# How to require authentication for certain actions in Bubble.io: Step-by-Step Gui

- Tool: Bubble
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Time required: 15-20 min
- Compatibility: All Bubble plans
- Last updated: March 2026

## TL;DR

You can require authentication for specific actions in Bubble by adding Only when conditions that check Current User is logged in, showing a login popup for guest users, and preserving deep links so users return to their intended action after signing in. This approach lets you keep parts of your app public while gating valuable features behind login.

## Overview: Requiring Authentication for Certain Actions in Bubble

Not every page or action in your app needs to be locked behind a login. This tutorial shows you how to selectively require authentication — letting visitors browse your content freely while prompting them to sign in when they try to perform actions like saving favorites, posting comments, or making purchases. You will learn to add authentication conditions, build login prompts, and preserve deep links so users land right where they left off after logging in.

## Before you start

- A Bubble app with user authentication already set up
- Pages that are partially public (visible to visitors)
- Actions you want to restrict to logged-in users
- A login page or login popup already built

## Step-by-step guide

### 1. Add authentication conditions to workflow actions

Go to the Workflow tab and find the workflow for an action you want to restrict (e.g., When Button Save to Favorites is clicked). Click on the first action in the workflow. In the Only when field, add the condition Current User is logged in. This means the action will only execute when a logged-in user clicks the button. Repeat this for all actions in the workflow that require authentication. Without this condition, the action would silently fail or create records with no user attached.

> Pro tip: Add the Only when condition to the entire workflow event (not just individual actions) when ALL actions in the workflow require login. This is cleaner and prevents partial execution.

**Expected result:** The workflow only executes when the user is logged in. Nothing happens for guest users (we will handle that next).

### 2. Show a login prompt for unauthenticated users

Create a second workflow on the same button with the opposite condition. Set the event to When Button Save to Favorites is clicked with Only when: Current User is logged out. For the action, you have two options. Option A: Show a Popup element containing your login form (add the action Show Popup Login). Option B: Navigate to your login page using Go to page login. A popup is usually better because it keeps the user on the same page. Add a clear message in the popup like Sign in to save your favorites.

**Expected result:** Guest users see a login prompt when they try to perform gated actions, while logged-in users proceed normally.

### 3. Preserve the intended action using URL parameters or custom states

Before showing the login prompt, save what the user was trying to do. If using a popup login, set a Custom State on the page called intended_action (type text) to the action name (e.g., save_favorite) and another Custom State called target_item (type your data type) to the item the user clicked on. After successful login inside the popup, check these states and execute the original action. If redirecting to a login page, pass the return URL and action as URL parameters: Go to page login → Send parameter return_url = Current Page URL and action = save_favorite.

> Pro tip: For the redirect approach, on your login page add a workflow after successful login: Go to page (Get data from page URL parameter return_url). This returns the user exactly where they were.

**Expected result:** After logging in, the user is returned to where they were and can immediately perform the action they originally attempted.

### 4. Set up page-level authentication for protected pages

For entire pages that require login (like a dashboard or settings page), go to the Design tab and open that page. Add a Page is loaded workflow. Set the Only when condition to Current User is logged out. Add the action Go to page login with a URL parameter like return_url = Current Page URL. This redirects any unauthenticated visitor to the login page. On your login page, after successful authentication, check for the return_url parameter and redirect there.

**Expected result:** Protected pages automatically redirect unauthenticated visitors to the login page, which sends them back after login.

### 5. Apply conditional visibility to UI elements

On the Design tab, select elements that should only be visible to logged-in users (like the Save to Favorites button or a comment input). Go to the Conditional tab on each element. Add a condition: When Current User is logged out → This element is not visible. For guest users, you can show an alternative element (e.g., a Sign in to save button) with the opposite condition: When Current User is logged in → This element is not visible. This keeps the UI clean and communicates clearly what actions are available.

> Pro tip: Use Collapse when hidden on conditionally hidden elements so they do not leave empty space on the page.

**Expected result:** Authenticated and unauthenticated users see different UI elements appropriate to their access level.

