Single user login
Single user login (SUL) is the unique credential to login to any Wikimedia platform (including organisational websites like this), based on username + password. Administrator accounts require Two-factor authentication, for added protection.
- Some Wiikimedia-related platforms that are not part of the core infrastructure use OAuth (proxy login).
- Some other technical platforms have a separate login, for platform specific reasons (Wikitech completed a SUL merger in 2025).
Rules
[edit]You can create a single Wikimedia account on any core platform; any other core platform will transparently reuse your credentials. It might still be required to click once on Log in. Any person can only have one single user account; an exception is made for Bot accounts that require special rights. Any other redundant user account is considered as a sock pupet. This measure exists to avoid elections or impersonation fraud.
Companies and organisations may not use an account on Wikipedia (because of neutral point of view), but they can create an "official" user account on Wikidata or Wikimedia Commons to upload "own" media files. On Media Commons they can create an Institution template to document the ownership of media files.
Avoid abuse
[edit]- Choose a complicated unique password; on Linux you can use e.g.
pwgen -y 15 - Only perform auto-login (save your password in the browser) if you own the workstation (never on a shared device).
- When you have additional rights you must use two-factor authentication.
- Change your password immediately when you suspect account fraud.
Functionality
[edit]- Rename username (choose a decent pseudoniem to avoid renaming)
- Merge accounts (multiple accounts on different platforms)
- (un)Block accounts
- Important: validate your e-mail address immediately after creating your account; you must validate your e-mail address in order to be able to request a (future) password reset.
- Password reset
- Protected login (extended authentication, Two-factor authentication) when you have additional rights.
SUL exceptions
[edit]- Bots have a separate account with bot righs (often with a Bot suffix, and logically linked to, and owned by the main account). The bot owner must make non-bot updates with ones private account.
- Organisations' are only possible for Wikidata, or Wikimedia Commons
- Affiliations accounts are not possible (Wikimedia/Wikipedia is not allowed to be part of a user name)
- Training and demo accounts (rarely used)
- Some technical developer platforms have unrelated accounts; examples:
- Gerrit (version management platform)
Good to know
[edit]- Logging out from one browser logs you out from all sessions; you need to login again, including any onetime token.
- Only perform autologin on devices that you own.