How to login into your UniFi Controller?

Logging into your UniFi Network Application (previously UniFi Controller) is unclear from Ubiquiti's documentation. The UX of the UniFi dashboard is also not great. No wonder that you are here now.

Let's breakdown how to access your UniFi Controller and understand the authentication process.

---

🚨 Before we dive in, please don't self-host your UniFi Controller if you take care of clients' networks. Sooner or later this will cause issues! It's fine for home users, but definitely not recommended for IT service businesses and MSPs. If you need secure, reliable and a scalable hosting solution check out UniHosted.

---

Table of Contents

• Location of the UniFi Network Application (previously UniFi Controller)
• Accessing the UniFi Network Application
• Understanding Authentication in UniFi
• Managing Users and Authentication
  • Site roles
  • Hack a new role
• Final Thoughts

Location of the UniFi Network Application (previously UniFi Controller)

1. You can have a locally installed UniFi Network Application
2. You can have a cloud installed UniFi Network Application

With the local version, make sure to be on the same network as your UniFi Network Application / UniFi Controller.

Accessing the UniFi Network Application

1. Launch a Web Browser: Open your preferred web browser. Make sure to be on the same network as your UniFi Controller if you're running it locally.
2. Enter the Controller's IP Address or Hostname:
   • If your UniFi Controller is hosted on a local network, enter the IP address of the device running the Controller software.
   • For cloud-hosted UniFi Controllers, like those managed by us at UniHosted, enter the provided hostname or URL. For UniHosted customers, it looks like this m1234.unifi.unihosted.com.
3. Login Page: You will be greeted by the UniFi login page. Here, you need to enter your username and password.
   • First time: If this is your first time, it will ask you to set up the controller.
   • Defaults: There are no default credentials.
4. Accessing the Dashboard: After entering the correct credentials, you will be taken to the UniFi Controller dashboard, where you can manage your network.

Understanding Authentication in UniFi

UniFi uses a role-based access control system for authentication. The first user will be the admin of the UniFi Network Application. You can't add new users with that same role. All users you add later will be users that are specific to one or more sites. You don't have a system wide user next to the first user of the UniFi Network Application.

Managing Users and Authentication

To manage users and their roles:

1. Navigate to the Settings: In the UniFi Controller dashboard, in the sidebar, click on 'Admins'.
2. Select all sites: On top of the page in the dropdown, select 'All Sites' instead of 'Current Site' (in case you have multiple)
3. Add or Modify Users: From here, you can add new users, modify existing user roles, or change passwords.

Site roles

You can invite users to specific sites. For those users, you can pick one of two roles.

1. Site Administrator (Site Admin): Can manage Network Application settings for a specific site.
2. View Only: Can view applications without configuring anything. With this role, you get another option: "Allow Devices Adoption". Use this to let those users adopt new devices.
3. Hotspot Operator: Can manage guest Wi-Fi hotspots set up by Admins.

See UniFi document about Granting Access to UniFi.

Hack a new role

Adding a new user with system-wide privileges is not possible in the UI. But if you like to live dangerously, you can modify the database directly. If you have access to the database, there is an option to create a new user next to the original user. You'll need to update the admin and privilege table in MongoDB. That's all we want to say about it.

Final Thoughts

Ubiquiti has made it into a sport to find the proper login and authentication process. It's not the only thing that can be tedious about managing your UniFi Controller. I believe you know about the maintenance effort, scalability issues and security updates.

If you don't want the hassle of manaing your own UniFi Controller we can manage all your network processes for you. At UniHosted, we prioritize reliability and security in our cloud-hosted UniFi Controller solution, ensuring that your network is not only easily accessible but also secured against unauthorized access. Feel free to give it a try!

If you would like me to personally walk you through UniHosted, you can schedule a call with me here.