Account Settings

Account Management Guide

Learn how to manage your profile, update security settings, control notifications, and customize your CribWise experience.

Complete Guide
Last updated: January 2025

Profile Settings

Your profile is your identity on CribWise. Keep it updated for better connections with landlords and fellow students.

How to Access Profile Settings
  1. 1.Click your profile picture or name in the top-right corner
  2. 2.Select "Account Settings" from the dropdown menu
  3. 3.Navigate to the "Profile" tab

What You Can Edit

Profile Photo

How to Change:

  1. Click on your current profile photo
  2. Select "Upload New Photo"
  3. Choose image from your device
  4. Crop and adjust as needed
  5. Click "Save"

Requirements:

  • Format: JPG, PNG, or WEBP
  • Size: Maximum 5MB
  • Recommended: Square image, 400x400px minimum
  • Must show your face clearly
Personal Information

Full Name

• Must match your school ID
• Required for verification
• Visible to landlords when you apply

Bio/About Me

• Up to 500 characters
• Tell landlords about yourself
• Optional but recommended

Date of Birth

• Cannot be changed after verification
• Must be 16+ years old
• Used for age verification only

Contact Information

Phone Number

• Used for booking confirmations
• Required for WhatsApp notifications
• Verify with OTP after changing

WhatsApp Number

• Can be different from phone number
• Used for property inquiries
• Optional but recommended

University Information

University/Institution

• Select from dropdown
• Must match your school email
• Shows on your profile

Department/Faculty

• Optional information
• Helps connect with coursemates
• Visible to other students

Year of Study

• 100, 200, 300, 400 level, etc.
• Updates automatically each year
• Optional but helpful

Profile Best Practices

  • ✓ Use a clear, recent photo of yourself
  • ✓ Complete all required fields for better matches
  • ✓ Write a friendly bio to introduce yourself
  • ✓ Keep contact information up to date
  • ✓ Verify your school email for "Verified Student" badge

Security & Password

Protect your account with strong security settings and keep your information safe.

Change Password

Step-by-Step:

  1. 1.Go to Account Settings → Security tab
  2. 2.Click "Change Password"
  3. 3.Enter your current password
  4. 4.Enter your new password (minimum 8 characters)
  5. 5.Confirm new password by typing it again
  6. 6.Click "Update Password"

Strong Password Requirements:

  • ✓ At least 8 characters long
  • ✓ Mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
  • ✓ At least one number
  • ✓ At least one special character (!@#$%^&*)
  • ✓ Different from your old password
Forgot Your Password?
  1. 1.Go to the login page
  2. 2.Click "Forgot Password?"
  3. 3.Enter your email address
  4. 4.Check your email for reset link (check spam folder)
  5. 5.Click the link and create a new password
  6. 6.Link expires in 1 hour - act quickly!
Two-Factor Authentication (Coming Soon)
We are working on adding 2FA for extra security. This will require a code from your phone each time you log in from a new device.

Security Best Practices

  • ⚠ Never share your password with anyone
  • ⚠ Don't use the same password on multiple websites
  • ⚠ Log out from public or shared computers
  • ⚠ Be wary of phishing emails asking for your password
  • ⚠ Change your password if you suspect unauthorized access
  • ⚠ CribWise will NEVER ask for your password via email

Notification Settings

Control how and when you receive updates from CribWise.

Booking Notifications

Get notified about your booking status and updates:

  • • Booking confirmed
    Recommended
  • • Booking declined
    Recommended
  • • Payment received
    Recommended
  • • Move-in reminders
    Optional

Channels: Email, SMS, Push, WhatsApp

Messages & Inquiries

Stay updated on conversations:

  • • New message from landlord
    Recommended
  • • Landlord replied to inquiry
    Recommended
  • • Message read receipts
    Optional

Channels: Email, Push, WhatsApp

Property Alerts

New listings and recommendations:

  • • New properties near my school
    Optional
  • • Price drops on saved properties
    Optional
  • • Properties matching my preferences
    Optional
  • • Saved search alerts
    Optional

Channels: Email, Push

Platform Updates

News and feature announcements:

  • • New features and improvements
    Optional
  • • CribWise blog posts
    Optional
  • • Tips and guides for students
    Optional
  • • Special offers and promotions
    Optional

Channels: Email only

How to Manage Notifications
  1. 1.Go to Account Settings → Notifications
  2. 2.Toggle switches on/off for each notification type
  3. 3.Choose channels: Email, SMS, Push, WhatsApp
  4. 4.Changes save automatically
  5. 5.You can also unsubscribe from emails using the link at the bottom of any email

Privacy Controls

Control who can see your information and how your data is used.

