Mobile Cougar Card FAQ

• Makes your ID easier to access — right from your phone or watch. It reduces the need to carry a physical card.
• Enhances security through device biometrics (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint, etc.).
• Supports faster, contactless access to buildings, dining, and services.

The mobile Cougar Card allows you to access essential campus services using your iPhone, Apple Watch or Android device. It serves as your primary UH credential, acting as the official identifier for students, staff, faulty, and POI/special program personnel. The mobile Cougar Card also enables convenient and secure transactions. 

No, they're different forms of the Cougar Card.

The digital Cougar Card is in the form of a QR code and is available in the UH Go app. It can be used to access the approved gated parking location, for meal plans, Cougar Dining Dollars, and ShastaBUCKS transactions. However it cannot be used for building access. The QR code must be scanned to complete transactions. 

The mobile Cougar Card lives in device after its activated. It is NFC enabled, which means you can tap the back of your phone on any reader on campus and it will complete the transaction. For Android devices, you don't need to open the app or unlock the phone but you will need to wake it up (screen on) before you can use it. The mobile Cougar Card can be used for building access, ShastaBUCKS, meal plan and Cougar Dining Dollars transactions, printing, parking garage and gated lots and the MD Anderson Library. It's faster and more secure! 

Current students, staff, faculty and special program personnel are eligible as long as they meet all device and software requirements. There is a $20 Cougar Card fee for POI/special program personnel. Contact Cougar Card Services for assistance. 

Current physical Cougar Card holders may continue to use their physical card. However, if you activate your mobile Cougar Card, your physical and digital card be deactivated. If you wish to switch back to the physical card after your card deactivates, visit the Cougar Card Office. A $20 card replacement fee applies.

Both the physical and mobile Cougar Card are official University of Houston IDs and are accepted at services across campus. However, the mobile Cougar Card provides enhanced security and privacy to allow card users to be worry-free with transactions and building access.

Yes, an approved photo is required for eligibility.

All users: The Apple Wallet or Google Wallet must be set up with a pin, pattern or biometrics to activate the mobile Cougar Card.

Apple users 

1. Download and open the UH Go app.  
2. Click on the button that says “Click here to learn more about mobile Cougar Card.”  
3. Read the screens and follow the instructions to add the mobile Cougar Card to your iPhone and/or Apple Watch. 

Android users 

While your mobile Cougar Card will not live in your Android wallet at this time, the Wallet is still required to be set up with a pin, pattern, or biometrics for the mobile Cougar Card to function on your device. 

1. Download and open the UH Go app.  
2. Click on the button that says “Click here to learn more about mobile Cougar Card.”  
3. Read the screens and follow the instructions to download the Atrium Campus Connect app.
4. Select "Credential" in the Atrium Campus Connect app, then select the NFC option to complete the activation. 

Users will need to keep this app on their device as it enables their NFC for the mobile Cougar Card but you will not need to open the app when you use you Cougar Card. 

Issues activating your mobile Cougar Card? Email cougarcard@uh.edu for assistance. 

No, only one type of Cougar Card can be active at a time. 

New students or current students replacing a physical Cougar Card are only eligible for the mobile Cougar Card. 

Faculty, Staff and POI Special Program employees must choose between a physical Cougar Card and the mobile Cougar Card.

Once you switch to the mobile Cougar Card, your physical Cougar Card will be deactivated and can no longer be used at any card readers for security purposes. You may save it as a keepsake or return it at the Cougar Card Services to be disposed of. 

Before you proceed with the mobile Cougar Card check the following:

iPhone: iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, or later running the latest version of iOS 12 or above

Apple Watch: Apple Watch Series 1 or later running the latest version of watchOS

Android: Version 6.0 or later 

Wallets: Apple Wallet and Google Wallet must be set up on the device and Express Mode must be enabled.

Device Security: Screen lock must be enabled on your device with a PIN, pattern or biometrics established.

NFC: Device must have built-in and enabled NFC connection.

Region: Device Region must be set to United States.

If you can still see the digital Cougar Card QR code in the UH Go app, your mobile Cougar Card activation has not been fully completed. Once activation is successful, the QR code is no longer available because the mobile Cougar Card operates using NFC (tap) technology rather than QR code scanning.

For iPhone users: Verify that your Cougar Card appears in your Apple Wallet.

For Android users: Open the Atrium Campus Connect app and navigate to Credentials.
Confirm that your Cougar Card shows a green Active status.

If you do not see your mobile Cougar Card in Apple Wallet or your mobile Cougar Card is not showing as Active in the Atrium Campus Connect app, you will need to repeat the activation process and complete all activation steps.

If you continue to experience issues after completing activation, contact Cougar Card Services for assistance.

The mobile Cougar Card does not work on barcodes, it uses NFC technology much like your debit/credit card in the device Wallet. So all you have to do is tap the back of your phone on the reader you want to use. The phone should be awake but doesn't need to be unlocked. You don't need to log in to the Atrium Campus Connect app.

You should first remove your mobile Cougar Card from your old device in the Apple Wallet app or from your iCloud account. Once it is removed, you can add a mobile Cougar Card to the new device by following the steps in the UH Go app. 

