How to add an admin user in Magento 2

Key takeaways

• You can add an admin user in Magento 2 through the Admin Panel or command line.
• The Admin Panel method works best when you need to assign a specific role.
• The CLI method can help when you have SSH access or cannot use the Admin Panel.
• Temporary admin users should have limited permissions and be removed when the work is complete.

If you need to give another person, such as a developer, temporary access to your Magento store, create a separate admin account instead of sharing your own login. A separate account lets you assign the right permissions, track who has access, and remove access when the work is done.

Before you add an admin user

Before adding the user, confirm who needs access and why. Decide whether the user needs full admin access or a custom role.

Check these items first:

• Use a unique email address
• Use a strong password
• Enable 2FA if your store requires it
• Confirm your current account can manage users and roles
• Decide when temporary access should be disabled or removed
• Create a custom role when full Administrator access is not needed

Admin access controls sensitive store settings, customer data, orders, products, and configuration, so permissions need to be set carefully.

Create a custom admin role first

Skip this step if the user needs full Administrator access, but use care,  that role grants access to all sensitive store areas.

Create a custom role when the user only needs access to specific Magento Admin areas.

1. Log in to Magento Admin
2. Go to System > Permissions > User Roles
3. Click Add New Role
4. Enter the role name
5. Enter your current admin password if Magento asks for identity verification
6. Select Role Resources
7. From Resource Access, choose Custom
8. Select only the resources the user needs
9. Click Save Role

Method 1: add an admin user in the Magento Admin Panel

Use the Admin Panel when you want to assign or review a role while adding the user.

Go to All Users

1. Log in to Magento Admin
2. Go to System > Permissions > All Users
3. Click Add New User

Enter account information

Fill out the required account fields:

• Username
• First Name
• Last Name
• Email
• Password
• Password Confirmation

The email address should be unique and not already used by another Magento admin user.

Verify your current admin identity

Magento may ask you to enter the password for the admin account you are currently using. This verifies that you have permission to add the new user.

Assign a user role

1. Open the User Role tab
2. Select the role the new user should have
3. Choose the custom role you created if the user only needs limited access
4. Use the Administrators role only when full access is required

Save and test the user

Click Save User. Then confirm the new user can log in and access only the areas they need.

Method 2: add an admin user with the Magento CLI

Use the CLI method when you have SSH access, need to add a user quickly, or cannot access the Admin Panel.

Connect to your server through SSH and go to the Magento root directory. Then run:

Replace the placeholder values with the new user’s details.

Magento may prompt you for any required values you leave out of the command. If Magento rejects the password, use a stronger password that meets your store’s password requirements.

After adding the admin user

After saving the user, confirm the new admin can log in and complete the work they need to do. Check that restricted users cannot access sensitive areas outside their role.

Confirm 2FA setup if your store requires it.

How to remove temporary admin access

When the project, support request, audit, or troubleshooting work is complete, remove or disable temporary access.

1. Go to System > Permissions > All Users
2. Open the user
3. Disable the account if that option is available, or delete the user if the account is no longer needed
4. Save changes
5. Confirm the user can no longer log in

Common issues when adding an admin user

• The email address already exists. Use a unique email address for each admin user.
• The password is rejected. Use a stronger password that meets Magento’s password requirements.
• The new user cannot log in. Check the username, password, account status, assigned role, 2FA setup, and Admin URL.
• The CLI command does not work. Confirm that you are in the Magento root directory, using the correct PHP version, and running the command as the correct server user.
• The user cannot access the right Admin area. Review the assigned role and role resources.

Magento 2 admin user FAQs

Magento 2 admin user next steps

Adding an admin user in Magento 2 gives someone access to sensitive store controls, so permissions should match the work they need to do.

Start by creating or choosing the right admin role, then add the user through the Admin Panel or CLI and test the login.

If admin access, permissions, or store changes affect a live Magento site, explore Liquid Web Magento hosting.

For 24-hour assistance any day of the year, contact our support team by email or through your Client Portal.

Jason Dobry