# Managing Users

This page covers the day-to-day tasks of creating, editing, and managing user accounts.

## User List

![The user list showing accounts with name, email, role, and status columns](/files/DAC3JENksOvjzvtdRovp)

From the administration panel, click **User list** to see all users on the platform. The list shows:

* Avatar
* Name
* Username
* Email address
* Roles
* Active/inactive status
* Registration date
* Last login date

Use the **Advanced search** tool to find specific users by name, email, role, or other criteria.

## Creating a User

![The user creation form with fields for name, email, username, password, role, and language](/files/3cC1HQN2j4ytkWSvQ6nb)

1. Click **Add a user** from the administration panel
2. Fill in the required fields:
   * **First name** and **Last name**
   * **Email** — Must be unique on the platform
   * **Username** — The login name (must be unique)
   * **Password** — Set an initial password
   * **Roles** — Select the user's platform role(s) (student, teacher, admin, etc.)
   * **Language** — The user's preferred interface language
3. Optionally fill in additional fields:
   * Official code (e.g. unique ID in the organization)
   * Phone number
   * Expiration date — Automatically deactivate the account after a date
   * Active/inactive status
   * Extra profile fields (if configured)
4. Save

## Importing Users

![The user import interface for uploading CSV or XML files with user data](/files/mQahKYR6BQUH05QXJC1q)

For bulk user creation, you can import users from a file:

1. Click **Import users** from the administration panel
2. Upload a **CSV** or **XML** file with user data
3. Map the file columns to Chamilo user fields
4. Choose how to handle existing users (update or skip)
5. Import

The import file should contain columns for at least: first name, last name, email, username, and password.

Note: The **Status** column is the legacy name for **Role** and only accepts a few values, like 1 for teacher, 5 for student. Further tuniing of the roles can only be done by hand later on, editing the user.

## Exporting Users

Click **Export users** to download the user list as a CSV or XML file. You can filter which users to export by role, registration date, or other criteria.

## Editing a User

Click on a user's name in the user list to edit their account. You can modify:

* Personal information (name, email, phone)
* Roles
* Password (reset)
* Active/inactive status
* Expiration date
* Extra profile fields

## Deleting a User

When deleting users (usually teachers) who have created content on the platform, the system might prevent you from deleting the users permanently, and will show a warning message explaining the user is still attached to some of the resources. If you confirm the deletion, the system will not delete the content itself but attach it to a neutral user (we call it the "Fallback user") for data consistency reasons.

To avoid this, check the user details, delete each of their courses one by one, then delete the user.

## User Actions

| Action         | Description                                                                                                        |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Deactivate** | Disable a user's account without deleting it. The user cannot log in but their data is preserved.                  |
| **Activate**   | Re-enable a previously deactivated account.                                                                        |
| **Login as**   | Log in to the platform as this user (impersonation). Useful for troubleshooting.                                   |
| **Anonymize**  | Erase all of the account's personal information, as defined by the EU's GDPR.                                      |
| **Delete**     | Soft delete the user account. Use the **Deleted users** tab to permanently delete the account and associated data. |

> **Login as** is a powerful feature. Use it responsibly and only for legitimate support purposes.

## Batch Operations

Select multiple users in the user list to perform batch actions:

* Activate or deactivate multiple users at once
* Delete multiple users
* Assign users to a course or session

## Tips

* **Use CSV import for large enrollments** — When onboarding many users at the start of a training program, prepare a CSV file and import in bulk
* **Set expiration dates** — For temporary users (workshop participants, trial users), set an expiration date to automatically deactivate their accounts
* **Deactivate rather than delete** — When a user leaves, deactivate their account first. This preserves their training records. Only delete if you are sure the data is no longer needed.


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