# Creating admin accounts in Dotkernel API

## Summary

The `admin:create-admin` CLI command creates an administrator account from the command line, taking an identity, a password and a first and last name.
Accounts created this way always receive the `admin` role.

## Usage

Run the following command in your application’s root directory:

```shell
php ./bin/cli.php admin:create-admin -i {IDENTITY} -p {PASSWORD} -f {FIRST_NAME} -l {LAST_NAME}
```

OR

```shell
php ./bin/cli.php admin:create-admin --identity {IDENTITY} --password {PASSWORD} --firstName {FIRST_NAME} --lastName {LAST_NAME}
```

after replacing:

* {IDENTITY} with a valid username OR email address
* {PASSWORD} with a valid password
* {FIRST_NAME} and {LAST_NAME} with valid names

> If the specified fields contain special characters, make sure you surround them with double quote signs this method does not allow specifying an admin role – newly created accounts will have a role of admin.

If the submitted data is valid, the outputted response is:

```text
Admin account has been created.
```

The new admin account is ready to use.

You can get more help with this command by running:

```shell
php ./bin/cli.php help admin:create
```

## FAQ

**Q: Can I choose the role of the created account?**

A: No. The command always assigns the `admin` role; other roles must be set afterwards.
See [Authorization](../core-features/authorization.md).

**Q: What can I use as the identity?**

A: Either a username or an email address, as long as it is not already taken.

**Q: My name or password contains special characters and the command fails. What do I do?**

A: Surround the value in double quotes so the shell passes it through unchanged.

**Q: Are the short and long option forms equivalent?**

A: Yes.
`-i`, `-p`, `-f` and `-l` are shorthand for `--identity`, `--password`, `--firstName` and `--lastName`.

**Q: How do I know the account was created?**

A: The command prints `Admin account has been created.` and the account is immediately usable.

**Q: Where do I see the full command help?**

A: Run `php ./bin/cli.php help admin:create`.