HostGator Web Hosting Help
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Single Sign-On (SSO) is the common name for the process of signing in to your HostGator account using a different software service provider (e.g., Google, Facebook, WordPress, etc.). Although the software systems of HostGator are independent from an SSO service provider, a single successful log in/sign-on will provide access to both. As a user of SSO you would simply enter your username and password of one of our trusted external service providers and your authentication is then accepted to sign in at HostGator.
This article explains how to set up the Single Sign-On feature and use it to authenticate and gain access to your HostGator account. Also included are the most frequently asked questions.
- How to Access SSO Settings
- How to Set up SSO
- How to Remove SSO
- How to Use SSO
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Access SSO Settings
The steps for Accessing SSO settings will vary depending on which interface your account uses.
Older Accounts- Log in to your HostGator account using your primary domain or username and your main account password.
- Click the Accounts menu at the top of the page.
- Click Single Sign-On in the submenu.
- Log in to your HostGator account using your primary domain or username and your main account password.
- Click the accounts icon in the top right-hand corner of the page, then choose Profile from the drop-down.
- Click Add Account in the Single Sign On section.
How to Set up SSO
Setting up SSO first involves linking of one of our trusted external provider logins to your HostGator account.
- On the SSO page, select Add Account. Follow the onscreen steps to link your Google Account.
- Once your Google account is connected, you will be able to log out of your HostGator account and log in with your Google credentials by clicking Sign in With Google.*
*You will need to make sure that pop-ups are enabled in your browser.
How to Remove SSO
- Click the Accounts menu at the top of the page.
- Click Single Sign-On in the submenu.
- Next to the SSO account, click Remove.
Anytime you add or remove an SSO account to your HostGator account, we'll send a confirmation to the primary email address on file. If someone links an SSO account you don’t recognize, please secure your account by logging in to your account and updating any information that may be compromised.
How to Use SSO
Once SSO is enabled:
- Use it to log in to your HostGator account instead of using your domain/username and password.
- Use it to give access to someone who is helping you build your website or managing the billing portions of your hosting account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using Single Sign-On (SSO)?
- Fewer passwords to remember.
- Unlimited Hosting and Billing users.
- No need to share passwords.
- No need to manage passwords.
- Hipsters don’t think it is passe...yet.
Why does HostGator want to know who I am on Google, view my email address, or view my basic profile information?
For people signing in, we only keep the username/email address so we know who you are and what you are connected to. For folks signing up with SSO, we use the basic information to make signup easier, but other than that the data never gets saved to our servers. We respect your data and information.
What passwords does SSO work with?
Currently, there are three basic permission types. Main, Billing and Hosting. The Main password is the first one you created. It’s the one that can do everything. Billing can only touch pages related to buying services for the account as a whole. The Hosting password is usually tied to a domain and grants access to the server where your website lives
Can I have more than one Single Sign-On?
Yes and no. You can only have one Main login. Meaning, only one account with all the rights and privileges as your username/domain login you created when you first got your account. However, when it comes to Hosting and Billing logins you can create as many as you need.
When can I log in using other providers like Facebook?
Technically, you can right now. Google is an OpenID provider so pretty much any widely respected credentials will work.
What is the difference between this and cPanel SSO?
The main difference is access. There are a lot of features and services we built above and beyond what basic cPanel provides. This gives you access to all of those features and still lets you log in to cPanel as well. You can of course use the same login on both.