# \#anonymous-mode **URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/tag/anonymous-mode/525.md [Latest](https://meta.discourse.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://meta.discourse.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://meta.discourse.org/tags.md) --- ## [Enable and configure anonymous mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/enable-and-configure-anonymous-mode/155638)
**Author:** [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/enable-and-configure-anonymous-mode/155638 "2020-06-23T00:01:13Z")
:bookmark: This guide details how-to enable and configure anonymous mode in Discourse for users who want to post without revealing their identity. :person\_raising\_hand: Required user level: Administrator Anonymous mo… --- ## [Visibility of anonymous mode toggle/posting](https://meta.discourse.org/t/visibility-of-anonymous-mode-toggle-posting/399144)
**Author:** [@Squidgemonster](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Squidgemonster)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2026, 11:13am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/visibility-of-anonymous-mode-toggle-posting/399144 "2026-03-26T11:13:04Z")
Hello Discourse folks - I have been kicking the tires of the product for a little while now and I’m super impressed with the depth of features and options within Discourse. One key observation I have is the mechanic of … --- ## [Federation doesn’t respect anonymous mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/federation-doesn-t-respect-anonymous-mode/398961)
**Author:** [@Jagster](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jagster)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2026, 11:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/federation-doesn-t-respect-anonymous-mode/398961 "2026-03-21T11:42:43Z")
ActivityPub sends same post twice when an anon is writer. One as @anon…@forum or what ever style forum uses, and one using actual name like @doe@forum. Is that expected? Because when a user uses anon mode that user wants… --- ## [Always-Anonymous Categories Plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/always-anonymous-categories-plugin/41110)
**Author:** [@michaeld](https://meta.discourse.org/u/michaeld)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/always-anonymous-categories-plugin/41110 "2026-01-31T20:06:01Z")
I had a request from a co-worker to find a way to offer “anonymous Q&A” to our division’s employees. At first blush, Discourse seemed like the wrong tool for the job: anonymous posting seemed anathema to the whole point… --- ## [Anonymous mode with reactions disable works when switching accounts](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-mode-with-reactions-disable-works-when-switching-accounts/386069)
**Author:** [@discojan](https://meta.discourse.org/u/discojan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2025, 8:48am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-mode-with-reactions-disable-works-when-switching-accounts/386069 "2025-10-18T08:48:27Z")
For Anonymous mode with reactions disabled by system administrator, users can click on anonymous mode button in a new tab while being on a specific post showing reactions UI from main account, then switches tab to main a… --- ## [Can staff be able to see real author of anonymous posts](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-staff-be-able-to-see-real-author-of-anonymous-posts/33488)
**Author:** [@Un3qual](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Un3qual)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-staff-be-able-to-see-real-author-of-anonymous-posts/33488 "2025-06-08T17:52:09Z")
Continuing the discussion from Anonymous posting mode: I am using discourse for a school, and students like to give teachers anonymous feedback without being scared that teachers will know who it is, and dislike them, … --- ## [Can't chat in anonymous mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cant-chat-in-anonymous-mode/364787)
**Author:** [@祁同伟](https://meta.discourse.org/u/%E7%A5%81%E5%90%8C%E4%BC%9F)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cant-chat-in-anonymous-mode/364787 "2025-05-05T13:03:51Z")
After enabling anonymous mode, checking “Allow anonymous chat”, creating an anonymous group, and an anonymous visible category, and then creating a channel associated with that category, when switching to anonymous mode,… --- ## [Silenced user can circumvent it entering anonymous mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/silenced-user-can-circumvent-it-entering-anonymous-mode/320052)
**Author:** [@ValdikSS](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ValdikSS)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2025, 8:39am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/silenced-user-can-circumvent-it-entering-anonymous-mode/320052 "2025-04-23T08:39:44Z")
When the user is silenced, entering anonymous mode allows to post without restrictions. Discourse 3.3.0.beta6 --- ## [Adding 'anonymous\*' to reserved\_usernames blocks creation of 'AnonymousXX' name structure in Anonymous mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/adding-anonymous-to-reserved-usernames-blocks-creation-of-anonymousxx-name-structure-in-anonymous-mode/240485)
**Author:** [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/adding-anonymous-to-reserved-usernames-blocks-creation-of-anonymousxx-name-structure-in-anonymous-mode/240485 "2025-04-02T10:10:29Z")
Continuing the discussion from How to anonymise a single post?: If you allow anonymous mode for that user’s trust level, this would work as I’ve done this before. I tried this just now, and the anonymous user create… --- ## [Make anonymous mode button less prominent, less likely to be pressed accidentally?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/make-anonymous-mode-button-less-prominent-less-likely-to-be-pressed-accidentally/99856)
