MembershipWorks Single Sign On (SSO) only signs in members of your organization. MembershipWorks administrator accounts are not members, so when someone is signed in to MembershipWorks as an administrator and opens your forum, they see an access_denied error with the message "User session invalid".
This is expected behavior on the MembershipWorks side, but you can still give your staff full administrator access to your forum. The steps below use the member login and require no code changes.
Why the error happens
When a visitor opens your forum, the SSO sign in link routes them through MembershipWorks. MembershipWorks verifies that the person is a valid member and then signs them into the forum. If the person is signed in to MembershipWorks as an administrator instead of a member, MembershipWorks stops the sign in and your forum shows the "User session invalid" error.
Give someone administrator access to your forum
Step 1: Sign in to the forum through MembershipWorks as a member
- Go to your forum and click the SSO sign in link, which routes through MembershipWorks.
- On the MembershipWorks member sign in page, enter the person's member email address and password.
- This creates or signs into their forum member account automatically.
Step 2: Promote that account to the Administrators group
- Sign in to the Website Toolbox admin panel with your Owner account. If the Owner password was forgotten, use the reset link on the sign in page.
- Go to Settings → Users.
- Find the member account, listed under the email address used in Step 1, and move it into the Administrators user group.
- Click Save.
That's it. The next time the person signs in to your forum through MembershipWorks SSO, they will be signed in as an administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see the "User session invalid" error?
You are signed in to MembershipWorks as an administrator, not as a member. MembershipWorks SSO only authenticates member accounts. Sign out of MembershipWorks and sign back in as a member, or use a different browser where you are already signed in as a member.
Can I sign in as a MembershipWorks administrator?
No. MembershipWorks SSO does not authenticate administrator accounts, and MembershipWorks support has confirmed there is no workaround on their end. To give someone administrator access to the forum, sign in as a member and promote that account to the Administrators group using the steps above.
Will my members be affected?
No. Members continue to sign in exactly as they always have. This only applies when someone is signed in to MembershipWorks as an administrator.