---
title: 'Tutorial: How to Assign SAML as the Default Authentication'
canonical: https://openvpn.net/as-docs/tutorials/saml-default-auth/
product: Access Server Docs
description: Set SAML as the default authentication method for our VPN users connecting to Access Server.
---

# Tutorial: How to Assign SAML as the Default Authentication

## Overview

Set SAML as the default authentication method for Access Server users. This tutorial guides you through the setup process. When you've completed it, you've configured external user registration and SAML authentication, so when any user signs in successfully, they're added automatically to Access Server's user database.

Then, your users can download the necessary programs and connection profiles to get connections.

This means you don't have to add each user to Access Server manually; they will be added automatically when they authenticate.

## Prerequisites

- SAML is configured on Access Server with your IdP.

## Assign SAML as the default

1. Sign in to the Admin Web UI.
2. Click **Authentication \> SAML** and ensure you have the information saved for your IdP. (Ensure you've already configured SAML.)
3. Enable SAML by clicking the toggle for **Enable SAML authentication**.
4. Select **Save Settings** and **Update Running Server**.
5. Click **Authentication \> Settings**.
6. Under **Default Authentication System**, select **SAML**.
7. Set **Deny access to unlisted accounts by default** to **No**.
8. Select **Save Settings** and **Update Running Server**.

> **Tip**
>
> Suppose you don’t want users to be automatically added upon successful login. In that case, you can set **Deny access to unlisted accounts by default** to **Yes**, which ensures that only existing accounts in the Access Server user database can sign in.

---

Prev: [Tutorial: Configure Access Server SAML Authentication with DUO MFA and your IdP](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/tutorials/saml-with-duo-mfa.md)
Next: [Tutorial: How to Set SAML for Specific Users and Groups](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/tutorials/saml-users-groups.md)
Index: https://openvpn.net/as-docs/llms.txt