Why Redirect the Discourse Sign-Up to a URL?

Redirecting the Discourse sign-up to a full page URL instead of a modal offers several advantages. First, it can simplify the sign-up process for users, especially those unfamiliar with modals or pop-ups. Modals can sometimes be confusing or feel intrusive. Redirecting users to a full sign-up page offers a more traditional and consistent approach, which could improve conversions and overall user satisfaction.

Additionally, the modal sign-up may not always work well with third-party authentication systems or when using custom registration forms. In these cases, directing users to a dedicated sign-up URL ensures compatibility and provides a better overall experience.

How to Redirect Discourse Sign-Up to URL Instead of Modal

To achieve the desired redirect in Discourse, you can make use of simple customizations or plugins. Here is a step-by-step guide to configure Discourse to redirect users to a dedicated URL for sign-up rather than the default modal.

Step 1: Modify Discourse Settings

The first step is to configure your Discourse settings to handle external sign-ups. You can do this through the Discourse Admin Panel.

1. Log in to the Discourse Admin Panel – You need administrative access to change sign-up behavior.
2. Navigate to the Settings page – In the admin panel, go to Admin > Settings > Users.
3. Disable the default sign-up modal – Look for the setting labeled enable local logins and turn it off if you plan to redirect sign-ups to an external URL. This will disable the modal sign-up form.

Step 2: Customize the Sign-Up Link

Once the modal is disabled, you'll need to customize the sign-up link that appears in the Discourse navigation bar or other areas of your site.

1. Locate the relevant template – You’ll find the templates for the header and navigation in the customize section under Admin > Customize > Text.
2. Modify the Sign-Up URL – Change the default /signup URL to the custom URL of your choice. For example, if your new sign-up page is located at https://yourdomain.com/signup, you’ll replace the default modal link with this URL.

Step 3: Use a Plugin for Advanced Redirects

If you're looking for more advanced redirection rules, you might want to install a plugin that allows more control over how users are redirected.

1. Install a Redirect Plugin – The Discourse Redirect Plugin allows admins to define more complex routing rules, including handling redirects for log-ins and sign-ups.
2. Configure the Redirects – After installation, go to Admin > Plugins > Redirect Plugin and add the new redirect rule for sign-ups. Define the source URL as /signup and the destination URL as your new sign-up page.

This method offers more flexibility and is especially useful if you need to handle other kinds of redirects or if you’re integrating multiple third-party sign-up processes.

Handling External Sign-Ups with OAuth or SSO

Another common reason to redirect the Discourse sign-up process is the integration of Single Sign-On (SSO) or OAuth for authentication. If you’re using an external authentication provider like Google, Facebook, or GitHub, the modal window may not provide the optimal user experience. In this case, redirecting the sign-up flow to the third-party authentication provider’s page ensures a more seamless registration process.

Step 1: Enable External Authentication

Discourse natively supports various OAuth providers and SSO configurations. Here’s how to set up OAuth or SSO:

1. Go to Admin Settings – Navigate to Admin > Settings > Login.
2. Enable OAuth2 – Toggle the settings for your preferred OAuth provider, such as enable google logins or enable facebook logins.
3. Configure the OAuth Redirect URL – In most cases, you’ll also need to set the OAuth redirect URL for your third-party provider. This can be found in the developer settings of the OAuth provider. For example, if you’re using Google, you’ll configure your OAuth credentials at Google Developer Console.

Step 2: Redirect Sign-Up to the Authentication Provider

Once OAuth or SSO is enabled, you can direct users to the external authentication provider instead of Discourse’s modal sign-up form. Similar to the URL redirection mentioned earlier, you will modify the /signup link in the navigation bar to point to the OAuth provider’s authentication page.

This ensures that users are taken directly to the Google OAuth login, skipping the modal entirely.

Benefits of Redirecting Discourse Sign-Up to URL

The ability to redirect Discourse sign-ups to a URL instead of a modal provides numerous benefits:

• Improved User Experience: Redirecting to a full-page sign-up form offers a more user-friendly experience, especially for those unfamiliar with modals.
• Increased Compatibility: External authentication systems (OAuth, SSO) often work better with dedicated sign-up pages than modals.
• Better Tracking and Analytics: Redirecting users to a sign-up page allows for easier tracking of sign-up conversions using tools like Google Analytics or other marketing platforms.
• Custom Branding: A dedicated sign-up URL allows you to apply custom branding and content to the sign-up process, ensuring a consistent look and feel across your platform.

The Outcome

By following these steps, the user on AskFullStack was able to resolve the issue. Their custom Blade page started using the correct Filament theme, ensuring a consistent look and feel across their application.

Conclusion

Redirecting the Discourse sign-up process from a modal to a dedicated URL is a powerful customization option that can significantly improve the user experience, especially for external authentication systems or more complex registration flows. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily set up URL-based sign-ups and take full control over the process.

By implementing this strategy, you'll be better positioned to ensure user satisfaction, increase sign-up conversions, and simplify the registration process on your Discourse-powered platform.