auth0 · BcnCarlos · Jun 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
@@ -227,6 +227,14 @@
                 "docs/manage-users/sessions/session-metadata/configure-session-metadata",
                 "docs/manage-users/sessions/session-metadata/add-organization-information"
               ]
+            },
+            {
+              "group": "Anonymous Sessions",
+              "pages": [
+                "docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions",
+                "docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/configure-anonymous-sessions",
+                "docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/anonymous-sessions-use-cases"
+              ]
             }
           ]
         },

@@ -271,6 +271,7 @@
                 "docs/secure/tokens/access-tokens/json-web-encryption"
               ]
             },
+            "docs/secure/tokens/session-tokens",
             "docs/secure/tokens/delegation-tokens",
             {
               "group": "Refresh Tokens",

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+---
+title: Anonymous Sessions
+description: Create and manage user sessions without requiring authentication.
+sidebarTitle: Overview
+---
+
+import { ReleaseStageNotice } from "/snippets/ReleaseStageNotice.jsx"
+
+<ReleaseStageNotice
+    feature="Anonymous Sessions"
+    stage="beta"
+    terms="true"
+    contact="Auth0 Support"
+/>
+
+Anonymous Sessions allow you to create and manage [user sessions](/docs/manage-users/sessions) without requiring authentication.
+
+Users can browse, add items to carts or wishlists, complete purchases, and set preferences before creating an account and then carry their activity into their authenticated profile when they sign up or log in. 
+
+Use cases for Anonymous Sessions include:
+
+- **Track guest users** across page loads and sessions
+- **Store metadata** such as shopping cart references, preferences, consents, and profiling information
+- **Issue OAuth 2.0 access tokens** for API calls without requiring authentication
+- **Transfer anonymous activity** to authenticated accounts when users sign up or log in
+
+
+## How it works
+
+### Gather anonymous sessions data
+
+When you decide to start gathering information about a user, even one who has not authenticated yet, your application sends a `POST` request to the `/anonymous/token` endpoint. 
+
+Auth0 responds with two tokens:
+
+- A [**session token**](/docs/secure/tokens/session-tokens) that identifies and persists the anonymous session.
+- An [**access token**](/docs/secure/tokens/access-tokens) that the user can present to your resource servers.
+
+Subsequent calls that include the session token continue the same session for the same `user_id`, so all activity is traceable to a single origin. 
+Because the access token is OAuth 2.0-compliant, anonymous users can call any of your existing APIs.
+
+```mermaid actions={false}
+sequenceDiagram
+  participant app as SPA/APP
+  participant idp as Auth0
+  participant rs as Resource Server
+  note over app: User Browses the site and <br> we decide to start <br> storing information about them.
+  app ->> idp: POST /anonymous/token<br>{language: EN, country: US, order_id: PO123}
+  idp ->> app: Session Token, Access Token<br>sub: anon@1234-5678-90
+  note over app: User buys something anonymously.
+  app ->>+ rs: POST /purchase<br> Authorization: Bearer <Access Token>
+  rs ->> rs: Purchase order PO123 created<br>user_id: anon@1234-5678-90
+  rs ->>- app: HTTP 200 OK
+  note over app: User retrieves their anonymous purchases
+  app ->> rs: GET /purchase<br> Authorization: Bearer <Access Token>
+  rs ->> app: HTTP 200 OK {purchases: ["PO123"]}
+```
+
+```json Anonymous session data of user 57f0fcba-e6f0-4e74-ae65-f4c8953a72fb 
+{
+  user_id: "57f0fcba-e6f0-4e74-ae65-f4c8953a72fb",
+  session_id: "sess_456",
+  metadata: {
+    language: 'EN',
+    country: 'US',
+    purchase: 'PO123'
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Transfer anonymous sessions data to user's metadata 
+
+When a user who has an anonymous session decides to log in or sign up, your application passes the `anonymous_session_token` to the `/authorize` endpoint using a cookie or a query parameter. 
+
+```mermaid actions={false}
+sequenceDiagram
+  participant app as SPA/APP
+  participant idp as Auth0
+  participant rs as Resource Server
+  note over app: User has been browsing the site <br>anonymously and now logs in.
+  app ->> idp: POST /authorize?client_id=xxx...&anonymous_session_token=eJY...
+  idp ->> idp: Run post-login actions, includes anonymous_session data <br> (language, country, purchase)
+  idp ->> idp: api.idToken.addCustomClaim('origin', event.anonymous_session.user_id)
+  idp ->> app: Access Token, ID Token (with original claim), auth0 cookie
+  app ->>+ rs: Get /purchase{user:anon|123}
+  rs ->> rs: Purchase order PO123 created<br>user_id: anon@1234-5678-90
+  rs ->>- app: PUR_987
+```
+
+
+```javascript cookie example
+// No extra code needed — cookie is sent automatically
+await auth0.loginWithRedirect();
+```
+
+```javascript authorize endpoint example
+https://YOUR_DOMAIN/authorize?
