Sign users in from your own site (SSO link)

Send people from your own website or app straight into a course with a one-time link.

1 min read

An SSO link sends people straight from your website or app into a course, without a separate how.io sign-in. Your server asks how.io for a one-time link and sends the user to it. If the user is new, we register them.

Set it up

  1. Open the course, go to Integrations and choose Configure on SSO link.
  2. Copy the API key. It's shown in full once, when it's generated. Keep it on your server: don't put it in a web page or app.
  3. Under Link settings, choose how long a link lasts (for example 5 minutes). Links are single use.
  4. Choose the Group people are added to when they arrive this way, or ＋ New group. You can also add existing learners to the group when they sign in through the link.
  5. Choose Send test request to check it works, then Save.

Request a link from your server

Send a POST to the address shown on the page, with Authorization: Bearer and your key. Include:

  • user_id (required): your ID for the user. We use it to match them next time.
  • email (required): used for certificates and emails.
  • first_name, last_name (optional): shown on the certificate.

The reply includes a url. Redirect the user to it.

Request a fresh link each time the user clicks through. An expired or used link sends them to the how.io sign-in page.