One Email. One Ohio State
How your email will change
Today, students are issued both a lastname.#@buckeyemail.osu.edu and a lastname.#@osu.edu email addresse. Soon students will use one primary email account to send and receive university communications.
- Your lastname.#@osu.edu address becomes your default login and communication email
- Emails sent to both @osu.edu and @buckeyemail.osu.edu will be delivered to your lastname.#@osu.edu
This change is designed to make your day-to-day easier while strengthening security across Ohio State.
What you’ll gain:
- One place for important university communications
- No more juggling multiple email logins
- Clear guidance on which email to use to log in
- Stronger, more consistent security protections
This is part of Ohio State’s broader effort to modernize technology and better protect sensitive information.
What to Expect
The transition will roll out in phases, with more details shared along the way. Here’s a preview of what may change for you:
- Your login will update to lastname.#@osu.edu for Microsoft 365 and related services
- You may need to log back into apps after your transition
- Files in OneDrive will transfer to your updated account
- Some files or folders may need to be reshared
- Your workstation login profile may change (i.e., web favorites might be reset, blank My Documents folder, etc.)
You’ll receive personalized communications with your specific timeline and any actions you need to take.
Stay Informed
We’ll continue updating this page with:
- Key dates and milestones in The Ohio State App and in On Campus
- Step-by-step guidance
- FAQs and troubleshooting tips
Be sure to check your email regularly for updates tailored to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
These FAQs will answer most questions, Content is a work in progress and will be updated as additional details become available.
Is there anything I should do to prepare?
Yes, before your transition, we recommend:
- Cleaning up your email and emptying your Deleted Items folder
- Cleaning up files in OneDrive and emptying the recycle bin
- If you have mailbox rules that forward messages from BuckeyeMail (bmail) to an lastname.#@osu.edu or @osumc.edu address, remove those rules
- Continue checking your email and the project website for updates about your transition date
What should I expect on the day that my account transitions?
On the day your account transitions:
- You will be signed out of apps where you used buckeyemail.osu.edu to sign in, including Outlook, OneDrive, desktop and mobile apps
- After the transition, BuckeyeMail sign‑ins will no longer work and will return an “unknown account” error
- Sign back in to Microsoft 365 apps using lastname.#@osu.edu
- This includes signing in on classroom or lab computers, even if posted instructions reference BuckeyeMail
I signed up for services or mailing lists using my BuckeyeMail address. What should I do?
Email sent to buckeyemail.osu.edu will continue to be delivered to your mailbox.
However, we recommend updating those services to use your lastname.#@osu.edu address going forward.
Students
I am an active student. What do I need to know?
After your transition date:
- You will no longer be able to sign in using buckeyemail.osu.edu
- If you try to sign in with BuckeyeMail, you will receive an “unknown account” error
- Use lastname.#@osu.edu to sign in instead
- All of your email and files will remain available after the transition
I am a graduated student. What do I need to know?
- Graduated students whose two‑year post‑graduation window falls within the project timeframe will not be transitioned unless they return to an active status (student or employee)
- Graduated students whose two‑year post‑graduation window falls outside the project timeframe will transition in the same way as active students
I am a student with an S‑account. What do I need to know?
S‑accounts will continue to be used for students who need separation between academic and university business accounts, such as those who:
- Require a university phone number
- Work in departments like legal, compliance, or similar areas
I applied to Ohio State but decided to attend another university. Why did I receive this email?
If you applied to Ohio State, an account was created as part of that process. There is nothing you need to do. Your account will automatically transition and be deleted after the semester you applied for has concluded.
Employees and Affiliates
I am a university employee (not OSUMC) and also a student or guest. What do I need to know?
Your BuckeyeMail (bmail) mailbox and OneDrive data will be migrated to your @osu.edu account.
I am a medical center employee and also a student. What do I need to know?
Your BuckeyeMail (bmail) mailbox and OneDrive data will be migrated to your @osu.edu account.
If you currently forward your @osu.edu email to OSUMC or NCH, messages sent to your BuckeyeMail address will continue to be forwarded there.
University Departments
My unit’s instructions for students reference BuckeyeMail. What should we do?
You should plan to update those materials after your unit’s transition date. Because the transition will occur over several months, we do not recommend removing all BuckeyeMail references until the project is complete.
My unit sends email communications to students using BuckeyeMail addresses. What do we need to change?
- All current and future students will continue to be assigned buckeyemail.osu.edu addresses
- Email sent to BuckeyeMail addresses will continue to be delivered
- Units are encouraged to review and update communications to use @osu.edu addresses when possible
- BuckeyeMail addresses will remain in place for the foreseeable future; any long‑term plans for removal will be communicated later