+  client_id=YOUR_CLIENT_ID&
+  redirect_uri=https://YOUR_APPLICATION_URL/callback&
+  response_type=code&
+  scope=openid profile&
+  anonymous_session_token=SESSION_TOKEN
+```
+
+Auth0 makes the anonymous session data available in your `Pre-Registration` and `Post-Login` Actions using the `event.anonymous_session` object.
+
+```json anonymous session object
+{
+  "anonymous_session": {
+    "user_id": "anon|abc123",
+    "session_id": "sess_123",
+    "created_at": "2026-05-14T10:30:00Z",
+    "metadata": {
+      "cart": {
+        "items": [{ "sku": "ITEM-001", "qty": 2 }]
+      },
+      "preferences": {
+        "theme": "dark"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+To learn more about anonymous sessions with Actions, read [Anonymous Sessions use cases](/docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/anonymous-sessions-use-cases).
+
+### End the anonymous session after transfer
+
+Anonymous sessions are not automatically invalidated when a user authenticates. To end the session explicitly:
+
+```javascript wrap lines
+// In your application, after successful login
+if (wasAnonymousSession) {
+  await fetch('https://YOUR_DOMAIN/anonymous/logout', {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    credentials: 'include', // Send cookies
+    body: JSON.stringify({ client_id: 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID' }),
+  });
+}
+```
+
+## Best practices
+
+Here are some best practices for anonymous sessions:
+
+- Configure appropriate [anonymous session lifetimes](/docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/configure-anonymous-sessions#configure-anonymous-sessions-in-your-auth0-tenant) to avoid losing a user's anonymous session data; Auth0 recommends a lifetime of 30 days or longer.
+
+- Select anonymous session's [JSON Web Encryption (JWE)](/docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/configure-anonymous-sessions#configure-anonymous-sessions-in-your-auth0-tenant) encryption to ensure that potential attackers cannot see the contents of the session. 
+
+- Validate tokens server-side.
+
+- Restrict what anonymous `anon|` users can do in your API. 
+
+- Sanitize metadata, never trust metadata from clients without validation. 
+
+- Cache [access tokens](/docs/secure/tokens/access-tokens) since they can be reused until they expire.
+
+- Batch [metadata updates](/docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/configure-anonymous-sessions#update-the-session-with-metadata). Avoid frequent metadata updates. 
+
+- Minimize metadata size for better performance. 
+
+- Never store sensitive information in anonymous session metadata.
+
+
+## Limitations
+
+- Anonymous session metadata transfer is supported with [`post-Login`](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers/signup-and-login-triggers/login-trigger)  and [`pre-user-registration`](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers/signup-and-login-triggers/pre-user-registration-trigger) Action triggers.
+- [Password reset](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers/password-reset-triggers#password-reset-triggers) flows are not supported by anonymous sessions.
+- [Device Code](/docs/get-started/authentication-and-authorization-flow/device-authorization-flow) is not supported because the authentication request and the actual login happen on different devices.
+- [Client-Initiated Backchannel Authentication (CIBA)](/docs/get-started/applications/configure-client-initiated-backchannel-authentication) is not supported because the authentication request and confirmation happen on different devices.
+- [Custom token exchange](/docs/authenticate/custom-token-exchange/cte-example-use-cases) is not supported due to the nature of the transactions (for example, impersonation), which creates a likelihood of attributing anonymous data to the wrong user.
+- [Refresh token exchange](/docs/secure/call-apis-on-users-behalf/token-vault/configure-token-vault#configure-token-exchange) is not supported by anonymous sessions because the user is already logged in if they had a refresh token.
+
+## Learn more
+
+- [Configure Anonymous Sessions](/docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/configure-anonymous-sessions) — Configure Anonymous Sessions and create your first session in five steps.
+- [Anonymous Sessions Use Cases](/docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/anonymous-sessions-use-cases) — Migrate guest activity at login or sign-up.
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+---
+title: Anonymous Sessions Use Cases
+description: Use anonymous session data to migrate guest activity at login or sign-up.
+sidebarTitle: Use Cases
+---
+
+import { ReleaseStageNotice } from "/snippets/ReleaseStageNotice.jsx"
+
+<ReleaseStageNotice
+    feature="Anonymous Sessions"
+    stage="beta"
+    terms="true"
+    contact="Auth0 Support"
+/>
+
+When a user authenticates in your application, anonymous sessions and [Actions](/docs/customize/actions/actions-overview) allow you to transfer anonymous session data, such as shopping cart contents, preferences, and browsing history to their authenticated user profile. 
