How to set up user roles on Ghost
Quick Answer
Ghost user roles are managed through the Admin panel under Staff settings, where you can invite users and assign them specific roles like Author, Editor, or Administrator. Each role has different permissions for content creation, editing, and site management.
Prerequisites
- Ghost admin account with Owner permissions
- Active Ghost publication
- Understanding of user permission levels
- Access to Ghost Admin panel
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Access the Ghost Admin Panel
Navigate to your Ghost site and add
/ghost to the end of your URL (e.g., yoursite.com/ghost). Log in with your Owner or Administrator account credentials to access the admin dashboard. Bookmark your Ghost admin URL for quick access
2
Navigate to Staff Settings
In the Ghost admin sidebar, click on Settings (gear icon). From the settings menu, select Staff to view all current users and their assigned roles.
3
Invite New Users
Click the Invite people button in the top-right corner of the Staff page. Enter the email address of the person you want to invite in the Email address field.
You can invite multiple users at once by separating email addresses with commas
4
Assign User Roles
In the invitation dialog, select the appropriate role from the Role dropdown menu:
- Contributor - Can create and edit their own draft posts
- Author - Can create, edit, and publish their own posts
- Editor - Can create, edit, and publish all posts and pages
- Administrator - Full access except billing and ownership transfer
Start with lower permissions and upgrade roles as needed for better security
5
Send the Invitation
Click Send invitation to email the invitation to the new user. The invitee will receive an email with a link to set up their account and accept the role assignment.
6
Manage Existing User Roles
To modify existing users, click on any user in the Staff list. In the user profile, click the Role dropdown to change their permissions. Click Save to apply the changes immediately.
Role changes take effect immediately and will affect the user's next login session
7
Monitor User Activity
Use the Activity section in Settings to monitor user actions and content changes. You can also view individual user statistics by clicking on their profile in the Staff section.
Regular monitoring helps maintain content quality and security
8
Remove or Suspend Users
To remove a user, go to their profile in the Staff section and click Actions, then select Suspend user or Delete user. Suspended users retain their content but cannot access the site, while deleted users are permanently removed.
Always suspend users first to ensure no content is accidentally lost
Common Issues & Troubleshooting
Invitation emails not being received
Check spam folders and verify the email address is correct. Resend the invitation or ask users to whitelist your Ghost site's domain.
Cannot see role assignment options
Ensure you're logged in as an Owner or Administrator. Only these roles can manage other users and assign permissions.
User permissions not updating after role change
Ask the affected user to log out and log back in. Role changes require a fresh session to take full effect.
Unable to delete or modify user accounts
Check that you're not trying to modify an Owner account or your own account. Some limitations exist for security reasons.
Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Ghost website before purchasing.