How It Works
1
Create a Connection
A Managed Auth Connection attaches a domain’s authentication state to a browser profile so future browsers can reuse it. A single profile can have multiple auth connections, one per domain.
2
Start a Login Session
A Managed Auth Session is the corresponding login flow for the specified connection. Users provide credentials via a Kernel-hosted page or your own UI.Specify a Credential to enable automatic reauthentication for supported credential-based flows.
3
Use the Profile
Once the auth connection completes, the authenticated session is saved to the browser profile specified in step 1. You can attach additional auth connections to the same profile for other domains. When you create a browser with the profile, it loads the saved authentication state for every connected domain.
Choose Your Integration
Hosted UI
Start here - Simplest integrationRedirect users to Kernel’s hosted page. Add features incrementally: save credentials for eligible automatic reauthentication, set custom login URLs, and configure SSO.
React Component
Embed in your app - Drop-in componentMount
<KernelManagedAuth /> on a route in your own app. Same flow as Hosted UI, rendered on your origin and trivial to restyle to match your brand.Programmatic
Full control - Custom UI or headlessBuild your own credential collection. Handle login fields, SSO buttons, MFA selection, and external actions (push notifications, security keys).
Why Managed Auth?
Managed Auth runs login flows by navigating login pages, filling credentials, following SSO redirects, and guiding users through additional authentication steps. It saves the resulting session state to a reusable profile. The most valuable workflows live behind logins. Managed Auth provides:- Broad site coverage - Login pages are discovered and handled across common website login flows
- SSO/OAuth support - Kernel follows common SSO redirects. Common provider domains are allowed by default; add custom provider domains to
allowed_domains - 2FA/OTP handling - Kernel attempts to provide TOTP codes automatically; interactive login can collect other verification steps
- Post-login URL - Get the URL where login landed (
post_login_url) so you can start automations from the right page - Session monitoring - Periodic health checks and automatic reauthentication for eligible credential-based flows
- Secure by default - Credentials are encrypted at rest and never exposed in API responses or passed to LLMs
Security
FAQ
How does automatic re-authentication work?
When you link credentials to a connection, Kernel runs periodic health checks and can reauthenticate supported credential-based flows in the background. This includes TOTP when Kernel can provide the authenticator code. See Connection Lifecycle for the full lifecycle, cadence options, andcan_reauth rules.
What are auth choices?
Auth choices are visible routes a site presents during login, including mfa methods, sso providers, account pickers, and organization selectors. They appear in the canonicalchoices array. Submit the exact returned id with interaction_id and selected_choice_id. See the programmatic flow guide for examples.
Which authentication methods are supported?
Managed Auth supports common credential, SSO, and multi-step login flows. Automatic reauthentication uses stored credentials and attempts to provide TOTP codes when needed.What happens if login fails?
Kernel surfaces an error code (credentials_invalid, account_locked, bot_detected, captcha_blocked, etc.). Transient site failures are retried; a conclusive rejection by the site isn’t, so Kernel doesn’t burn attempts against a locked account or resubmit credentials the site already refused. See Connection Lifecycle for the full list and recovery steps.
Can I use Managed Auth with any website?
Managed Auth covers common login flows across a broad range of websites. Site-specific authentication and bot detection can require additional configuration. See what Managed Auth supports and test your target flow.Is Managed Auth available during a trial?
Yes. Managed Auth and browser profiles are available during your trial period with the same capabilities as the plan you’re trialing.How do I re-authenticate a connection before the next health check?
Call.login() on the connection to trigger auth immediately. See Triggering re-auth manually for the pattern.
What types of flows does Managed Auth support?
Managed Auth navigates login pages, enters stored credentials, follows SSO redirects, guides users through additional authentication steps, and saves the resulting browser session. For post-login work like form filling, sign-ups, or other workflows, use Kernel’s browser automation directly.How do I debug a managed auth session?
Use the Browser Sessions tab in the dashboard for live view, or setrecord_session: true to capture replays of every auth browser session. See Debugging a flaky connection for details.
Can I attach multiple auth connections to one profile?
Yes. A profile can have any number of auth connections, each for a different domain. When you create a browser with that profile, it loads the saved authentication state for every connected domain. This is useful for two common patterns:- Multi-site workflows — Your agent visits multiple sites in a single run (e.g., reads email in Gmail, posts a summary in Slack, and updates a CRM). Attach one auth connection per site to a single profile, and each browser loads the saved authentication state for all of them.
- User-to-profile mapping — Each end user on your platform gets one profile. All of that user’s accounts (Gmail, LinkedIn, GitHub, etc.) are auth connections on their profile. When the user triggers a workflow, launch a browser with their profile.