# Is there a way to require access codes on sign-up or password-protect categories?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-require-access-codes-on-sign-up-or-password-protect-categories/40099
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [24 בפברואר,‏ 2016,‏ 4:11pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-require-access-codes-on-sign-up-or-password-protect-categories/40099 "2016-02-24T16:11:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![mattdis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@mattdis](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mattdis)
#### Post date: [24 בפברואר,‏ 2016,‏ 4:11pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-require-access-codes-on-sign-up-or-password-protect-categories/40099/1 "2016-02-24T16:11:47Z")

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I’ve set up Discourse and don’t see an option to require an access-code on sign-up, perhaps through a plugin? Or can I password-protect categories? Basically I want to make a private Discourse site where I don’t have to approve each and every user. I suppose I could try using .htaccess…

Edit: Using a .htaccess on Document Root gives an internal server configuration error, so that’s a no-go it seems.

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### Author: ![Falco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/falco/32/179432_2.png) [@Falco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Falco)
#### Post date: [24 בפברואר,‏ 2016,‏ 4:42pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-require-access-codes-on-sign-up-or-password-protect-categories/40099/2 "2016-02-24T16:42:47Z")

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No this isn’t supported.

The categories security uses groups. You can manage groups trough:

- admin interface
- you can delegate it to group admin
- Using API
- Using [bulk add](https://meta.discourse.org/t/bulk-add-to-group/34979)
- Using SSO Not Yet
- Using an [existing plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-premium-bt/38139)
- Creating a plugin

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### Author: ![system](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/system/32/443519_2.png) [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [22 בדצמבר,‏ 2018,‏ 2:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-require-access-codes-on-sign-up-or-password-protect-categories/40099/3 "2018-12-22T14:07:58Z")

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### Author: ![system](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/system/32/443519_2.png) [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [18 בנובמבר,‏ 2021,‏ 1:36am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-require-access-codes-on-sign-up-or-password-protect-categories/40099/4 "2021-11-18T01:36:17Z")

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