An Automan screen related to this article.
The problem
Staff complain “the menu isn’t there” or “my screen looks different” — and the owner can’t see what the staff member sees without asking for their password (a terrible habit) or standing behind their shoulder.
The tip
Use shadow login (“Login As”): an admin enters as that user, within that user’s permissions, sees exactly what they see, then returns to the admin session by logging back in. No password ever changes hands.
Practical steps
- Open the user’s record.
- Use the login-as action for that user.
- Inspect the problem from their point of view — menus, permissions, or flow.
- Done helping? Return to your admin session (log back in).
When to use it
When staff are confused about missing menus, permissions, or a specific flow — especially when helping remotely. Also handy for testing a new role before it goes into daily use.