• Chinese Simplified translation by Sparanoid.

Description

This plugin allows you to quickly swap 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 test environments where you regularly log out and in between different accounts, or for adminstrators of blogs with multiple accounts who need to switch between them.

Features

• Switch users: Instantly switch to any user 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.
• It's completely secure (see the "Security" section below).
• Compatible with WordPress, WordPress Multisite, BuddyPress and WordPress MU.

Security

• Only administrators can switch to another user. Lower level users cannot switch between accounts.
• User switching is protected with the WordPress nonce security system, meaning only those who are allowed to switch users can switch.
• Full support for administration over SSL (if applicable).
• Passwords are not (and cannot be) revealed.

Translations Included:

• Chinese Simplified by Tunghsiao Liu (Sparanoid)

Screenshots

1. 

   The 'Switch To' link on the Users screen

2. 

   The 'Switch To' link on a user's profile

Installation

1. Unzip the ZIP file and drop the folder straight into your 'wp-content/plugins' directory.
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu.
3. Visit the 'Users' menu and you'll see a 'Switch To' link right next to each user.

If you're installing this as a mu-plugin then see the FAQ for slightly different instructions.

Todo list

• A custom capability (eg. ‘switch_users’) which can be granted to lower level users so they can switch accounts. This most likely isn’t going to happen.
• Support for WordPress 2.5.x/2.6.x if the demand is there. This certainly isn’t going to happen.
• Some way of switching back to the administrator account after switching to a lower level account (will require a cookie-based remembering system which doesn’t compromise security).
  Done!
• A persistent notification in the admin area reminding you that this is an account you switched to and not your account (also reliant on solution above). Done!

FAQ

What does "Switch off" mean?

Switching off logs you out of your account but retains your current user ID in a cookie so you can switch straight back (ie. log straight back in) without having to log in with your username and password. It's akin to switching to no user, and being able to switch back.

While you're logged in and you have the 'edit_users' capability, you'll see a 'Switch Off' link in your profile menu in the toolbar.

Once you've switched off you'll see a 'Switch back to {user}' link in the footer of your site.

Does this plugin work with WordPress Multisite?

Yes, and you'll also be able to switch users from the Users menu in Network Admin.

Does this plugin work with BuddyPress?

Yes, and you'll also be able to switch users from the Members screens.

Does this plugin work with WordPress MU?

Yes, but you should really update to Multisite.

Does this work as a mu-plugin?

Yes, but you'll need to install 'user-switching.php' into the root of your mu-plugins directory, not in the 'user-switching' subdirectory. This is a restriction of WordPress.

Download

This plugin requires WordPress version 2.7 or later, or WPMU version 2.7 or later.

Version 0.5.1.1 ZIP file from downloads.wordpress.org

Any comments, questions, queries, suggestions, complaints, etc, please leave a comment!