# Xano Realtime | RealtimeAuthToken present in localStorage but WebSocket connects as anonymous

**URL:** <https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-realtimeauthtoken-present-in-localstorage-but-websocket-connects-as-anonymous/21300>\
**Category:** Ask us anything\
**Tags:** authentication, xano\
**Created:** [June 2, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-realtimeauthtoken-present-in-localstorage-but-websocket-connects-as-anonymous/21300 "2026-06-02T22:53:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TOoms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e68b1a/32.png) [@TOoms](https://community.weweb.io/u/TOoms)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-realtimeauthtoken-present-in-localstorage-but-websocket-connects-as-anonymous/21300/1 "2026-06-02T22:53:35Z")

</div>

**Context:** Stack: WeWeb + Xano Auth plugin + Xano Realtime

**Problem:** The `RealtimeAuthToken` is correctly stored in localStorage (same value as `AuthToken`), meaning the user is authenticated via Xano Auth plugin. However, when WeWeb opens a Xano Realtime channel, the WebSocket connection is treated as anonymous by Xano — resulting in the error: `"Anonymous clients cannot join this channel"` when “Anonymous Clients” is unchecked in Xano Realtime channel permissions.

**Steps to reproduce:**

1. User logs in via Xano Auth plugin → `isAuthenticated: true`, `RealtimeAuthToken` present in localStorage
2. Xano Realtime channel configured with “Anonymous Clients” unchecked
3. WeWeb workflow triggers `Realtime | Open channel`
4. WebSocket join fails with `"Anonymous clients cannot join this channel"`

**Expected behavior:** WeWeb should automatically pass the `RealtimeAuthToken` as auth token during the WebSocket connection/channel join, since it’s already available in localStorage.

**Workaround:** Checking “Anonymous Clients” in channel permissions allows the connection, but removes the ability to use `auth_table`/`auth_id` targeting in `api.realtime_event` for user-specific broadcasts.

**Reference:** Similar issue reported here without resolution: [Xano Realtime | Open Channel with auth](https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-open-channel-with-auth/20934)

 ![Capture d’écran 2026-06-03 à 00.54.53](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/weweb/original/3X/f/d/fd6666c5584b2074da18b5928c960bac9cf52266.png)

Please could we check this together and fix it possibly ?

Thank you so much an advance.

@Joyce

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joyce](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.weweb.io/joyce/32/13232_2.png) [@Joyce](https://community.weweb.io/u/Joyce)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 8:16am UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-realtimeauthtoken-present-in-localstorage-but-websocket-connects-as-anonymous/21300/2 "2026-06-03T08:16:14Z")

</div>

Hey @TOoms 👋

Are you using different Xano branches / data sources by any chance?

We fully support private channels, which are synced with the Xano Auth plugin, but Xano only supports tokens from the live data source so that could explain the issue.

If not, can you reach out to support in the private chat so they can take a look at your project specifically?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Batik\_Okazov](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.weweb.io/batik_okazov/32/12688_2.png) [@Batik\_Okazov](https://community.weweb.io/u/Batik_Okazov)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 8:30am UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-realtimeauthtoken-present-in-localstorage-but-websocket-connects-as-anonymous/21300/3 "2026-06-04T08:30:07Z")

</div>

Hey,

had similar issue. I was able to resolve it by reconnecting Xano auth plugin.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CajoOffshorly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@CajoOffshorly](https://community.weweb.io/u/CajoOffshorly)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 4:11am UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-realtimeauthtoken-present-in-localstorage-but-websocket-connects-as-anonymous/21300/4 "2026-06-26T04:11:18Z")

</div>

@Batik_Okazov I’m having the same issue, how did you do the reconnect? Do I have to remove the Xano Auth plugin then add it again?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Batik\_Okazov](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.weweb.io/batik_okazov/32/12688_2.png) [@Batik\_Okazov](https://community.weweb.io/u/Batik_Okazov)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/xano-realtime-realtimeauthtoken-present-in-localstorage-but-websocket-connects-as-anonymous/21300/5 "2026-06-26T14:50:31Z")

</div>

Hi @CajoOffshorly ,

No, I didn’t remove it completely. I just repeated initial setup flow once again.