Profile Visibility

Choose who can see your profile:

Public

Anyone can see your profile, including search engines

Students Only (Recommended)

Only verified students and landlords can see your profile

Private

Only you and people you have messaged can see your profile

Contact Information Privacy

Control who sees your phone and email:

  • Hide from everyone: Contact info hidden until you share
  • Show to landlords: Visible when you apply or inquire
  • Show to everyone: Public on your profile
Data Usage Preferences

Control how we use your data:

  • Personalized recommendations: Show properties matching your preferences
  • Analytics: Help us improve the platform
  • Marketing: Send relevant updates and offers

Toggle each option on/off in privacy settings

Download Your Data

You can download a copy of all your data:

  1. 1.Go to Privacy Settings
  2. 2.Click "Download My Data"
  3. 3.We will email you a link within 24 hours
  4. 4.Download includes: profile, messages, bookings, searches

Email Verification

Verify your school email to unlock student-only features and get the "Verified Student" badge.

Benefits of Verification
  • Verified Student badge on your profile
  • Access student-only housing listings
  • Join your campus community
  • Landlords trust you more
  • Get priority support
  • Access to student discounts
How to Verify Your Email
  1. 1.Go to Account Settings → Email Verification
  2. 2.Enter your university email address (must end in .edu.ng)
  3. 3.Click "Send Verification Code"
  4. 4.Check your school email inbox (and spam folder)
  5. 5.Copy the 6-digit code
  6. 6.Paste the code and click "Verify"
  7. 7.✓ You are now verified! Badge appears immediately
Verification Issues?

Didn't receive the email?

  • • Check your spam/junk folder
  • • Wait 5-10 minutes and try resending
  • • Make sure your email ends in .edu.ng
  • • Verify your inbox isn't full

School email not working?

  • • Contact your university's ICT center
  • • Activate your school email if it's new
  • • Ensure you can log into your school email

Still stuck?

Contact support with:

  • • Your school name
  • • Your school email address
  • • Screenshot of your student ID (optional)

Delete Account

Before You Delete

Deleting your account is permanent and cannot be undone. Please read carefully before proceeding.

What Happens When You Delete Your Account

✗ You Will Lose:

  • • Your profile and all personal information
  • • All saved properties and searches
  • • Message history with landlords
  • • Booking history (completed bookings)
  • • Reviews and ratings you have left
  • • Community memberships
  • • Verified student status

⚠ What Remains:

  • • Active booking obligations (you must complete these first)
  • • Payment history (for legal/tax purposes, 7 years)
  • • Anonymized analytics data

✓ We Will:

  • • Send confirmation email before deletion
  • • Give you 30 days to change your mind
  • • Remove your data from our active database
  • • Delete backups within 90 days
Requirements Before Deletion
  • 1.No active bookings: Complete or cancel all current bookings
  • 2.No pending payments: Settle all outstanding payments or refunds
  • 3.No disputes: Resolve any open disputes or issues
  • 4.Download your data: Get a copy if you want to keep records
How to Delete Your Account
  1. 1.Go to Account Settings → Privacy & Security
  2. 2.Scroll to the bottom and click "Delete Account"
  3. 3.Read the warning and check that you understand
  4. 4.Select reason for leaving (optional feedback)
  5. 5.Enter your password to confirm
  6. 6.Click "Delete My Account"
  7. 7.Check email for confirmation link
  8. 8.Click the link to finalize deletion

30-Day Grace Period

Your account will be deactivated immediately but not deleted for 30 days. During this time, you can log in to cancel the deletion. After 30 days, deletion is final.

Alternatives to Deleting

Before you delete, consider these options:

Make Profile Private

Hide your profile without losing data

Disable Notifications

Stop emails but keep your account

Talk to Support

We might be able to help with your concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email address?

Yes! Go to Account Settings → Profile → Email Address. Enter your new email, verify it with a code, and it will be updated. Your school email verification is separate.

How do I recover a deleted account?

You have 30 days to cancel deletion by logging in. After 30 days, the account is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. You will need to create a new account.

Can I have multiple accounts?

No, our terms of service allow only one account per person. Multiple accounts may be suspended. If you need to switch universities, update your profile instead.

Why can't I change my date of birth?

Date of birth is locked after verification for security and age verification purposes. If you entered it incorrectly, contact support with your ID for manual correction.

How do I enable/disable browser notifications?

Browser notifications are controlled by your browser settings. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Site Settings → Notifications. Find CribWise and toggle on/off.

Need More Help?

Our support team is ready to assist with account issues

Live Chat

Usually replies in 2 mins

WhatsApp

9 AM - 9 PM (WAT)

Email

Response in 24 hours