# Signing in, your PIN and the lock screen

> Academium SMS Help › Signing in and your account
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-signing-in-and-your-pin
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

Academium SMS keeps you signed in on your own computer and uses a short **PIN** to keep your account safe when you step away. This article explains how signing in, the PIN and the lock screen fit together.

## Sign in once, then use your PIN

How often you sign in depends on how you use Academium:

| You use | You sign in with your password or code | After that |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Individual Edition** | **Once**, the first time on that computer | Academium opens already signed in every time you start it, even with no internet. You unlock it with your **PIN**. |
| **Client Edition** | **Once** per account, on that shared computer | Your account stays on the computer. You switch to it with your **PIN**. |
| **A web browser** | **Every time** | No PIN. You are signed out after about two hours without use, unless you ticked **Remember me**. |

In the Individual and Client editions you stay signed in **until you sign out** yourself. You only need your password or a sign-in code again if:

- you **sign out** of your account, or sign the computer out of the school;
- an administrator **signs out**, **locks** or **wipes** the computer from **Devices & Access**;
- the computer goes **too long without reaching the school** (5 days by default), until it reconnects. See [Working offline and syncing](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-working-offline-and-syncing.md);
- you **forget your PIN** and choose to reset it with your password.

> **Warning:** Because the app opens already signed in, **your PIN is the only lock** on your account on that computer. Choose one nobody can guess, never share it, and lock the screen whenever you step away.

## The sign-in screen

Enter your **username, email address or phone number**, and your password, then choose **Sign in**.

- **Remember me** keeps you signed in on this computer for longer.
- **Sign in with a school code** is for staff who were given a school code and a personal sign-in code. See [Signing in with a staff sign-in code](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-signing-in-with-a-staff-sign-in-code.md).
- **Lost your password?** starts password recovery. See [Forgotten your password or PIN](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-forgotten-password-or-pin.md).

## Signing in with your PIN

Once your computer knows you, you will usually see **Welcome back** with your name, and only need your four-digit PIN.

- **Not you?** or **Sign in with different account** takes you to the full sign-in screen.

## Registering a new computer

The first time you sign in on a new computer, Academium asks for your PIN to register (enrol) that computer to your account. You can have up to **five** registered computers.

> **Note:** If you go over the limit, Academium removes your registered computers and asks you to set a new PIN. You then register each computer again as you use it.

## Locking the screen

Lock Academium whenever you step away, so nobody can use your account.

- **Lock it yourself** with the lock button in the top bar.
- **Automatic lock**: Academium locks itself after a few minutes without use. You choose how long (2, 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes) in your [personal preferences](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-personal-preferences.md).

The lock screen shows the time, date, your name and photo, and any unread notifications if you allow it. Enter your PIN to carry on **exactly where you left off**; nothing you were doing is lost. If the PIN is wrong, the boxes shake and you can try again.

## Signing out

Sign out from your profile menu when you will not use this computer again, or it belongs to someone else. Signing out forgets this computer, so next time you sign in with your password and register it again.

On a shared Client Edition computer, you can switch to a colleague's account instead of signing out. See [Sharing a computer with colleagues](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-sharing-a-computer.md).

## Common issues

**My account is locked after several wrong attempts.** Academium blocks repeated wrong passwords or PINs for a while, to protect your account. Wait and try again, or ask your administrator.

**"Session expired."** You were away from Academium for a long time. Sign in again with your PIN or password.

**"Could not reach the server."** On the Client Edition or in a browser, the school server cannot be reached. Check your network, and ask your administrator to check the server.

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