When setting up a site or trying out new plugins or functionality, a WordPress administrator is constantly switching between being the Admin and being lower-level users. Of course you want to make sure everything works as it’s supposed to for each level of user.
I usually manage this by logging into one browser as the Admin and another browser as a lower-level user. But eventually all browsers will need to be tested, and all user types will need to be tested.
It would be nice to be able to switch to a different level user in an easier way.
Enter the User Switching plugin.
And while this is perfect for testing, it is not limited to that. As an administrator, you can switch to any user on your site. It also works with Multisite and BuddyPress.
A few important aspects to take note of:
- Only Administrators can switch between accounts
- Passwords of users are not revealed
- A cookie gives you the ability to log out of your account but switch back again
- A “switch back” link is conveniently located at the top of all Admin pages
- When you switch back, a message appears at the top letting you know you’ve done so to avoid confusion
You can find the User Switching plugin here.
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Obviously, if you are switching to specific users or many levels this can be pretty useful.
But if it is just a couple of levels, I usually just leave them logged in different browsers and keep each one open…
I’ve been using this plugin for over a year with a few multisite installs. It’s awesome for managing interface and access issues, and troubleshooting issues related to user roles. Very very useful. Sure, you can use a second browser for testing certain things, but when you’ve got over 50k users, you shouldn’t have to worry about what a users password is when you’re just trying to troubleshoot a problem for them.
Shawn – good to hear some real-life experience with it.