Title: How are users identified?
Last modified: January 29, 2017

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# How are users identified?

 *  Resolved [ivgoneriding](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ivgoneriding/)
 * (@ivgoneriding)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/)
 * Hi,
 * I am wondering how the pkugin identifies whether users in word-press are already
   in phpbb? Or how phpbb users, navigating to WordPress already have an account?
   
   Is it by username or email, or a combination?
 * I have WordPress users and I have phpbb users, they have different usernames 
   but the same email addresses.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)

1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/page/2/?output_format=md)
[→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/page/2/?output_format=md)

 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713566)
 * > Is it by username or email, or a combination
 * combination. On 1.6.0 is planned a change about this.
 *  Thread Starter [ivgoneriding](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ivgoneriding/)
 * (@ivgoneriding)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713594)
 * So i need to have matching user names and email addresses in both databases to
   avoid duplicate users being created?
 * When is 1.6 planned for release?
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713713)
 * About release as i can! +- soon … Or someone else put an eyes into or dive into!
 * No: if an user exist into WP, as it has been added using an email and an username,**
   than the next**, that should be added using same email or username, will not 
   be able to login into WP, **nor will be added** into WP. The plugin will answer
   with nothing, page will refresh, nothing will happen.
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
 *  Thread Starter [ivgoneriding](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ivgoneriding/)
 * (@ivgoneriding)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713746)
 * So people need to be in one database or the other, but not both?
 * If i have users in both databases who are the same people with different usernames,
   i need to remove one set?
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713747)
 * p.s further more, also note:
    `If there is an existent same username on phpBB,
   his email address and password are overwrite by the email address and password
   of the transferred WP user.` so if you execute the transfer process, all phpBB
   users with same usernames will be overwritten to same pass and email.
 *  Thread Starter [ivgoneriding](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ivgoneriding/)
 * (@ivgoneriding)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713757)
 * I haven’t run the transfer process because I don’t want extra users on my forum.
   But i will bear that in mind.
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713759)
 * in theory:
    if two users are in phpBB with same email or usermail, than in WP
   it will be one as in WP it isn’t possible. This is not a problem, it will be 
   the same user in WP. **If there are users in phpBB with same username but different
   email or the contrary, only one will be added, the first that will visit WP side
   as logged in phpBB, or the first of these that will login WP side.**
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
 *  Thread Starter [ivgoneriding](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ivgoneriding/)
 * (@ivgoneriding)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713778)
 * So they can be in both databases already? But their passwords will become synchronised
   if they are not already the same?
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713779)
 * sorry the above has been updated as wrong written …
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713783)
 * was not pass, but **email** on last answer.
 * About password, **it will happen with transfer process of users from WP to phpBB**.
   Yes same username, will be overwritten about email and passw if same username
   will be find out.
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
 *  Thread Starter [ivgoneriding](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ivgoneriding/)
 * (@ivgoneriding)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713791)
 * I don’t have two users in phpbb with the same email. The user has two different
   names, one in phpbb and one in wp, both have the same email.
 * For example in phpbb user(space)name and in wp user_name, both with [name@email.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/name@email.com?output_format=md).
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713851)
 * The phpBB user will NOT be added other time into WP. As above (maybe bad explained)
   said, if an user is find out into phpBB db with same email address, but different
   username when he try to login or come to WP as logged, IS NOT added into WP- 
   NOR can login.
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713859)
 * an easy script to be added for these situations, that should update users in 
   certain conditions into phpBB, could be a good solution.
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713877)
 * p.s in true if:
 * user A into phpBB with email C
    user B into WP with email C
 * **user A** into phpBB come to try to login WP: NOT added can’t login WP side.
 * If you use the transfer process of WP users into phpBB:
 * **user A** Same above.
    **user B** has been transferred into phpBB, and he now
   can login into both.
 * Two users into phBB with same email, that is possible as option into phpBB.
 * the joke explained, if i’m not wrong.
 * p.s correction: as above write it seem that more than one user in phpBB can have
   same email and pass: this is not true. An user **can have same email**, not same
   username, if there is another equal. Username can be changed in phpBB, only if
   the new one you choose, not exist.
 * EDITED
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/).
 *  Plugin Author [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * (@axewww)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/#post-8713981)
 * You could resolve finally with this:
    1)Transfer user into phpBB. Now you’ll 
   have two different usernames into phpBB, with same email. 2) Go in phpBB ACP:
   go to administer the old user with same email, and delete the user, but retain
   posts. Unfortunately phpBB not allow to assign to another user posts when you
   delete him, while into WP you can do it when deleting an user.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)

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## Tags

 * [email](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/email/)
 * [phpBB](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/phpbb/)
 * [posts](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/posts/)
 * [same](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/same/)
 * [users](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/users/)

 * 17 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [axew3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/axewww/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-are-users-identified/page/2/#post-8714646)
 * Status: resolved