# Show uneditable user fields as disabled inputs in profile preferences

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/show-uneditable-user-fields-as-disabled-inputs-in-profile-preferences/403015
**Category:** UX
**Tags:** user-custom-fields
**Created:** [May 15, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/show-uneditable-user-fields-as-disabled-inputs-in-profile-preferences/403015 "2026-05-15T01:12:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![ted](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/ted/32/283882_2.png) [@ted](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ted)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/show-uneditable-user-fields-as-disabled-inputs-in-profile-preferences/403015/1 "2026-05-15T01:12:54Z")

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I got myself a little confused while testing some things. The reason being that uneditable user fields are entirely hidden from non-staff users’ profile preferences. (Staff users have special privileges to edit even uneditable fields, so it shows up as an active field for them.)

I think user expectations are generally that uneditable fields are still shown, but disabled.

Unless there are any objections to this, I can make a PR. CC @chapoi.

* * *

Edit: I can imagine a reality where some moderator team are using this for “staff notes” or other secret information.

Maybe need to a) make this configurable on a per-field level, or b) add a site setting to enable it.

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