## Complete code example

File: `Workflow summary`

```text
AUTH GATING WORKFLOW SUMMARY
=============================

CUSTOM STATES (on page):
  - intended_action (text)
  - target_item (your data type)

WORKFLOW 1: Authenticated User Action
  Event: Button Save Favorite is clicked
  Only when: Current User is logged in
  Action 1: Create a new Favorite
    user = Current User
    item = Current cell's Item
  Action 2: Show success message

WORKFLOW 2: Unauthenticated User Prompt
  Event: Button Save Favorite is clicked
  Only when: Current User is logged out
  Action 1: Set state of page
    intended_action = save_favorite
    target_item = Current cell's Item
  Action 2: Show Popup Login

WORKFLOW 3: Post-Login Action Resume
  Event: User login status changes
  Only when: Current User is logged in
    AND page's intended_action is not empty
  Action 1: Create a new Favorite
    user = Current User
    item = page's target_item
  Action 2: Set state of page
    intended_action = (empty)
    target_item = (empty)
  Action 3: Hide Popup Login

WORKFLOW 4: Page-Level Redirect
  Event: Page is loaded
  Only when: Current User is logged out
  Action: Go to page login
    Send: return_url = Current Page URL

WORKFLOW 5: Return After Login (on login page)
  Event: User login status changes
  Only when: Current User is logged in
    AND Get return_url from page URL is not empty
  Action: Go to page (Get return_url from page URL)

CONDITIONAL VISIBILITY:
  Button Save Favorite:
    When Current User is logged out → not visible
  Button Sign In to Save:
    When Current User is logged in → not visible
  Both elements: Collapse when hidden = checked
```

## Common mistakes

- **Adding the auth check to individual actions instead of the workflow event** — If you add Only when: logged in to action 2 but not action 1, action 1 still runs for guests, potentially creating incomplete records Fix: Add the authentication condition to the workflow event level when all actions require login. Use action-level conditions only when some actions should run for everyone.
- **Not preserving the user's intended action after login** — Users lose context and have to repeat their action, which creates frustration and reduces conversion Fix: Store the intended action in a Custom State or URL parameter before showing the login prompt, then execute it after successful login.
- **Relying only on hiding buttons for security** — Conditional visibility is a UI convenience, not a security measure. Users can inspect the page and trigger hidden elements. Fix: Always add server-side checks: Only when conditions on workflows AND Privacy Rules on data types. UI hiding is supplementary.
- **Not handling the case where a logged-in user's session expires** — If a session expires mid-use, actions fail silently and the user gets confused Fix: Use the User login status changes event to detect session expiration and redirect to the login page or show a re-authentication prompt.

## Best practices

- Gate actions at the workflow level with Only when conditions, not just by hiding UI elements
- Always provide a clear path to login when a guest tries a restricted action
- Preserve the user's context and intended action so they can continue seamlessly after login
- Use page-level redirects for fully protected pages like dashboards and account settings
- Combine UI visibility conditions with workflow conditions for defense in depth
- Set up Privacy Rules as an additional layer — they protect data even if workflow conditions are bypassed
- Test your auth flows by opening the app in an incognito window as a guest user

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I require login for some buttons on a page but not others?

Yes. Add the Only when: Current User is logged in condition to specific workflow events. Other buttons on the same page can work without any authentication check.

### What is the difference between hiding a button and adding an Only when condition?

Hiding a button is a visual change only — determined users can still trigger the action. An Only when condition on the workflow prevents the action from executing server-side regardless of how it is triggered.

### How do I preserve a deep link after login redirect?

Pass the current page URL as a URL parameter when redirecting to the login page. After login, read that parameter and navigate to it. Use Go to page login with Send parameter return_url = Current Page URL.

### Should I use Privacy Rules in addition to workflow conditions?

Absolutely. Privacy Rules are server-side security that protects data even if a workflow condition is somehow bypassed. Always use both for defense in depth.

### Can I show different content to free vs paid users?

Yes. Use the same conditional visibility approach with conditions like When Current User's plan is Free or When Current User's plan is Pro to show different elements or enable different actions.

### Can RapidDev help implement complex access control?

Yes. RapidDev specializes in Bubble development and can help build sophisticated access control systems including role-based permissions, feature gating, and subscription-based access tiers.

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Source: https://www.rapidevelopers.com/bubble-tutorial/require-authentication-certain-actions-bubble
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