Guest mode option

Last modified by Carina Enke on 15.06.2026

Users have requested a simpler way to apply the expert rule for excluding guest users. This enhancement has been available since release 13.5.1 and introduces the following changes:

Information

Note: The following explanations refer to the ‘Access’ section and apply equally to the ‘Visibility’ section. The difference between access and visibility is described in 'Visibility and access within courses'.

So far

By now, you are no doubt familiar with the existing settings for access to and visibility of course elements:

Kurseditor - Zugang allgemein_alt_de.png

Expand to see the effects of the “Blocked for learners” option ...

Activated "Blocked for learners" option

Once the ‘Blocked for learners’ option has been activated, only course administrators or users with extended rights will have access to the relevant element or sub-function. If this setting applies to a course that is open to guests (i.e., users who are not logged in), they are also automatically denied access.

Option enabled in a public course

View as a registered user

View as a guest user

Kurseditor - Option Lernende gesperrt_de.png

Kursansicht - Kursbaustein Lernende gesperrt_de.png

Kurseditor - Option Lernende gesperrt_ Gastansicht_de.png

Disabled "Blocked for learners" option

Deactivating the checkbox means that users with the ‘Learner’ role will have access to the relevant content, provided that other settings did not prevent it. In a public course, this also means that guests will have access to the content of the course module.

Option disabled

View as a registered user

View as a guest user

Kurseditor - Zugang frei_de.png

Kurseditor - Zugang frei_Nutzeransicht_de.png

Kurseditor - Zugang frei_ Gastansicht_de.png

Guest user expert rule

In courses with the publication status Icon_BARG.png"Public – Visible to everyone," the availability of functions for guest users could only be controlled by applying Expert rules

Expert rule 'Blocked for guests' 

View as a registered user

View as a guest user

Kurseditor - Expertenregel Gäste gesperrt_de.png

Kursansicht - Expertenregel Lernendenansicht_de.png

Kursansicht - Expertenregel Gastnutzer_de.png

What's new

With the release of OPAL 13.5.1, this expert rule is now also available via a checkbox labelled, ‘Blocked for guests’. The text for the ‘Blocked for learners’ checkbox has been updated. It now reads, ‘Blocked for learners and guests’.

Kurseditor - Zugangsoptionen_de.png

It is still not necessary to always tick this box, as the basic access settings for guests via the Publication status control have not been changed. A course with the status Icon_BAR.png "Public – for registered users" remains inaccessible to guests.

Kursansicht - BAR Kurs_de.png

Option disabledView as a registered userView as a guest user

Kurseditor - Lernende und Gäste gesperrt_deaktiviert_de.png

Kursansicht BAR für Lernenden_de.png

Kursansicht BAR für Gastnutzer_de.png

"Only blocked for guests" option
The ‘Blocked for guests’ checkbox is always useful when a course is public  Icon_BARG.png and you want to hide certain elements from users who are not logged in (i.e. guests), but want these elements to be available once they have logged in.

Kursansicht - BARG Kurs_de.png

"Only blocked for guests"

View as a registered userView as a guest user

Kurseditor - Nur Gäste gesperrt_aktiviert_de.png

Kursansicht - Gäste gesperrt_Lernender_de.png

Kursansicht - Gäste gesperrt_Gastnutzer_de.png

"Blocked for learners and guests" option

The use of the renamed checkbox "Für Lernende gesperrt" has not changed.

"Blocked for learners and guests"

View as a registered userView as a guest user

Kurseditor - Lernende und Gäste gesperrt_aktiviert_de.png

Kursansicht - Lernende und Gäste gesperrt_Lernender_de.png

Kursansicht - Lernende und Gäste gesperrt_Gastnutzer_de.png