PKI authentication update

Due to recent technical issues, the PKI authentication and migration deadlines associated with the authentication change for EFS-Web and Private PAIR are no longer applicable until further notice. Currently, authentication using both USPTO.gov accounts and PKI certificates continues to be operational. We encourage you to use your USPTO.gov accounts to authenticate in preparation for the upcoming changes.

At this time, most users have successfully migrated and are using their USPTO.gov accounts to access EFS-Web and Private PAIR. If you have not done so, please create your USPTO.gov account, ensure it is opted in to two-step authentication, and use the Migration Tool to link your existing PKI certificate to your USPTO.gov account. Registered practitioners should use the Sponsorship Tool to sponsor their support staff to work on their behalf.

More information regarding updated deadlines is forthcoming.

EFS-Web and Private PAIR authentication change: Sponsorship tool

EFS-Web and Private PAIR users now have a new, safer, and simpler login. In November, a new sponsorship tool will be available for registered practitioners to sponsor their support staff, who work on their behalf. We will no longer support the existing public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates for two-factor authentication because the PKI authentication software vendor will no longer support the product after 2018. 

Creating an account

If you or your support staff do not already have USPTO.gov accounts, you will need to create one and opt-in for two-step authentication. 

Migrating an existing account

If you are a registered practitioner or independent inventor with an existing PKI digital certificate, use our migration tool with these step-by-step instructions to link your new USPTO.gov account to your current PKI digital certificate.

Using your new account

There are new URLs for EFS-Web and Private PAIR when signing in using your USPTO.gov account. You will need to update any bookmarks you may have:

• EFS-Web
• Private PAIR

More Information

Please review the Patent Electronic System Access Document for additional information on authentication, sponsorship, and verification for accessing patent electronic systems.

We invite you to register for multiple information sessions related to this authentication change, because new information will be added as it becomes available. 

For more information, visit Authentication Change for EFS-Web and PAIR.

If you need assistance creating your USPTO.gov account, please call the USPTO Contact Center (UCC) at 800-786-9199. For assistance with migration, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at ebc@uspto.gov or 866-217-9197.

Authentication change for EFS-Web and Private PAIR: Migration tool now available

EFS-Web and Private PAIR users now have a new, safer, and simpler login. The new method grants access to multiple USPTO systems with one consolidated sign-in and eliminates shared credentials by providing practitioners and their support staff with their own USPTO.gov accounts.

The Migration Tool is now available for existing PKI digital certificate holders (registered practitioners and independent inventors) to link their USPTO.gov accounts to their current PKI digital certificates. (To successfully migrate, users must already have a USPTO.gov account. If you do not already have one, create a USPTO.gov account and opt in for two-step authentication.) Please follow the step-by-step instructions to migrate and allow 1–2 business days after you finish the migration steps for the process to complete; you can then use your USPTO.gov account to sign in to EFS-Web and Private PAIR. Customer Numbers associated with the PKI certificate will be migrated to the linked USPTO.gov account. PKI certificates can still be used to sign in to EFS-Web and Private PAIR as well.

Please note that there are new URLs for EFS-Web and Private PAIR for signing in using your USPTO.gov account. You will need to update any bookmarks to the new URLs below:

• EFS-Web: https://efs-my.uspto.gov/EFSWebUIRegistered/EFSWebRegistered  
• Private PAIR: https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair  

The USPTO has expanded information sessions related to this authentication change. We welcome attendees to register for multiple sessions, because new information will be added as it becomes available. Register for one of the sessions.

For additional information, visit Authentication Change for EFS-Web and PAIR.

If you need assistance creating your USPTO.gov account, please call the USPTO Contact Center (UCC) at 800-786-9199. For assistance with migration, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at ebc@uspto.gov or 866-217-9197.