Title here
Summary here
View Admin as Role
View the WordPress admin interface as any user role without logging out or switching accounts. See exactly what an Editor, Author, or Subscriber sees - the menus they have access to, the capabilities they have, and the UI they experience.
Use Cases
- Test what different user roles can see and access
- Verify that custom capabilities are working correctly
- Debug permission issues reported by users
- Preview the admin experience for clients before launch
- Demonstrate role-based access during training
- Check that sensitive menus are properly hidden from certain roles
How It Works
- A “View as Role” dropdown appears in the WordPress admin bar
- Select any role to simulate their view
- The admin interface updates to show only what that role can access
- A red banner confirms you’re viewing as another role
- Click “Reset to Normal View” to return to your admin perspective
Where to Find It
Look in the WordPress admin bar (the black bar at the top of the admin). You’ll see “View as Role” with a dropdown menu. This appears on both admin pages and the frontend when logged in.
Using View as Role
Switching Perspective
- Click View as Role in the admin bar
- Select a role from the dropdown (Editor, Author, Subscriber, etc.)
- The page refreshes and you’re now viewing as that role
Visual Confirmation
When viewing as another role:
- The admin bar shows “Viewing as: [Role]” in red
- A red banner appears at the top of the page: “VIEWING AS: SUBSCRIBER”
- The admin bar menu is highlighted in red
Resetting
Click ↻ Reset to Normal View at the bottom of the View as Role dropdown, or click the × on the red banner to return to your normal administrator view.
What Changes
When viewing as another role, you’ll experience:
Visible Changes
- Admin Menu - Only shows menus that role can access
- Dashboard Widgets - Only widgets that role can see
- Toolbar - Reduced options based on capabilities
- Edit Screens - Features limited to role’s permissions
What Stays the Same
- You’re still logged in as yourself
- Any actions you take are still done as you (not the simulated role)
- You can always access the View as Role menu to reset
- The simulation is visual only - it doesn’t grant or remove actual permissions
Role Comparison Examples
Administrator View
Dashboard
├── Posts (all controls)
├── Media
├── Pages
├── Comments
├── Appearance
├── Plugins
├── Users
├── Tools
├── Settings
└── SwitchboardEditor View
Dashboard
├── Posts (no plugin settings)
├── Media
├── Pages
├── Comments (moderation)
├── ProfileSubscriber View
Dashboard (limited)
├── ProfileSettings
This module has no configuration. Just enable it and the admin bar menu appears. It’s a testing tool that works without setup.
Differences from “Login As User”
| View as Role | Login As User |
|---|---|
| Visual simulation only | Actually switches accounts |
| Can’t perform actions as that role | Can perform actions as that user |
| Instant switching, no reload required | Creates a new session |
| For testing what roles can see | For testing specific user issues |
| No audit log | Actions logged |
Use View as Role when you want to check what a role can see. Use Login As User when you need to act as a specific user.
FAQ
Can I make changes while viewing as another role?
Any changes you make are still performed as yourself with your full admin permissions. The simulation only affects what you can see, not what you can do.Why can’t I see my own role in the dropdown?
Your current role is excluded to avoid confusion. If you’re an Administrator, you won’t see Administrator in the list since you’re already viewing as that role.Does this affect other users?
No. The simulation is specific to your browser session. Other admins and users see the normal interface. No capabilities are actually changed.Will it show custom roles?
Yes! Any role registered in WordPress appears in the dropdown, including custom roles from plugins like WooCommerce (Customer, Shop Manager) or membership plugins.What if I navigate to a page the role can’t access?
You’ll see the same “permission denied” message that role would see. This is useful for testing whether your permission setup is working correctly.Is the simulation stored?
The simulated role is stored in your user meta until you reset it. If you close your browser and return, you’ll still be viewing as the selected role until you reset.Remember: this is a visual simulation. While viewing as a Subscriber, you can still click on menu items and access admin features because your underlying permissions haven’t changed. It’s a testing and preview tool, not a security restriction.
Use View as Role together with the Simple Role Editor to test capability changes in real-time. Remove a capability, then view as that role to verify the change worked.
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