If you have additional questions about ORCID that are not answered here, or need help setting up your ORCID iD and profie, please contact Karen Rowlett, Research Publications Adviser. Contact details are in the adjacent box.
For additional FAQs, please see the ORCID FAQ page
Who can register for an ORCID iD?
Anyone can register for an ORCID iD. There is no set of requirements that you have to pass to be classified as a researcher and you do not need an official affiliation.
ORCID iDs are most useful for active researchers who want to keep track of their research outputs. You may be required to register for an iD if you are submitting to some journals or applying for research funding with some organisations (eg. UK Research Councils).
How can I check if I've already got an ORCID iD?
If you try and register with the same email address as an existing ORCID iD, you will be aksed to log in rather than to register a new ID. You can also search the ORCID registry by using the Advanced Search function before you register for a new ORCID iD if you think that you might already have been assigned one.
I can't remember my ORCID password - should I just register again?
If you can't log into your ORCID iD, you can use the 'Forgotten Password' link to get your password reset. If you no longer have access to the email address that you used to create your ORCID record, the ORCID support team can help you regain access. Don't create another iD as duplicate ORCID iDs will cause problems in maintaining your record.
I've got two ORCID iDs - what can I do?
As the point of the ORCID iD is that it is unique to you, it is best to try to make sure that you only register once. If you do find that you have duplicate records, contact ORCID support to resolve the problem.
As ORCID identifiers are designed to be persistent, obsolete identifiers are deprecated rather than being deleted. If someone tries to access a deprecated record, they will be redirected to the primary active record.
What happens if I move to another job or institution?
Your ORCID iD belongs to you and so you keep the same ID throughout your career. If you move to a different post or institution you can update your ORCID iD with the new information.
How do I control the privacy of the information in my ORCID record?
Researcher privacy is a fundamental principle of the ORCID organisation. The owner of the ORCID iD has full control over the privacy settings of their own record. Information in your record can be marked Public, Private or only available to a trusted party. Find out more about privacy settings and ORCIDs privacy policy.
How can I check or change what permissions I've granted to trusted organisations?
You can check and change the permission settings within your profile by signing in to your ORCID account and then checking the Account Settings. You will see a list of all the trusted organisations and how you allow them to interact with your ORCID iD.
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The permissions that you have granted and the date that you authorised them will be shown in the Trusted Organisations table. If you want to revoke access to any third party, click on the bin symbol and the trusted organisation will no longer be able to interact with your ORCID iD. |
How much information do I have to add to my ORCID profile?
It is entirely up to the owner of the ORCID iD to decide how much information is added and how much of this is publically visible. As a bare minimum, it is probably advisable to add variants of your name, some keywords about your research area, your current affiliation and possibly a link to your university webpage. This will help others make sure that they have the correct ORCID iD if they are trying to discover your work. It is also advisable to add additional email addresses (not shown publicly) so that you can always access your ORCID account.
What do I do with my ORCID iD now that I've got one?
Once you have an ORCID iD you'll be able to use it during manuscript submissions (lots of manuscript tracking systems support ORCID),for grant applications and to aid reporting via Researchfish. We also recommend linking your ORCID to CentAUR if you are a staff member at University of Reading. Many systems now use ORCID as a sign on method.
In addition, you can add your ORCID iD to your website, CV, email signature and business cards.
There are some more ideas on the ORCID support website
ORCID has an extensive knowledge base that you can use to find out more about how to manage your ORCID iD
Plus many more.