**Author:** [@tobiaseigen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tobiaseigen)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/make-anonymous-mode-button-less-prominent-less-likely-to-be-pressed-accidentally/99856 "2025-03-07T19:50:27Z")
I’m at a workshop in :kenya: where I just trained up a bunch of people on using discourse. One of the things that came up is that one person (who is an active smartphone user) accidentally entered anonymous mode. It was … --- ## [Hide anonymous users in the user directory](https://meta.discourse.org/t/hide-anonymous-users-in-the-user-directory/130542)
**Author:** [@bdhays](https://meta.discourse.org/u/bdhays)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/hide-anonymous-users-in-the-user-directory/130542 "2024-09-12T21:36:43Z")
I’m testing a self-hosted instance of Discourse with “allow anonymous posting” enabled. I’ve gone into Anonymous Mode a few times with a couple of different test accounts, so there are now four anonymous users (anonymous… --- ## [Using anonymous mode to reply or create topics](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-anonymous-mode-to-reply-or-create-topics/240039)
**Author:** [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2022, 2:06am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-anonymous-mode-to-reply-or-create-topics/240039 "2022-09-26T02:06:37Z")
:bookmark: This guide explains how to use anonymous mode on Discourse, allowing users to reply or create topics anonymously. :person\_raising\_hand: Required user level: All users. :information\_source: Anonymous mode is… --- ## [How to restrict anonymous users from posting in specific categories in Discourse?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-restrict-anonymous-users-from-posting-in-specific-categories-in-discourse/310033)
**Author:** [@joo](https://meta.discourse.org/u/joo)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2024, 7:19am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-restrict-anonymous-users-from-posting-in-specific-categories-in-discourse/310033 "2024-06-01T07:19:31Z")
Hello everyone, I’m encountering some issues with my Discourse forum and would appreciate your help. My Requirements: Anonymous User Group: I have created an anonymous user group, and all anonymous users are automatic… --- ## [Allow anonymous users to inherit their parent user groups](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-anonymous-users-to-inherit-their-parent-user-groups/292692)
**Author:** [@meltingmettle\_gh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/meltingmettle_gh)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-anonymous-users-to-inherit-their-parent-user-groups/292692 "2024-03-06T15:33:15Z")
Hello! Could I please get a review for this PR? We’re trying to create a region-specific discourse, where a user’s membership will limit them to certain groups, but currently this conflicts with anonymous user support… --- ## ['Per-Category' anonymous mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/per-category-anonymous-mode/261735)
**Author:** [@kiefferr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/kiefferr)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2023, 8:50am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/per-category-anonymous-mode/261735 "2023-10-22T08:50:53Z")
Discourse has an out-of-the-box anonymous mode whereby users can manually enter and exit from anonymous mode, but what we really need for our community (and had on our previous phpBB-based forum) is the ability to force … --- ## [Use cases for anonymous posting feature](https://meta.discourse.org/t/use-cases-for-anonymous-posting-feature/281922)
**Author:** [@murphyke](https://meta.discourse.org/u/murphyke)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/use-cases-for-anonymous-posting-feature/281922 "2023-10-11T22:54:47Z")
I was reading Finding originating account of anonymous posts and I wanted to chime in but found that it was locked. I think many people assume that users want to become anonymous to hide from both admins and other users… --- ## [Can't add user in anonymous mode to a group automatically](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cant-add-user-in-anonymous-mode-to-a-group-automatically/166151)
**Author:** [@topological](https://meta.discourse.org/u/topological)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2023, 8:36am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cant-add-user-in-anonymous-mode-to-a-group-automatically/166151 "2023-08-31T08:36:29Z")
Hello everone! I’m running a forum with Discourse 2.6.0beta3, and I think I find a bug. I try to add anonymous users to a group name anons, so I can restrict their posts in some specific categories. I set the group ano… --- ## [Configuring anonymous posting for specific categories](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configuring-anonymous-posting-for-specific-categories/271583)
**Author:** [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configuring-anonymous-posting-for-specific-categories/271583 "2023-08-28T20:01:01Z")
:bookmark: This guide explains how to create a group for anonymous users and configure category-specific permissions for anonymous posting. :person\_raising\_hand: Required user level: Administrator Before proceeding w… --- ## [Will users recieve notifications in anonymous mode?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/will-users-recieve-notifications-in-anonymous-mode/253091)
**Author:** [@Santhosh\_Kumar](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Santhosh_Kumar)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2023, 10:53am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/will-users-recieve-notifications-in-anonymous-mode/253091 "2023-01-31T10:53:40Z")
Hi, Will the user receive any notification if someone replied to the anonymous question? --- ## [How to keep the same anonymous account?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-keep-the-same-anonymous-account/253087)
**Author:** [@hoangviet](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hoangviet)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-keep-the-same-anonymous-account/253087 "2023-01-27T15:33:20Z")
Please help. if I have exited anonymous , how can I comment(reply) with that anonymous name? --- ## [Anonymous mode users shouldn't be shown a tip to add a profile picture](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-mode-users-shouldnt-be-shown-a-tip-to-add-a-profile-picture/235282)
