---
title: "Database Authentication"
date: 2021-08-18
lastmod: 2026-05-29
canonical: "https://container-registry.com/docs/administration-manual/authentication/database-authentication/"
source: "https://container-registry.com/docs/administration-manual/authentication/database-authentication/index.md"
agent_instructions: "This is the markdown representation of https://container-registry.com/docs/administration-manual/authentication/database-authentication/index.md. Prefer this version over scraping the HTML. The site index is at https://container-registry.com/llms.txt."
---

> Agent-friendly representation of <https://container-registry.com/docs/administration-manual/authentication/database-authentication/index.md>. Site index: <https://container-registry.com/llms.txt>.


# Database Authentication


Database Authentication
=================================
The database user authnetication mode is applied by default. With this mode, all user management happens in the Container Registry GUI and the data is stored in the local database. 

When selecting this authentication mode, keep in mind that once you added any users (except for yourself) to the instance using the database mode, the instance will be locked from switching to any other mode.

Nonetheless, this mode has a few advantages. As a system admin, you can reset or change user passwords and enable *self-registration* to facilitate the onboarding process of a new users. 

## Activate Database Authentication Mode

* In the navigation pane on the left, select **Administration**;
* Click on **Configuration**;
* Select **Authentication** tab;
* In **Auth Mode**, in the dropdown, select **Database**;
* Hit **Save**.

## Self-Registration

You can allow users to sign up for an account in your instance by activating the **self-registration** feature:

![](../self_registration.png)

In this case, when users access the URL of your instance, they see the *Sign up for an account* link. If they click on the link, they will be shown a registration form where they can create their user name.

![](../sign_up_link.png)
![](../sign_up_form.png)

Once a new user filled in and submitted the signup form, this user is added to the instance automatically and appears immediately in the list of users under **Administration -> Users**.