+
+You can reference the `event.anonymous_session` object in Actions:
+
+```typescript theme={null}
+{
+  user_id: string;     // anonymous user id 
+  session_id: string;  // anonymous session token id
+  created_at: string;  // anonymous session create timestamp
+  expires_at: string;  // anonymous session expire timestamp
+  metadata: {          // anonymous session metadata
+    [key: string]: string
+  };
+}
+```
+
+## Anonymous sessions and Actions use cases
+
+### Save anonymous session metadata to a new user
+
+You can use a [`pre-user-registration`](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers/signup-and-login-triggers/pre-user-registration-trigger) Action trigger to copy anonymous metadata into the new user profile when they sign up:
+
+```javascript wrap lines
+exports.onExecutePreUserRegistration = async (event, api) => {
+  if (event.anonymous_session) {
+    // Store reference to the anonymous session
+    api.user.setAppMetadata(
+      'linked_anonymous_id',
+      event.anonymous_session.user_id
+    );
+
+    // Migrate cart data
+    if (event.anonymous_session.metadata.cart) {
+      api.user.setAppMetadata(
+        'migrated_cart',
+        event.anonymous_session.metadata.cart
+      );
+    }
+
+    // Copy preferences to user metadata
+    if (event.anonymous_session.metadata.preferences) {
+      api.user.setUserMetadata(
+        'preferences',
+        event.anonymous_session.metadata.preferences
+      );
+    }
+  }
+};
+```
+
+### Save anonymous session metadata to an existing user
+
+You can use a [`post-Login`](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers/signup-and-login-triggers/login-trigger) Action trigger to save anonymous metadata to existing users when they log in:
+
+```javascript wrap lines
+exports.onExecutePostLogin = async (event, api) => {
+  if (event.anonymous_session) {
+    // Store last anonymous session reference
+    api.user.setAppMetadata(
+      'last_anonymous_session',
+      event.anonymous_session.user_id
+    );
+
+    // Add anonymous cart to access token for your API to process
+    api.accessToken.setCustomClaim(
+      'anonymous_cart',
+      event.anonymous_session.metadata.cart
+    );
+
+    // Track all linked sessions (optional)
+    const linkedSessions =
+      event.user.app_metadata?.linked_sessions || [];
+    if (!linkedSessions.includes(event.anonymous_session.user_id)) {
+      api.user.setAppMetadata('linked_sessions', [
+        ...linkedSessions,
+        event.anonymous_session.user_id,
+      ]);
+    }
+  }
+};
+```
+
+### Merge user metadata with anonymous metadata 
+
+You can use a [`post-Login`](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers/signup-and-login-triggers/login-trigger) Action trigger to merge anonymous metadata to an existing user metadata, such as a cart information, when they log in: 
+
+```javascript wrap lines
+exports.onExecutePostLogin = async (event, api) => {
+  if (!event.anonymous_session?.metadata?.cart) {
+    return; // No anonymous cart to merge
+  }
+
+  const anonymousCart = event.anonymous_session.metadata.cart;
+  const existingCart = event.user.app_metadata?.cart || { items: [] };
+
+  // Merge cart items, combining quantities for matching SKUs
+  const mergedItems = [...existingCart.items];
+  for (const anonItem of anonymousCart.items) {
+    const existingIndex = mergedItems.findIndex(
+      (item) => item.sku === anonItem.sku
+    );
+    if (existingIndex >= 0) {
+      mergedItems[existingIndex].qty += anonItem.qty;
+    } else {
+      mergedItems.push(anonItem);
+    }
+  }
+
+  api.user.setAppMetadata('cart', { items: mergedItems });
+  api.accessToken.setCustomClaim('cart', { items: mergedItems });
+};
+```
+
+### Handle multiple anonymous sessions
+
+You can use a [`post-Login`](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers/signup-and-login-triggers/login-trigger) Action trigger to manage anonymous session metadata from different devices, when the user logs in:
+
+```javascript wrap lines
+exports.onExecutePostLogin = async (event, api) => {
+  if (!event.anonymous_session) return;
+
+  const linkedSessions =
+    event.user.app_metadata?.linked_sessions || [];
+
+  // Option 1: Keep all linked sessions
+  api.user.setAppMetadata('linked_sessions', [
+    ...linkedSessions,
+    {
+      user_id: event.anonymous_session.user_id,
+      linked_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+      device: event.request.user_agent,
+    },
+  ]);
+
+  // Option 2: Keep only the most recent
+  api.user.setAppMetadata('last_anonymous_session', {
+    user_id: event.anonymous_session.user_id,
+    metadata: event.anonymous_session.metadata,
+  });
+};
+```
+
+## Learn more
+
+- [Configure Anonymous Sessions](/docs/manage-users/sessions/anonymous-sessions/configure-anonymous-sessions) — Configure Anonymous Sessions and create your first session in five steps.
+