Getting the name of the current Windows user returning “IIS APPPOOL/Sitename”

Question

I can't figure this out for the life of me. I'm trying to get the name of the current user logged onto Windows using the following line:

string user = System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().Name.ToString();

When I run this line after publishing and opening it through IIS, it gives me a name of "IIS APPPOOL/SiteName". However, when I run this through the Visual Studio 2013 debugger, the correct name appears.

Answer 1

you have to enable windows auth/impersonation on an ASP.NET site, else it will run in the context of the whatever account configured for the app pool.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff647405.aspx

 <system.web>
    ...
    <authentication mode="Windows"/>
    <identity impersonate="true"/>
    ...
 </system.web>

Answer 2

Base on my test under IIS having Windows Authentication only enable and not impersonation on the web.config; System.Web.HttpContext.Current.User.Identity.Name; return to me the current login user not the application pool user and System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().Name.ToString() return the application pool user.

Hope this help!

Answer 3

I've fiddled around with the config, IIS settings, and the string...but I think this line is what I needed to use:

string user = System.Web.HttpContext.Current.User.Identity.Name;

Seems to be returning a domain/username which I can use instead. Looks like an alternative solution.

Answer 4

All mentioned in other answers are true, PLUS THIS:

In IIS Manager, click Basic Settings.

In the Edit Application window click Connect as...

Choose Application User (pass through authentication). Do not use a specific user because that will be the identity detected.

Answer 5

Click on the project name and press F4 and it will open project properties window:

1. Enable Windows authentication

2. Disable anonymous authentication

3. Add <identity impersonate="true"> in web.config

Now, deploy your code it should work fine.