Whether you're a new student or returning for another year, having the right apps on your phone and computer can make your life at Pitt a lot easier. Here’s a rundown of the essential apps you should download now to hit the ground running.

Stay on Top of Academics

Canvas Student

Canvas is Pitt’s learning management system. Most of your courses will have a Canvas home page that includes class resources, a calendar, assignments, and test/homework scores. You can also communicate with your course instructor and turn in assignments. You can access Canvas on the web, but you’ll want to check in while on the go with the mobile app.

PeopleSoft CX Mobile

Pitt CX Mobile is the mobile app for PeopleSoft/HighPoint Campus Experience (CX). In HighPoint CX, you can search the course catalog, add/drop classes, and plan out your schedule. You can also use it to access your academic, financial, enrollment, and contact information.

Boost Your Productivity

Microsoft 365

As a Pitt student, you have access to Microsoft 365, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, OneDrive, and more. You can use the apps online via a web browser, but there are some features that are only available in the desktop apps. Download Microsoft 365 apps by logging into portal.office.com with your Pitt credentials and clicking “Install and More” in the upper-right corner.

Adobe Creative Cloud

With your Pitt credentials, you can get a free Adobe Creative Cloud license, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, and more. It’s a must-have for creative projects. Students who use the apps infrequently often access them through the Student Computing Labs instead of downloading the large apps. But if you have significant graphic, video, web, or photography work for your classes, campus job, or extra-curriculars, then we recommend getting your own license and installing the apps on your device. It takes a few days to activate the license, so request it before you need to use it.

Virtual Lab Remote Client

Pitt’s Virtual Student Computing Lab enables you to access all the apps available in the physical labs, without having to leave your room or install them on your personal computer. This is especially useful for accessing specialized software required for a course or when your device doesn’t have the storage or compute power to effectively run a program. You can access the virtual lab via a web browser, but many find it easier to use it via the remote client, especially on a mobile device.

Pharos Print

Need to print something? The Pharos Print app lets you send documents to any Pitt Print location from any device. The iOS and Android versions of the app both allow you to upload print jobs, view jobs in the print queue, change print options on those jobs, and view your remaining print quota. When you get to any printer, just swipe your ID to print out your document.

Connecting and Organizing

Duo Mobile

To keep your account secure, Pitt uses Duo Multifactor Authentication (MFA) along with Pitt Passport. The mobile app is the quickest and easiest way to complete the MFA process. It sends a prompt to your phone, which you can approve with one touch. It also lets you deny prompts you didn’t initiate and report a fraudulent login attempt from your account.

Outlook Email

Keep up with University communications, class announcements, and important updates with Microsoft Outlook Email. Outlook also offers a calendar and To-Do List to keep track of your important tasks. We recommend downloading the Outlook desktop and mobile apps, so you can access it from any device!

Microsoft Teams

Teams is an online collaboration workspace that brings together instant messaging, threaded conversations, meetings, audio or video calls, file sharing, and more. The mobile app lets you use Teams as your default Chat/IM tool for other Pitt students, faculty, and staff without needing to exchange phone numbers or email addresses. You can also use it to make video calls or attend online meetings.

OneDrive Cloud Storage

You get 5 TB of cloud storage through OneDrive. The OneDrive mobile app gives you easy access to all your files from your phone or tablet. You can even take a picture from the app and save it directly to OneDrive as a PDF file, making it a perfect scanning app.

Zoom

Attend virtual classes and events, meet for group work, attend virtual office hours by downloading Zoom. It’s a staple for remote learning and collaboration. To install Zoom, log into pitt.zoom.us with your Pitt credentials and click “Download Client” from the home screen.

Getting Around and Eating Well

Eateries and Food Delivery Apps

Pitt’s campus is in the middle of a bustling business district, with access to dozens of restaurants on and off campus offering every kind of cuisine you can think of. The Pitt Eats app is your connection to all the eateries throughout campus that work with your dining plans. If you’re interested in branching out and mixing it up, Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash are great options for getting meals delivered from Pittsburgh’s many restaurants!

Transit App

Your Pitt ID provides free access to all Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses, light rail, and inclines for travel in and around the city and Allegheny County. The Transit app is essential for navigating the system, providing real-time updates, route planning, and schedules to ensure you never miss a bus.

POGOH

Riding a bike is an eco-friendly and fun way to stay active and discover new places. Pitt students get free, unlimited 30-minute rental bike rides with POGOH Bikeshare to get around campus and explore the city. The mobile app helps you easily find pedal and e-bike docking stations across Pittsburgh.

Safely Explore More Apps

To discover other useful apps, visit the Pitt App Center and the Pitt Software Download Center. Remember, when downloading any app, follow basic safety precautions:

• Only use official app stores or known businesses.
• Read the terms of service to know what you’re implicitly agreeing to.
• Check app permissions to see if it’s accessing your emails, texts, or location.
• Verify the app publisher — check reviews, downloads, and release date.
• Enable automatic app updates to protect against malware.
• Set strong, unique passwords for each app. 

Happy downloading and have a fantastic year at Pitt!

-- By Haree Lim, Pitt IT Student Blogger