Your First Steps with ActivID ActivClient

Depending on your organization’s deployment process, you might need to configure your smart card before you can use it for authentication or digital signature operations.

Your first steps with ActivClient are determined by your:

Smart card status (whether your administrator has prepared the card for you and it is ready to use, or not)
ActivClient configuration (defined during ActivClient setup)

The following table lists the actions to take according to your smart card status:

Smart Card Status	Action
You have a blank smart card (no PIN)	Your administrator has given you a blank smart card. You need to initialize the card before you can use it. Log on to your workstation using the same user name and password that you used before installing ActivClient. Initialize your new smart card and create your PIN. Load credentials on to your smart card. Use your card to log on to your workstation (if your administrator instructs you to do so), sign emails, access secure Web sites, etc.
Your smart card is personalized with a PIN but is not configured for Windows PKI logon	Your administrator has given you a smart card and a PIN, and the smart card has already been personalized with your credentials (for example, with digital certificates – but not configured for Windows logon). Your card is ready to use. Log on to your workstation using the same user name and password you used before installing ActivClient. Use your card to sign emails, access secure Web sites, etc.
Your smart card is personalized with a PIN and a Windows PKI logon digital certificate	Your administrator has given you a smart card and a PIN, and the smart card has already been personalized with your credentials (including a digital certificate configured for Windows logon). Your card is ready to use. Log on to your workstation using your smart card and your PIN. For more information, see Log On to Windows with a Certificate. Use your card to sign emails, access secure Web sites, etc.

Smart Card Status

Action

You have a blank smart card (no PIN)

Your administrator has given you a blank smart card. You need to initialize the card before you can use it.

Log on to your workstation using the same user name and password that you used before installing ActivClient.
Initialize your new smart card and create your PIN.
Load credentials on to your smart card.
Use your card to log on to your workstation (if your administrator instructs you to do so), sign emails, access secure Web sites, etc.

Your smart card is personalized with a PIN but is not configured for Windows PKI logon

Your administrator has given you a smart card and a PIN, and the smart card has already been personalized with your credentials (for example, with digital certificates – but not configured for Windows logon). Your card is ready to use.

Log on to your workstation using the same user name and password you used before installing ActivClient.
Use your card to sign emails, access secure Web sites, etc.

Your smart card is personalized with a PIN and a Windows PKI logon digital certificate

Your administrator has given you a smart card and a PIN, and the smart card has already been personalized with your credentials (including a digital certificate configured for Windows logon). Your card is ready to use.

Log on to your workstation using your smart card and your PIN. For more information, see Log On to Windows with a Certificate.
Use your card to sign emails, access secure Web sites, etc.

At any time, you can access the ActivClient User Console to configure ActivClient, your smart card, or your credentials. For more information, see Working with the User Console.

From the ActivClient Agent icon located in the Microsoft Windows notification area:
- Double-click the ActivClient Agent icon .
- Left or right-click on the ActivClient Agent icon and select Open.
From the Microsoft Windows Start menu:
- Go to the programs or apps directory, and select User Console under ActivID ActivClient.
From the Start page of the Microsoft Windows modern interface:
- Click the User Console tile .