Acting as a user allows admins to log in as the user without a password. You can take any action as though you are the user. From other users' points of views, it will be as if this user performed them. However, the audit logs will show that you performed the tasks while acting as that user. Audit logs can be viewed by admins who have access to Canvas Data files. Audit logs are also available by downloading the Page Views CSV file. This file displays all user activity for a specific user, including actions an admin performs when they masquerade as the user.
To act as a user in an account, admins must be assigned the Users - Act as permission. The Users - Act as account permission can only be managed from the root account and cannot be enabled at the sub-account level. The Users - Act as permission should only be assigned to users that your institution has authorized to act as other users in your entire Canvas account. Users with this permission may be able to use the Act as feature to manage account settings, view and adjust grades, access user information, etc. This may include admins designated to a sub-account accessing settings and information outside of their sub-account.
Notes:
- When acting as a user, language preferences do not apply and will always be shown in the default language.
- To act as another admin, you must have all the permissions enabled in your account that have been enabled for that admin.
- If your institution has a trust agreement with another institution, trust accounts do not grant permission for you to act as users associated with a different Canvas URL. You can only act as users who are associated with your same account.
- Additionally, once you are acting as a user, any user role that can view the user details page displays the Act as Users link in the user details page. This behavior takes place because of an override to your permissions and helps you quickly act as another user; it does not mean that the user for whom you are acting is also able to act as other users.
- Any Canvas feature that requires or modifies a user's API access token cannot be modified through acting as a user.
- When you act as another user as an admin, the Recent History link displays the recent history for the student, not the page views you create.
Open Account
In Global Navigation, click the Admin link [1], then click the name of the account [2].
Open People
In Account Navigation, click the People link.
Find User
Use the filter and search options to find the user in the account.
Open User Profile
In the search results, click the user's name.
Act as User
Click the Act as User link.
Proceed as User
The Act as User page confirms the user's information. If the user has multiple login credentials, all login IDs are displayed for additional user verification. Click the Proceed button.
View Canvas as User
While you are acting like the user you will see what the user sees, but the audit reports will show that you performed those tasks and not the actual user. You will know that you are acting as a user by the information box at the bottom of the screen that says You are currently acting as [User].
Stop Acting as User
When you are finished acting as the user, click the Stop Acting as User button.
