Setting up myGov
This short guide is a reference tool to help refresh your knowledge or practise what you have learned in the Setting up myGov online course, including:
- how to set up a myGov account and sign in
- how manage your myGov account's security and settings
- where you can find help for your myGov account.
What you need
To create a myGov account, you’ll need:
- An active email address
- A mobile phone with an active mobile account and number is recommended for additional security
- Answers to Secret questions you’ll choose from a list.
The email address will be used for signing in to myGov, and the mobile phone number for receiving a special code to sign in securely. The secret questions let you access your myGov account if you forget your password.
How to set up myGov step by step
The myGov website will guide you through setting up your myGov account, but if you feel a bit lost you can refer to this list to see which step you’re up to:
- Visit https://my.gov.au
- Accept the Terms of Use
- Click Create account
- Enter your email address and receive a code to your email to confirm it
- Enter your mobile phone number and receive a text message with a special code
- Type in the code you received
- Create a strong password, with seven letters and at least one number
- Choose three secret questions from the list and provide the answers.
Your myGov account will be created, and the screen will show a code you can use as your username. However, you can always use your email address to sign in, so you don’t need to remember the code.
You have the option to use your Digital Identity to create and sign in to your myGov account. You may have set up Digital Identity to access government and other services if you own a business.
Signing in to myGov
To keep your personal information secure, myGov has tight security and a few extra steps to sign in compared to other websites:
- You enter your username and password
- myGov then sends you a code to your mobile phone
- Enter the code to complete signing in.
If you forget your password or didn’t get a code to your mobile phone, click the Forgot password link or the I didn’t get a code link and follow the steps shown on the screen.
If you get stuck, call 13 23 07 and choose Option 1.
Tips for myGov account security
Your myGov account is kept secure with a unique username, a password, and extra protection from a code sent to your mobile phone.
Instead of a username and password, you can use your Digital Identity if you have one set up already.
If you enter your myGov password incorrectly five times in a row, your account will be locked for two hours, after which you can try again.
How to change settings on myGov
Click My account and then from the menu that appears, choose Account settings. The Settings screen will appear.
- Choose a category from the left menu, such as Sign in settings or Contact details
- A list of settings appears on the left, and you can click Edit next to any setting to change it
- For example, Sign in settings includes the Username option, where you can choose to use your email address to sign in instead of a code
- You can also change your password here, if you are worried someone has guessed it or seen it
- Choose Contact details from the left if you need to change your mobile phone number
- Explore the settings to change things like answering a secret question to sign in, or using the myGov Code Generator app.
How to get help with your myGov account
Use the Assistant to get help with doing things on your myGov account:
Click the Assistant button on the right hand of the screen and in the pop up, type in a topic you need help with. The Assistant understand some plain English but often it’s more reliable to just put in a single word like password instead of how can I change my password?
You can click boxes in the Assistant to see answers to common questions
For more guides on how to use myGov, visit Services Australia's myGov online help guides page.
You can call the myGov helpdesk on 13 23 07, 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday (10am to 5pm on weekends) if you need to speak to a person about your question. If you are travelling overseas and need help, use the +61 1300 169 468 number.