then sign back in with your Bowdoin email and choose Continue with SSO. Personal chats do not appear in the Bowdoin workspace, and Bowdoin work should stay in the Bowdoin workspace.
If sign-in fails
- "Account not found" or access denied: Your Bowdoin Claude account may not be set up yet. To request access, see Get Access to Claude at Bowdoin in the Related Articles section.
- Stuck on the Okta page: Confirm you can sign in to other Bowdoin services with Okta. If Okta itself is failing, contact the Service Desk.
- A password prompt appears instead of single sign-on: Confirm you typed your full
@bowdoin.edu address, then choose Continue with SSO.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
Additional Resources
AI-assisted content: This article was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool and reviewed by Bowdoin IT staff for accuracy.