---
sidebar_navigation:
  title: Invite members
  priority: 800
description: Invite team members to OpenProject.
robots: index, follow
keywords: invite members, add users
---

# Invite members

In order to see a project and work in it, you have to be a member of a project. Therefore, you have to **add team members to a project**.

<div class="glossary">
**Member** is defined as a project member in a project. Project members are added in the Members module in the project settings.
</div>
<div class="alert alert-info" role="alert">
**Note**: If you are not a member of a project, you do not see the project in the Project selection nor in the project list.
</div>



| Topic                                                        | Content                                                      |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [View members](#view-members)                                | View the list of members in your project.                    |
| [Add existing users](#add-existing-users)                    | Add existing users, groups or placeholder users to a project. |
| [Invite new members](#invite-new-members)                    | Invite new users to join a project in OpenProject.           |
| [Groups as project members](#behavior-of-groups-as-project-members) | Understand the effects of adding groups as project members.  |
| [Placeholder users as project members](#behavior-of-placeholder-users-as-project-members) | Understand how to differentiate between regular users and placeholder users. |

<video src="https://www.openproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/OpenProject-Invite-and-Manage-Members.mp4" type="video/mp4" controls="" style="width:100%"></video>

## View members

To view the list of **all project members and their roles** in the project, select Members in the project menu.

![project-member-list](image-20210305192605943.png)



## Add existing users

To add existing users, [placeholder users](../../system-admin-guide/users-permissions/placeholder-users) or groups to a project, [select the project](../projects/#select-a-project) for which you want to add members. In the project menu on the left, select the **Members** module.

In the [members list](#view-members) you will get an overview of the current members of this project.

Click the green **+ Member** button in the top right corner.

Type the name of the user, placeholder user or group which you want to add. You can also choose several members at once. **Assign a role** to the new member(s) and click the blue **Add** button.

Please note that you will have to click on the new member's name or press the Enter key before clicking the Add button.

![add-members](1566224199456.png)

## Invite new members

You can also invite users who do not have an OpenProject account, yet. [Select the project](../projects/#select-a-project) for which you want to add members. In the project menu on the left, select the **Members** module.

Type in the email address of the new member. If OpenProject does not find an existing user, the **Invite** information will automatically be put before the email address. Press the Enter key or select the text "Invite ...". Assign a role to this new member and click the blue **Add** button.

An email invitation will be sent out to the user with a link to [create an account](../sign-in-registration/#create-a-new-account) for OpenProject.

![invite-new-members](1566224961670.png)

You can now collaborate with your team in OpenProject. Newly invited users will be shown with a letter symbol next to their name.

Please note that removing a member who has not accepted the invite yet from a project will lead to the deletion of this user, which can't be reversed.



## Behavior of groups as project members

Groups have the following impact on a project members list and behave slightly different than individual users:

- the group is shown as a separate line on the project members list
- the group members cannot be removed from the members list individually (no delete icon)
- adding a group with members who are already in a project member list will add the group's role to their (the members') project roles
- a project member belonging to a group can have additional roles added individually
- the group's role cannot be changed for individual group members

Find out more about the management of groups [here](../../system-admin-guide/users-permissions/groups/).



## Behavior of placeholder users as project members

Placeholder users have the following impact on a project members list and behave slightly different than regular users:

- will be shown without email address
- can't be part of a group