--- title: Configuring basic authentication description: Configure basic authentication for the administrative user interface in PingAccess. component: pingaccess version: 9.0 page_id: pingaccess:pingaccess_user_interface_reference_guide:pa_configuring_basic_authn canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingaccess/9.0/pingaccess_user_interface_reference_guide/pa_configuring_basic_authn.html revdate: February 6, 2023 section_ids: about-this-task: About this task steps: Steps --- # Configuring basic authentication Configure basic authentication for the administrative user interface in PingAccess. ## About this task The authentication default for the PingAccess administrative console is HTTP Basic Authentication. Basic Authentication uses the HTTP Authorization header to transmit the user name and password credentials. The PingAccess server response contains a `PA_UI` cookie, which is a signed JSON Web Token (JWT) *(tooltip: \
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An IETF standard container format for a JSON object used for the secure exchange of content, such as identity or entitlement information. You can find the industry standard in \RFC 7519\.\

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)*. Subsequent HTTP requests send this cookie for authentication rather than the less secure HTTP Authorization header. Basic Authentication supports one user: Administrator. The Administrator user name cannot be changed. If you want to allow more than one user to access the admin UI, you should use single sign-on (SSO) *(tooltip: \
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The process of authenticating an identity (signing on) at one website (usually with a user ID and password) and then accessing resources secured by other domains without reauthenticating.\

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)* authentication. ## Steps 1. Click **Settings**, then go to **Admin Authentication > Basic**. 2. Click **Enable**. 3. Click **Save**. 4. Click **Settings**, then go to **Admin Authentication > UI Authentication**. 5. In the **Authentication Method** section, select **Basic Authentication**. 6. Click **Save**.