---
title: "Set up Totara Connect"
slug: "set-up-totara-connect"
tags: ["Totara Platform", "Site Administrator", "How-to"]
updated: 2025-07-22T10:52:18Z
published: 2025-07-22T11:18:07Z
canonical: "totara.help/set-up-totara-connect"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set up Totara Connect

There are several steps to setting up [Totara Connect](/19/docs/what-is-totara-connect) for your Totara sites. First you will need to enable the Totara Connect server, and then configure the Totara Connect client. Make sure you have enabled the **Totara Connect client** authentication plugin on the client site first.

Please note that Totara Connect is not compatible with [guest access](/19/docs/configure-guest-access). If you want to use Totara Connect it is recommended that you configure alternative [enrolment methods](/19/docs/what-are-enrolment-methods) and disable guest access on courses where it is used.

To set up a Totara Connect client, follow these steps:

1. Configure your Totara Connect server settings.
2. Configure your Totara Connect client settings.
3. Connect to a Totara Connect server.
4. Finally, add your Totara Connect client to your Totara Connect server.

## Configure Totara Connect server settings

1. Go to *Quick-access menu > Configure features > Shared services settings.*
2. Tick **Enable Totara Connect server**.
3. Click **Save changes**.

You can also enable password syncing for users by following these steps:

1. Go to *Quick-access menu > Users > Totara Connect server > Settings.*
2. Tick **Sync user passwords**.
3. Click **Save changes**.

## **Configure Totara Connect client settings**

1. Go to *Quick-access menu > Plugins > Authentication > Manage authentication*.
2. Click **Settings** next to **Totara Connect client**.
3. Configure the [settings](/19/docs/totara-connect-settings).
4. Click **Save changes**.

Ensure the **Totara Connect client** authentication method is enabled by making sure the eye icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1635158371508.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T18%3A11%3A52Z&se=2026-11-01T19%3A11%3A52Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2gb1R%2F43Tc7BC5Xla4Nqkltxp29vgIZpo3SOlxClcqE%3D) ) is open alongside it.

## Connect to a Totara Connect server

1. Go to *Quick-access menu > Plugins > Authentication > Manage authentication > Totara Connect client > Servers.*
2. Click **Connect to new server**.
3. Note down the **Client URL** and **Client setup secret** as you'll need this information to complete the setup.

### **Add a Totara Connect client**

1. Log in as a Site Administrator on the site acting as the Totara Connect server.
2. Go to *Quick-access menu > Users > Totara Connect server > Client systems.*
3. Click **Add client**.
4. Enter the details.
5. Click **Add client**.

When a client has **Automatic single sign-on via server** assigned, the Site Administrator (and any other users that have accounts on the client) will not be able to sign in from the login screen. If a user needs to access the client site directly, a login page with the parameter **?nosso=1** can be added to the client login address. For example, **http://_clientURL_/login/index.php?nosso=1**.

Note that this will give access to any user with an active account on the client server (bypassing the SSO server).

Once complete, you'll now see that the **Status** column shows an **Active** connection between the server and the client site. A new option will be available on the login page of the client site.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

© Copyright 2026 Totara Learning Solutions. All rights reserved.