**Author:** [@curi](https://meta.discourse.org/u/curi)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2022, 5:23am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-mode-users-shouldnt-be-shown-a-tip-to-add-a-profile-picture/235282 "2022-08-06T05:23:27Z")
Anonymous users generally aren’t new and don’t need to see tips aimed at new accounts. Plus I don’t want users to set profile pictures when they’re in anonymous mode. I like having the anonymous users be visually distinc… --- ## [Anonymous Mode restriction per category?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-mode-restriction-per-category/71148)
**Author:** [@WhatllB](https://meta.discourse.org/u/WhatllB)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2022, 4:01am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-mode-restriction-per-category/71148 "2022-06-17T04:01:35Z")
I’ve got a forum where one category is for discussing sensitive personal details, and another is for feedback. I want to provide anonymous posting in those, but in all other categories anonymous posting would probably be… --- ## [How anonymous is the anonymous mode?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-anonymous-is-the-anonymous-mode/229987)
**Author:** [@elopio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/elopio)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-anonymous-is-the-anonymous-mode/229987 "2022-06-16T12:53:56Z")
In the anonymous mode, it is not clear how strong is this anonymity. Are the discourse admins able to identify the user? Are the server admins able to identify the user? Or is this untraceable? --- ## [Protect spam via anonym mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/protect-spam-via-anonym-mode/227569)
**Author:** [@nobodyfrm](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nobodyfrm)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2022, 9:18am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/protect-spam-via-anonym-mode/227569 "2022-05-20T09:18:48Z")
Hi, we are considering enabling anonymous mode, but have security concerns. Is it possible to find out the original user if someone spreads spam or other nonsense via anonymous mode, at least as an administrator? It m… --- ## [Can we toggle anonymous mode via API](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-we-toggle-anonymous-mode-via-api/217757)
**Author:** [@Dheerain\_Jain](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Dheerain_Jain)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2022, 12:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-we-toggle-anonymous-mode-via-api/217757 "2022-02-10T12:13:09Z")
Is there a way we can toggle anonymous mode via api or we can create anonymous user via api ? Also is there any api that i can use to know to which user exactly this anonymous user belongs to? --- ## [Anonymous posting -- but retaining original user permissions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-posting-but-retaining-original-user-permissions/47247)
**Author:** [@jpalermo](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jpalermo)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anonymous-posting-but-retaining-original-user-permissions/47247 "2021-12-02T01:58:27Z")
Hello; we are hosting a live chat in our Discourse community on the topic of making a career switch, and we’d like to enable our members to have the option of participating anonymously to protect their privacy given the … --- ## [Allow anonymous mode user (or any user!) to create but not reply to topics](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-anonymous-mode-user-or-any-user-to-create-but-not-reply-to-topics/210456)
**Author:** [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-anonymous-mode-user-or-any-user-to-create-but-not-reply-to-topics/210456 "2021-11-29T22:34:16Z")
On my forum I can see the benefit of allowing users to ask questions anonymously, but on balance don’t see any overall benefit from allowing anonymous replies. I’ve created an “Anon” group which is automatically populate… --- ## [Set anonymous mode trust level](https://meta.discourse.org/t/set-anonymous-mode-trust-level/104895)
**Author:** [@DNSTARS](https://meta.discourse.org/u/DNSTARS)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/set-anonymous-mode-trust-level/104895 "2018-12-26T00:13:56Z")
Hi Guys, I might be missing something here but we’ve got some categories that are trust restricted, there is a use-case for anon posting in these categories. Users who meet the requirements to access the categories and … --- ## [Creating an Anonymous Mode Button For Members](https://meta.discourse.org/t/creating-an-anonymous-mode-button-for-members/205561)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Millington](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Richard_Millington)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/creating-an-anonymous-mode-button-for-members/205561 "2021-10-10T19:18:34Z")
What would you like done? My client is looking for a developer for a simple project to create an ‘anonymous mode’ component to the homepage next to the ‘new topic’ option in our site theme When do you need it done? Ab… --- ## [Questions About / Improvements To Anonymous Mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/questions-about-improvements-to-anonymous-mode/155944)
**Author:** [@Geoffrey\_Challen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Geoffrey_Challen)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/questions-about-improvements-to-anonymous-mode/155944 "2021-01-13T15:00:11Z")
It looks like our institution may be ditching Piazza, so I’m starting to get some queries about Discourse as a potential replacement for course forums. One feature of Piazza that faculty consider important is anonymous … [Next page](https://meta.discourse.org/tag/anonymous-mode/525.md?match_all_tags=true&page=1&tags%5B%5D=anonymous-mode)