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Free Plugin by John Blackbourn v1.12.1

User Switching

Instant switching between user accounts in WordPress and WooCommerce.

User Switching

The facts

Rating
4.9★ from 238
Active installs
200k+
Price
Free
Last updated
9 Jul 2026
Added
Mar 2009
Requires WP
6.2
Tested up to
WP 7.0.4
Requires PHP
7.4
Downloads
6,076,863

Our analysis

AI-assisted

User Switching is a WordPress plugin that enables you to quickly switch between user accounts with a single click. It is particularly useful for administrators who need to assist customers on WooCommerce sites, manage membership sites, or test environments. The plugin allows you to log out of your current account and log in as another user without revealing any passwords.

The plugin is compatible with various setups, including Multisite, WooCommerce, BuddyPress, and bbPress. It ensures security by allowing only users with the ability to edit other users to switch accounts and implements WordPress's cookie authentication and nonce security systems.

Best for: This plugin suits WordPress administrators managing multiple user accounts.

What it does well

  • ✓Instantly switch between user accounts
  • ✓Compatible with WooCommerce, Multisite, and more
  • ✓Secure switching with no password exposure
  • ✓Easy to use via the Users menu or Command Palette
  • ✓Maintained by an experienced developer

Where it falls short

  • •Limited to users who can edit other users
  • •No additional features or details provided

Verdict

User Switching is a straightforward and secure tool for administrators needing to manage user accounts efficiently. It is well-suited for various WordPress environments.

From the developer

John Blackbourn's own description of User Switching, lightly tidied.

This plugin allows you to quickly switch between user accounts in WordPress at the click of a button. You’ll be instantly logged out and logged in as your desired user. This is handy for helping customers on WooCommerce sites, membership sites, testing environments, or for any site where administrators need to switch between multiple accounts.

Features

  • Switch user: Instantly switch to any user account from the Users screen.
  • Switch back: Instantly switch back to your originating account.
  • Switch off: Log out of your account but retain the ability to instantly switch back in again.
  • Compatible with Multisite, WooCommerce, BuddyPress, and bbPress.
  • Compatible with most membership and user management plugins.
  • Compatible with most two-factor authentication solutions (see the FAQ for more info).
  • Approved for use on enterprise-grade WordPress platforms such as Altis and WordPress VIP.

Note: User Switching supports versions of WordPress up to three years old, and PHP version 7.4 or higher.

Security

  • Only users with the ability to edit other users can switch user accounts. By default this is only Administrators on single site installations, and Super Admins on Multisite installations.
  • Passwords are not (and cannot be) revealed.
  • Uses the cookie authentication system in WordPress when remembering the account(s) you’ve switched from and when switching back.
  • Implements the nonce security system in WordPress, meaning only those who intend to switch users can switch.
  • Full support for user session validation where appropriate.
  • Full support for HTTPS.

Usage

  1. Visit the Users menu in WordPress and you’ll see a Switch To link in the list of action links for each user.
  2. Click this and you will immediately switch into that user account.
  3. You can switch back to your originating account via the Switch back link on each dashboard screen or in your profile menu in the WordPress toolbar.

Alternatively, in the WordPress Command Palette you can search for a user and immediately switch into their account. You can switch off and switch back from there too.

See the FAQ for information about the Switch Off feature.

Other Plugins

I maintain several other plugins for developers. Check them out:

  • Query Monitor is the developer tools panel for WordPress
  • WP Crontrol lets you view and control what’s happening in the WP-Cron system

Thanks

The time that I spend maintaining this plugin and others is in part sponsored by:

Read the full description on the official page →

Tagged as

topic WooCommerce WordPress Multisite Account Cookies Cookie Switch Authentication Support System
audience Developers