Sciwheel: Get Started

If the "I'm not a robot" /reCAPTCHA check box does not appear when registering from off campus, you can do one of the following

• Register from on campus, instead (VPN from off campus will not work)
• OR you can sign up from off campus for the free/Basic account at sciwheel.com using your regular UNC email, then log off (use pull down menu next to the circle with your initials near the top right) and re-log on from the special link on UNC HSL's website < https://guides.lib.unc.edu/go.php?c=54438124>  to associate your account with UNC.
  
  
   
• To check that your account is now a UNC Institutional account: use the pull down menu as above to go to "Account" and then use the menu on the left to go to "Subscription." You may also select "Proxy Settings" from the left-hand menu to check that it has this as the Proxy URL: https://login.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=$@ .  If not, copy and paste it in (no need to go to the link, just cut and paste it into the box; note, however, that the screen shot below shows the older, less secure link.).
  

• OR, if necessary, you can sign up from off campus for the free/Basic account at sciwheel.com using your regular UNC email, then Email for HELP (Sciwheel) or use the blue chat button with the smile within Sciwheel to let them know what happened and to ask for their help connecting your account to UNC's institutional account

NEXT STEPS:

• See registration/sign-in helps box below for additional assistance.
• Once you have registered for and set up your institutional account, as above, you can use the Tools drop-down menu to set up your browser extension (do this for each browser you use), Word add-in, (and optional Google Docs add-on, if you'd like). See box below with set-up instructions. 

Always start your sign in from the library website link:  https://guides.lib.unc.edu/go.php?c=54438124 

• If the "I'm not a robot" /reCAPTCHA check box does not appear when registering from off campus, follow the special instructions in the Registration & Set-up box.

Use your UNC email address when registering for the first time to assure you are signed up for the full, institutional account (this is free to you). It is best to use your primary account rather than an alias. You can check for your primary account at  https://selfservice.unc.edu/ under "My Aliases."  You can also try onyen@ad.unc.edu if you have trouble. 

You will create your own password. 

• See "Troubleshooting" Tab on this guide for additional troubleshooting assistance for UNC users. 

• Once your Sciwheel loads (after you register), you will see “Tools” near the top right.  Use that to install the browser extension for each browser you use plus the Word add-in (and the optional Google Docs add-on, if you'd like).  
  • The browser extension is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 11, Opera and Safari 6 onwards. We understand the Windows 10 Edge browser is now compatible. Browser extension guide
  • Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android via their App stores.Search Sciwheel.
  • Download and install the Word 365 add-in. Sciwheel Word 365 add-in guide. This add in works best with Office 2019 forward, both online and desktop versions for windows and Mac. 
    • If you are already currently using the original Word plugin you may continue to do so, although it will no longer be supported as of August 2021. Word plugin guide
    • You may have both versions installed; however, select just one to use in any document - they are not interchangeable.
  • Optional: 
    • Google Docs add-on guide

• The Desktop app used to download together with the original Word plug-in.  It is no longer available with the new Word 365 add-in. desktop app guide and installation
  • Use tool "gear" on desktop app for Activating the Watch Folder, if desired, or changing its location.  All .pdf's (under 100mb) added to the watch folder automatically import to your reference list as long as they are smaller than 100MB.  .

• Email for HELP (Sciwheel) or use the blue chat button with the smile within Sciwheel. 
  • Sciwheel support has been very responsive.  

Quick Start after registration (or access Help guide from within Sciwheel)

• Most Popular FAQ's from Sciwheel Help Guide
  • For troubleshooting, scroll to the bottom for each topic (topics are on the left of the guide)
• How-to Videos
• Browser extension guide
• Word add-in guide
• Original (Legacy) Word plugin guide (IMPORTANT: original/legacy Word plugin is no longer supported)
• Desktop app (IMPORTANT: Desktop app no longer supported; if already installed you may continue to use)
• Email for HELP or use chat/support from within Sciwheel:  

Sciwheel GETTING STARTED

Getting started link from online HELP guide (above) includes these topics:

• About Sciwheel
• Who is Sciwheel for?
• Sciwheel subscriptions
• What's included as part of Sciwheel?
• Access when changing institution

• Your account "expired" (you may see a countdown to when it will expire) OR it reverted to the free/Basic account (limited projects allowed):
  • This may be due to off-campus roaming for more than 120 days (see below). 
  • It is also possible that you signed up for a free 30-day trial account, instead of our free UNC institutional account.
    • you can manually associate your account with UNC: log off (use pull down menu next to the circle with your initials near the top right) and re-log on from the special link on UNC HSL's website < https://guides.lib.unc.edu/go.php?c=54438124 > , which will associate your account with UNC. You can check that your account is now a UNC Institutional account, by using the pull down menu as above to go to "Account" and then using the menu on the left to go to "Subscription" to check. . 
    • OR just message Sciwheel support and they will shift your account to the full, institutional access for UNC
• Off-campus roaming: currently, users must log on through our proxy server (i.e., using the links from the HSL site or guides) OR from campus at least once every 120 days. If you use links from the HSL website that take you via our proxy server, the counter should re-set.  You may need to log out and sign back in from the HSL website link for the expiration message to disappear,
  • If you are unable to do either of these or it doesn't work, message Sciwheel support and they will reset your roaming counter. If you are a UNC distance education student or you are permanently assigned off campus, please let them know.  

Sciwheel support has been outstanding and this has continued as they've rebranded to Sciwheel.  You can message them from within Sciwheel, and you will generally receive a response within a few hours. 

• Email for HELP (Sciwheel) or use the Sciwheel Message/Chat icon in Sciwheel:  
• Don't forget HSL Ask Us at the top of every HSL web page.