Having issues? Contact us

You will need to contact Cougar Card Services to have the connection between your old Apple ID and your student account removed before you can activate your mobile Cougar Card with a new Apple ID. 

If you're getting an error when you try to add your Cougar Card to your Apple Wallet, try logging out of UH Go and then log back in and try again. If you receive an error again, please contact Cougar Card Services to reset your account. 

You need to contact Cougar Card Services to have your old mobile Cougar Card removed from your account before you can add the new device by following the steps in the UH Go app. 

If you cannot find the Atrium Campus Connect app in the app store on your phone, reset the region to the United States. Please note that changing the region may impact other functionality on your phone. Please read the details before proceeding with caution:

• Android — How to change your Google Play country.

No, you don't need to open the Atrium Connect app to use your mobile Cougar Card.

Once you're at the reader you're trying to use, simply tap the back of your phone on the reader. For Android devices, you don't need to open the app or unlock the phone but you will need to wake it up (screen on) before you can use it. The Atrium app will need to remain on your device for the time being.

You will need to check if NFC is available on your device:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Look for Connections or Network settings.
3. Search for NFC or Contactless payments.

If NFC is not listed, your model may not support it, or it may be disabled.

Not NFC compatible? Contact us

The Google Play store could be having issues. Try clearing your cache.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Google Play Store

2. Tap on Storage > Clear Cache

3.  Try downloading again

You do not need the bar code to use your mobile Cougar Card . Once you're at the reader you're trying to use, tap the back of your phone on it. For Android devices, you don't need to open the app or unlock the phone but you will need to wake it up (screen on) before you can use it. The Atrium app will need to remain on your device for the time being.

At this time the mobile Cougar Card can't be added to the Google Wallet. It will only be visible through the Atrium Connect app but the NFC capabilities are active so you will be able to use it. You'll just go up to the reader and tap the back of the phone to the reader. For Android devices, you don't need to open the app or unlock the phone but you will need to wake up the device (screen on) before you can use it. The Atrium app will need to remain on your device for the time being. 

You can enter residence halls, academic buildings, labs, dining halls, and parking facilities. To use it, just tap the back of your device at campus readers to access buildings and rooms. You can also tap your device to make purchases using your meal plan or ShastaBUCKS.

The mobile Cougar Card works across campus, including building access. For residence halls, access to your room can vary depending on where you live, as some residence halls require a physical key or separate key card for room entry.

You can use your mobile Cougar Card to enter your external residence hall building door, but access to your actual room varies by location. Cougar Place and Cougar Village 2 require a separate key card to enter residence hall rooms. Cougar Village 1, Moody Towers, University Lofts, and Bayou Oaks use physical keys for residence hall rooms. Residents of The Quads can use the mobile Cougar Card to access their residence hall and rooms. 

iPhones XS and later — Express Mode with power reserve is available for up to five hours after the device’s battery needs to be charged. You can press the side button to check if Express Mode is available when your iPhone needs to be charged. Doing this often may significantly reduce the power reserve for Express Mode. If you choose to power off your iPhone, this feature will not be available.

Android, iPhone 6/6 Plus to iPhone X — Your device must have battery power to use the mobile Cougar Card.

The MD Anderson Library has phone chargers available for checkout, as well as public charging spaces available. See their website for more information. 

First, check to make sure that any phone case or accessory you have on your phone is not blocking the NFC technology. Next, make sure your NFC technology is enabled. If your mobile Cougar Card still does not work, contact Cougar Card Services. 

Your mobile Cougar Card can be used even if your phone does not have network connectivity, as it is stored on your device. However, a network connection is required to initially activate the mobile Cougar Card. 

Yes, you will simply tap the reader with your phone instead of your physical card. Make sure the cashier knows you want to make a ShastaBUCKS transaction.

Any difficulty using your mobile Cougar Card should be reported to cougarcard@uh.edu. Please provide us with the following details: 

• Your name
• Your PSID
• The date and time of the attempted transaction
• What happened

iPhone and Apple Watch 

Your UHID is located on the back of your Cougar Card within your device’s Wallet. 

1. Open the Wallet app. 
2. Tap your Cougar Card to view the full card. 
3. Select the “i” (info) icon in the top-right corner. 
4. Your UHID will appear, listed with your full name below the call, email, and website icons. 

You can also see your account balances listed on the back of your Cougar Card.

The back of your mobile Cougar Card has important resource information like the number for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the number for CAPS Crisis Support. 

iPhone and Apple Watch 

These resources are located on the back of your Cougar Card within your device’s Wallet. 

1. Open the Wallet app. 
2. Tap your Cougar Card to view the full card. 
3. Select the “i” (info) icon in the top-right corner. 
4.  You'll see the contact numbers listed after your account balances. 

Apple users: Use the Find My feature to remove the device. After replacing your device, follow the steps in the UH Go app to activate a new mobile Cougar Card.

Android users: Contact Cougar Card Services to have your mobile Cougar Card revoked. After replacing your device, follow the steps in the UH Go app to activate a new mobile Cougar Card.