---
title: Making a User Active/Inactive
description: "Only active users can sign in, and each active user uses one licence seat. Deactivate a user to stop them signing in and free their seat without losing their account or their records. **Note:** **Applies to:** system administrators (`admin` role).…"
url: "https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/making-a-user-active-inactive/"
updated: "2026-10-30"
category: Admin Basics
tags:
  - Accounts
---

# Making a User Active/Inactive

Only active users can sign in, and each active user uses one licence seat. Deactivate a user to stop them signing in and free their seat without losing their account or their records.

**Note:** **Applies to:** system administrators (`admin` role).

## Opening Users

1. Click the **Set up** spanner at the bottom left.

![The Set up spanner](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/making-a-user-active-inactive-01-setup-spanner.png)

1. Select **Users**. The **Active?** column shows a green tick for active users.

![The Users list with the Active? column and seat counter](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/making-a-user-active-inactive-02-users-list-active.png)

## Making a User Active

1. Check the seat counter at the top right has a free seat (for example **1/2** means one of two seats is used).

![The seat counter](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/making-a-user-active-inactive-03-users-seat-count.png)

1. Click the user to open them.
2. Click **Active?** so it shows a tick.

![The Active? button on a user](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/making-a-user-active-inactive-04-user-active-button.png)

1. Click **Save** at the top right.

![The Save button](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/making-a-user-active-inactive-05-user-new-save.png)

**Critical:** You can't activate a user when every seat is in use; saving shows an error. Deactivate another user first or ask Symbiant Support for more seats. The Symbiant Support account doesn't use a seat.

## Making a User Inactive

1. Click the user to open them.
2. Click **Active?** so the tick is removed.
3. Click **Save**. The user can no longer sign in, and their seat is free.

**Tip:** Deactivating keeps the user's account, history and record ownership. Reactivate them at any time; they sign in with their existing login. This is better than deleting someone who may return, or who only needs access occasionally (for example to complete a survey).

**Note:** You can't deactivate your own account; the **Active?** button is greyed out on it.

## Related Articles

- [What are License Seats?](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/what-are-license-seats/)
- [How do I view my current Licensed Seats?](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/how-do-i-view-my-current-licensed-seats/)
- [Delete a User](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/delete-a-user/)