Logging in to xTRACT

If switching to Login.gov, follow the instructions in Refer to Transitioning To and Using Login.gov.

If you attempt to log in with your normal eRA credentials, and you see one of the following screens, then you are being transitioned to mandatory use of Login.gov; see Transitioning To and Using Login.gov.

This method uses a username and password that is assigned and maintained by the eRA Commons system. This method is being phased out gradually and eventually all external users must create and associate a Login.gov account, which associates the eRA credentials with the Login.gov account, but uses Login.gov for authentication. See below for instructions.

NOTE:  If you are an NIH staff member who needs to log in with your NIH network account credentials and you have an active NIH PIV exemption, see Login Screen for Internal Staff, and scroll down to the topic titled, Log In Using NIH Network Account Credentials (Only available for NIH users who have an active NIH PIV exemption).

If you have been provided with a Commons User ID, you can log in to Commons using the Login with eRA Credentials section of the login page. This access method is being gradually phased out starting in 2021, but you will retain the eRA credentials and continue to maintain them because they identify you throughout the Commons system.

1. Navigate to eRA Commons . (https://public.era.nih.gov/commons/)
2. Under Login with eRA Credentials, enter your username in the Username field.
3. Enter your password in the Password field. By default, passwords display as bullet characters, but you can click the small 'eye' icon next to the password field to see the actual password in clear text.
4. Click the Login button.

NOTE:  Commons locks users out after three (3) unsuccessful login attempts.

A successful login shows the username, organization, and user roles in the upper-right corner of each screen when you click the person icon.

IMPORTANT: Are you affiliated with multiple institutions? Make sure that the correct institution is displayed after you log in. This will affect the information you can access in xtract. Refer to the Changing your Default Organization topic for more information.

After you have signed into Commons, you can access the various modules, links, and help screens, as well as other available links.

NOTE: The modules accessible to a user depend on that user’s role and privileges.

This method uses an InCommon federated account (when a user's organization participates in the InCommon federated account login program, which involves using the organization’s own credentials). See Federated Institutions/Organizations Commons Login for instructions.

If you are an internal NIH or Agency user accessing Commons, see the Login Screen for Internal Staff topic.

If you are an NIH staff member who needs to log in with network credentials and you have an active NIH PIV exemption, access the above topic, and scroll down to the topic titled, Log In Using NIH Network Account Credentials (Only available for NIH users who have an active NIH PIV exemption).