---
title: "Anonymous Mode for Read-Only SSO Users"
description: "Anonymous Mode enables secure, cost-effective SSO read access without creating individual user accounts"
url: "https://support.helpdocs.io/article/dknnr3dfae-sso-anonymous-mode"
category: "Authentication"
updated_at: "2025-09-29T12:37:10Z"
---

# Anonymous Mode for Read-Only SSO Users

Anonymous Mode lets read-only SSO users access your Knowledge Base without creating HelpDocs user accounts. This keeps them out of your billing and user management while still providing secure access through your identity provider.

It's perfect for teams that want SSO security without the overhead of managing individual user accounts in HelpDocs.

### Why Use Anonymous Mode?

Anonymous Mode offers several advantages for teams using SSO:

- **Reduced billing**—read-only users [won't count toward your user limit](/article/5GsbZs20Dv-who-counts-towards-the-user-limit-on-plans)
- **Simplified user management**—no need to see or manage these users in HelpDocs Settings
- **Permission control**—still works with your existing [Permission Groups](/article/9qsypn7zsx-understanding-permissioning) sent from your identity provider
- **Secure access**—users still authenticate through your SSO but don't create permanent accounts

### Requirements

Anonymous Mode is only available on [select HelpDocs plans](https://www.helpdocs.io/pricing/) and requires either SAML or OpenID Connect SSO to be configured.

Before enabling Anonymous Mode you'll need:

- An active [SAML](/article/i8fpdjc43n-setting-up-saml-single-sign-on) or [OpenID Connect](/article/h961z8xb7r-using-open-id-connect-for-single-sign-on) SSO connection
- A HelpDocs plan that includes this feature
- [Read-only users](/article/CaKSeF9kSP-managing-users) authenticating through your identity provider

### Enabling Anonymous Mode

Here's how to configure Anonymous Mode for your read-only SSO users:

1. Head to **Settings** > **Access** > **Options**
2. Find the "Create user accounts for Read Only users" checkbox
   
   ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/Ytt2uahFxY/articles/dknnr3dfae/1759149156722/image.png)
3. Uncheck this option to enable Anonymous Mode
4. Click **Save Changes**

When this setting is unchecked, read-only users who log in through SSO won't have HelpDocs user accounts created. When it's checked, all SSO users—including read-only ones—will have accounts created.

### Important Considerations

The Anonymous Mode checkbox will be disabled if both SAML and OpenID Connect are inactive. You need at least one SSO method configured to use this feature.

Keep these points in mind when using Anonymous Mode:

- This setting applies to both SAML and OpenID Connect if you have both configured
- Users with higher permission levels (Writer, Editor, etc.) will still get HelpDocs accounts created
- Permission Groups from your identity provider will still work for anonymous read-only users
- Anonymous users won't appear in your user management dashboard

Anonymous Mode is ideal for large organizations that want to give many employees read-only access to documentation without the administrative overhead of managing hundreds of user accounts.