Which identity feature do you need?
Lovable has three features that sound alike but do different jobs. If you are not sure this page is the right one, start here:Why use workspace identity reuse
Identity reuse fits when everyone who uses your app is already in your Lovable workspace. Without it, you would need to build and maintain a second login system, and your teammates would sign in twice: once to Lovable, and once to your app. With it, the app already knows the current user.How workspace identity reuse works
When a signed-in user opens the preview or the published app, Lovable creates a short-lived identity token for that project and user, and passes it along with the app request. Helper code that Lovable generates in your app verifies the token and exposes the current user to the rest of your app code. Lovable strips any identity information that visitors send themselves before attaching its own signed token, so a visitor cannot impersonate someone else by faking an identity.Who gets recognized
The app recognizes people who are signed in to Lovable and have access to the project. Everyone else, including anonymous visitors and people who can only view the published app, gets no identity: the helper returns no user, and your app decides what they see, such as a guest view or an access-denied message.What your app can read
- The signed-in user’s Lovable user ID.
- The user’s display name, when available.
- The user’s email address, when available.
Do you need the built-in backend?
No. Workspace identity reuse works in any eligible project, with or without the built-in backend (Cloud). Reading the current user’s name or email needs no backend at all. You need the backend when the app should store per-user data: for example, a task tracker where each member sees only their own tasks. Lovable passes the signed-in identity to your Cloud backend so the database can enforce per-user access.Prerequisites
- A Business or Enterprise workspace.
- A newer Lovable project that uses TanStack Start. Some older projects are not eligible.
- Lovable workspace identity allowed in your workspace’s App login methods policy. It is allowed by default.
Set up workspace identity reuse
Setup happens at two levels, usually by two different people:- Workspace level: a workspace admin or owner decides whether apps in the workspace may use workspace identity at all. This is a one-time policy decision, and it is allowed by default.
- App level: the project editor asks Lovable to use the signed-in user in a specific app. Nothing uses the identity until you ask for it. There is no per-project setting to turn on or off.
Workspace setup (admins and owners)
Workspace identity is allowed by default, so in most workspaces there is nothing to do here. To confirm or change the policy:Open App login methods
Check Lovable workspace identity
App setup (project editors)
Ask Lovable to use the signed-in user
Test it in preview
Turning workspace identity reuse off
- For the whole workspace: a workspace admin or owner blocks Lovable workspace identity in Privacy & security (Settings → Security → Privacy & security → App login methods). This applies to every project immediately and cannot be changed from a project.
- For a single app: ask Lovable to remove it, for example:
Stop using workspace identity in this app and show a public landing page instead.
When to use traditional app authentication instead
Use traditional app authentication when:- Your app is customer-facing or public.
- Users should create accounts inside the app.
- Users may not have Lovable accounts.
- You need app-specific login methods such as email/password, magic links, Google sign-in, or SAML SSO for Cloud app users.
- You need app-owned user accounts, signup flows, or user management that is separate from Lovable workspace membership.
FAQ
Is workspace identity reuse the same as workspace SSO?
Is workspace identity reuse the same as workspace SSO?
Do I need workspace SSO configured to use this?
Do I need workspace SSO configured to use this?
Do I need the built-in backend?
Do I need the built-in backend?
Can people without access to my project use this identity?
Can people without access to my project use this identity?
Does this consume extra credits?
Does this consume extra credits?
Troubleshooting
I do not see Lovable workspace identity in App login methods
I do not see Lovable workspace identity in App login methods
My project cannot use workspace identity
My project cannot use workspace identity
- Your project runs on TanStack Start. Some older projects use an earlier stack and are not eligible. If you are not sure, ask Lovable:
What stack is this project on? - Lovable workspace identity is allowed in Privacy & security (Settings → Security → Privacy & security → App login methods).
- Your workspace is on a Business or Enterprise plan.
The app shows no signed-in user
The app shows no signed-in user
Lovable added a login page instead of using my identity
Lovable added a login page instead of using my identity
My Cloud data does not recognize the user
My Cloud data does not recognize the user