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My OpenLearn account

Updated Monday, 1 February 2021

Have questions concerning your OpenLearn account? Look no further, we're here to help!

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You can access all of the free learning materials on OpenLearn without creating an account, but by creating an account you will gain access to a range of features including being able to obtain a free Statement of participation.

You can read about how we handle your personal data in our Privacy Statement.

How do I create an account?

To create an account, click the green 'Create account/Sign in' button found in the top right-hand corner of the OpenLearn site. Then, click the pink 'Create account' button in the 'New visitor?' Section. Fill in your details and click 'submit'.

Who do I contact if I have problems signing in to my account?

If you have any problems signing in to your account, then contact the OU Computing Helpdesk (ou-computing-helpdesk@open.ac.uk). You can telephone +44 (0) 1908 653972.

How do I change my name and email details?

1. Name change in your OpenLearn profile

'My OpenLearn' is your user profile. To amend your profile name, click on 'My OpenLearn', which is displayed near the top of each page, and select ‘Edit my profile and display settings’.

You can control what information you share with other people - allowing you to choose if you want to learn in public, or private, or a mixture of both.

You can read about how we handle your personal data in our Privacy Statement.

2. Name change on your Statements of participation

To change the name on your Statement of participation you will need to alter it on your main OU account. It is better to do this on a PC, rather than a mobile device. Once you have signed in, follow this link:

https://www.open.ac.uk/account/myaccount#personal-information , this should take you to the Personal Details tab.

If you have more than one first name, follow this additional instruction:

The Statement of participation will only pick up one name from the 'Forenames' section, all your remaining names should go into the 'Surname' section.

This change usually takes place overnight.

3. How do I change my email address?

You can add a contact email to your OU account, and this will take effect immediately. Any emails relating to enrolment on courses, gaining Statements of participation etc. will be sent to this new email.

It is better to do this on a PC, rather than a mobile device. Once you have signed in, follow this link:

https://www.open.ac.uk/account/myaccount#personal-information , this should take you to the Personal Details tab.

Please note, this won't change the email that you have as a username, you will still need to sign in with the old email. The original email is linked to your main account, and if you need to change it you should make a request via the OU’s contact page - http://www.open.ac.uk/contact/new

If you'd prefer not to sign in using your old email address, there are alternative usernames for signing in -

  • your OU computer username (OUCU), which is in the format zx12345
  • your Personal Identifier (PI) which you can find in the top right when you’re signed in, and is in the format of a letter and seven numbers e.g. D1234567

How do I change my password?

If you know your password and want to change it, you will need to go to your main OU account. It is better to do this on a PC, rather than a mobile device. Once you have signed in, follow this link:

https://www.open.ac.uk/account/myaccount#personal-information and you will see an option to change your password.

If you have forgotten your password, you will need to contact the OU Computing Helpdesk (ou-computing-helpdesk@open.ac.uk). You can telephone +44 (0) 1908 653972

How do I delete my OpenLearn account?

Remember that if you don't wish to share any of your details with the public, you can change your OpenLearn profile settings to private. However, if you decide you wish to delete your account, you are able to do this yourself. Please follow the link in the top right to 'My OpenLearn Profile', if you scroll down, you should see a button 'Delete my profile'. 

Please be aware that deleting your profile will remove any badges you may have earned, and remove all records of your activity on OpenLearn. It is not reversible, once the profile is deleted, it can't be re-instated. If you have any questions about this, or need help deleting your profile, please send an email to openlearn@open.ac.uk .

Furthermore, this will only remove your OpenLearn profile - the underlying Open University account will still exist; if you would like that account deleted, please follow this link http://www.open.ac.uk/contact/new and fill in the form. There is an option under 'Subject of query' called 'Delete online account', if you tick this box your request will be forwarded to the correct department.

You can read about how we handle your personal data in our Privacy Statement .

How can I contact you?

Before you contact us, please bear in mind that we are a small team working with limited resources, so do please check the FAQs first to see whether this answers your question.

If you can't find the answer that you are looking for, please contact us at openlearn@open.ac.uk and we will try to respond as soon as possible.

 
 

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