Manage users within Looker (Google Cloud core)

Within a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance, several settings are available for managing users.

Required permission

In order to manage users within a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance, you must have the Admin role within Looker.

The Users page

The Admin > Users page within Looker displays active users within Looker (Google Cloud core) and lets you make certain edits to their accounts within Looker, such as editing the following account settings:

Users' names and email addresses must be edited within the identity provider that is used for authentication.

Unlike within Looker (original) instances, the following is not available in the Looker (Google Cloud core) Users page:

Adding users to a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance

To add individual Looker (Google Cloud core) users, add users within your identity provider. Their Looker accounts will be created upon first login. Individual users cannot be added on the Users page; however, API-only service accounts can be added on the Users page.

Creating an API-only service account

You can create API-only accounts (often called "service accounts") from the Users page within a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance. These accounts can be granted Admin Looker roles and can be granted Looker API credentials. However, these accounts cannot sign in to Looker (Google Cloud core) through the UI. To add a service account, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Add Service Account button.
  2. Enter an email address for the service account.
  3. Select the Groups and Roles to assign to the service account.
  4. Click the Save button.

Removing access to Looker (Google Cloud core)

Remove access to a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance by updating the identity provider that was used for authentication. Although the user can no longer sign in to the instance, the user account will still appear active on the Users page. To remove the user account from the Users page, delete the user within the Looker (Google Cloud core) instance.

Selecting an authentication method for Looker (Google Cloud core) users

An OAuth client must be set up as part of instance creation, and OAuth authentication is the backup authentication method for Looker (Google Cloud core). However, you can choose between several different primary authentication methods. The Authentication methods for Looker (Google Cloud core) documentation page lists the available authentication methods.

Setting a default Looker role within the Looker (Google Cloud core) instance

Before you add any users, you can set the default Looker role that will be granted to user accounts with the Looker Instance User IAM role upon their first login to a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance. To set a default role, follow the steps provided in the documentation for your identity provider: OAuth, SAML, or OpenID Connect.

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