Setting up a Bloomberg Account

For first time users, you will need to set up a login name and password. To access the Bloomberg terminal, you will need to log into designated Bloomberg terminals. On the Fairfax campus these are located in Enterprise 76. Room access code: 0324108. On the Arlington Campus the Bloomberg terminal is located in the business suite on the fourth floor. The following information is needed to access the computer:



USERNAME: Bloomberg

Password: Finance1

  1. Find the Bloomberg icon on the desktop to access Bloomberg. Double-click the icon.
  2. Press the enter () key or the blue text directly under "Bloomberg".
  3. You will be prompted for a login and password. If this is the first time that you have used Bloomberg, press "Create a New Login" to create a login name and password (blue text towards the bottom of the screen). In the first screen that returns to you, click "NO" to the prompt, "Have you ever been a Bloomberg client" Press "continue".
  4. In the next screen, (User Information) you will be prompted for your personal information (name) and a password. Make sure that you provide both a work and mobile number (they can be the same), and use your Mason email address. Press "continue".
  5. In order to proceed, Bloomberg will send you a validation code. Choose how you would like receive the code (Bloomberg recommends using SMS Text Message for speed). You will want to choose SMS Text next to your mobile number. Press "send code".
  6. Once you receive the validation code on your mobile, type the validation code, and press "create login".
  7. A screen will return to you with Bloomberg's selected Login Name. You may change your login name at this point (some students want it to match their userid for Mason). After typing in a new username, press enter. The system will determine if it is a unique ID and will ask you to confirm the new login name that you have chosen. Remember your login name and password. You will use this in the future to access Bloomberg.
  8. Once your login name is established, press "2 to Login" at the top of the screen.
  9. Log in with your login name and password.
  10. Congratulations! You are in Bloomberg.
  11. The first time after logging in, you will have a default menu. I recommend leaving the defaults (US and English) as is. Press "1 to Save" at the top of the screen. It will return to you with a message at the top "Settings saved".
  12. Several screens will be available to you.
  13. In the prompt box (you will see that near the top left hand part of your screen -- it is the BLUE blinking prompt), you want to type in BU and select "Bloomberg University" in the drop down screen that appears.
  14. Choose "Online Training". This will take you to online videos (or text) that you can watch (or read) to become more familiar with the system. Press "View training videos"if you wish to view the videos; press "Access training documents" to receive them as text. You can save the text files as PDFs and read them later.
  15. In addition, use the cheat sheet that you have been provided with this set of instructions. It will help you navigate Bloomberg more efficiently.
  16. If you wish to save any information, make sure that you bring a USB with you. You may also save it in the Download directory and email the information to yourself.
  17. When you are finished using Bloomberg, please log completely out of Bloomberg and the computer.