---
title: Roles
description: Understand how to create, edit, and manage roles and access permissions in the Developer Portal.
documentId: developer-portal-roles
locale: en-US
---

With Roles, you can define user permissions and manage access according to your Developer Portal's rules. This allows for greater control, restricting pages as needed.

<Callout type="NOTE" title="NOTE">
In **Roles** you control access to your Developer Portal pages. User roles for accessing Portal Manager are managed by [Access Control](/docs/access-control).
</Callout>

<a id="roles-tab"></a>
<a id="_accessing_the_roles_tab"></a>
## Accessing the Roles tab

To go to the Roles tab:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Step 1

    In the left side menu, click Settings.
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 2

    On the screen that opens, click the Roles tab.

    ![roles screen with indications on how to get there](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/roles_developers_051bfe4502.png)
  </Step>
</Steps>

<a id="new-role"></a>
<a id="_creating_a_new_role"></a>
## Creating a new role

Follow the steps below to add a role:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Step 1

    [Access **Settings > Roles**](#roles-tab).
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 2

    Click the **+ NEW ROLE** button, located on the right side of the screen.

    ![settings tab with new role button highlighted](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/roles_button_new_28235abb14.png)
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 3

    Fill in the fields and click **SAVE**. All fields are mandatory.

    ![create role fields](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/create_role_52aef97b7c.png)

    - **Role name**: Define a name for the role with at least 3 characters.
    - **Role description**: Describe the role's restrictions.
    - **Routes**: choose one or more routes to define which areas the user can access.  
      It is necessary to choose at least one of these routes:

    | **Route**             | **Access**                                                                 |
    |----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
    | API Catalog          | Management of [products](/docs/developer-portal/products)                  |
    | Apps                 | Creation and editing of [Apps](/docs/developer-portal/apps) via Developer Portal |
    | Guides               | [Guides](/docs/developer-portal/guides) screens                            |
    | FAQ                  | FAQ section                                                                |
    | API Status           | Listing of the API status screen                                           |
    | API Activity Monitor | Call records                                                               |
  </Step>
</Steps>

<a id="default-role"></a>
<a id="_default_role"></a>
## Default role

The **default role** is assigned to new users who register in your Developer Portal when the [automatic approval](/docs/developer-portal/settings-developers#activate-inactivate) option is enabled in [**Settings > Developers**](/docs/developer-portal/settings-developers) of your Portal Manager.

When you create the first role, it is automatically set as the default.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Step 1

    To change the default:
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 2

    In the **Default role** column of the [Roles](#roles-tab) tab, click the _toggle_ for the role you want to set as default.

    ![highlight for the default role column toggles](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/default_role_toggle_cb000ccbd5.png)
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="NOTE" title="NOTE">
- A default role cannot be deleted.  
  To delete, first select another role as default.
</Callout>

<a id="delete-roles"></a>
<a id="_deleting_a_role"></a>
## Deleting a role

To delete a role:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Step 1

    [Access **Settings > Roles**](#roles-tab).
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 2

    In the **ACTIONS** column, click the ![trash can icon](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/icon_delete_9f52a6a3b9.png) for the role you want to delete.
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 3

    Confirm the action by clicking **DELETE**.

    ![deleting a role](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/delete_role_9fe1b41ec8.png)
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="NOTE" title="NOTE">
- The _Authenticated_ and _Public_ roles cannot be deleted.  
- When a role is deleted, users who had the deleted role will be assigned the default role.
</Callout>

<a id="edit-roles"></a>
<a id="_editing_a_role"></a>
## Editing a role

Follow the steps below to edit a role:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Step 1

    In the **ACTIONS** column of the [Roles](#roles-tab) tab, click the ![pencil icon representing the edit action](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/icon_edit_2_e029ead2c4.png) icon.
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 2

    Make the necessary changes. All fields are mandatory.

    ![Edit Role screen](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/roles_editing_b98b3af7ce.png)

    - **Role name**: Name for the role using at least 3 characters.
    - **Role description**: Description with the role's restrictions.
    - **Routes**: Routes that define which areas the user can access.  
      It is necessary to choose at least one of these routes:

    | **Route**             | **Access**                                                                 |
    |----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
    | API Catalog          | Management of [products](/docs/developer-portal/catalog)                   |
    | Apps                 | Creation and editing of [Apps](/docs/developer-portal/apps) via Developer Portal |
    | Guides               | [Guides](/docs/developer-portal/guides) screens                            |
    | FAQ                  | FAQ section                                                                |
    | API Status           | Listing of the API status screen                                           |
    | API Activity Monitor | Call records                                                               |
  </Step>
</Steps>

<a id="user-role"></a>
<a id="_assigning_a_role_to_an_existing_user"></a>
## Assigning a role to an existing user

To assign a role to an existing user:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Step 1

    Access the [**Consumers > Developers**](/docs/developer-portal/developers) page by clicking the card on your Portal Manager home page or in the left side menu:

    ![home screen with developers option highlighted](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/roles_developers_051bfe4502.png)
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 2

    Locate the desired user.
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 3

    In the **ACTIONS** column, click the ![pencil icon representing the edit action](../assets/icon-edit-2.png) icon.
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Step 4

    Choose one or more roles for the user and click **SAVE** to save.

    ![screen to edit a developer's access](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/edit_access_developer_43d3903e45.png)
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="TIP" title="TIP">
- [See how to assign roles to a user](/docs/developer-portal/developers#roles).
- [Publish a product](/docs/developer-portal/products#publish-product) so that it appears in the API catalog.
- [Create a new product](/docs/developer-portal/products).
</Callout>