What is Work Access Mode?

Work Access Mode (WAM) is an Enterprise feature that lets Super Admins view and, when allowed, act on tasks they typically wouldn't have access to, including private tasks and projects, by starting a special admin session. WAM works alongside Advanced Search so admins can locate items by owner, project, or other criteria.

Important scope note (2026): Currently, WAM includes tasks (within projects), projects, and portfolios. Community feedback suggests that bundles and project templates are not covered yet. Plan different strategies for managing those items.

Why it matters

• Continuity & incident response: Find and correct work when employees leave or when permissions block critical access.

• Security & governance: Conduct focused audits without elevating admin visibility permanently or changing project privacy.

• Operational efficiency: Solve “can’t locate it / can’t access it” tickets more efficiently using Advanced Search during a WAM session.

How to enable and use Work Access Mode (step-by-step)

A) Prerequisites

• Plan: Asana Enterprise (WAM is designed for Enterprise organizations).

• Role: Super Admin within the organization.

B) Start a Work Access Mode session

1. In Asana, open the Admin Console.

2. Select Launch Asana → Work Access Mode (label/location may change with UI updates).

3. Confirm the prompt; a session indicator will show. This session is temporary—use it for the necessary task, then exit.

C) Find the work you need

• Use Advanced Search to explore across the organization (e.g., task assignee = departed employee, project = “Private,” modified date ranges).

• Open the results to review or perform allowed actions, like reassigning ownership or changing project membership.

D) Exit the session

• Choose Exit Work Access Mode from the banner/menu to promptly return to your usual visibility. (Best practice: exit once you’ve finished the task.)

Governance & guardrails (admin checklist)

• Policy: Document when WAM is permitted (e.g., departed employee cleanup, audit requests, incident response).

• Logging evidence: Record screenshots/notes of actions taken during sessions; associate with your ticket ID.

• Least privilege: Prefer Service Accounts for ongoing automations; use WAM for human troubleshooting.

• Scope gaps: If your workflow depends on bundles or templates, note that WAM doesn't yet cover them; escalate through Asana Support or use documented alternative methods.

• Training: Ensure Super Admins complete Asana’s admin training on WAM and permission models. academy.asana.com

Practical examples (2026)

1) Departed employee cleanup

Run WAM → Advanced Search for tasks owned by the departed employee → bulk reassign, transfer project ownership, and check portfolio inclusion. Exit WAM and record audit notes to the employee’s ticket.

2) Private task investigation

Security raises a flag about a private task with sensitive keywords. Launch WAM → search by keyword + creator → review and adjust permissions or archive per policy.

3) Portfolio continuity

A portfolio driving OKRs becomes inaccessible after ownership change. Use WAM to access the portfolio, assign a new owner, and restore stakeholder visibility; verify reporting operations resume.

Access model refresher

Outside WAM, Asana uses layered permissions (roles like Super Admin/Admin/Member/Guest; object-level roles like Project Admin/Editor/Commenter/Viewer). Understanding the basic model helps you decide when WAM is necessary versus a standard permission adjustment.

Next Steps

Looking for a robust rollout with policies, admin training, and a departed-employee process guide? Generation Digital can set up WAM, develop audit steps, and train Super Admins.

FAQs

Does WAM grant API visibility?
No; community feedback points to WAM as a UI feature. For automation visibility, consider Service Accounts following your security guidelines. Asana Forum+1

Can WAM edit content?
Yes—within supported objects, Super Admins can act to solve issues. Use change logs and tickets for traceability. help.asana.com

Is there a list of supported objects?
WAM covers tasks (within projects), projects, and portfolios. Bundles and project templates are common exceptions as of 2025–26. Asana Forum+2

Where do I find WAM in the UI?
From Admin Console → Launch Asana → Work Access Mode (exact wording/placement can change with navigation updates). Asana Forum

What is Work Access Mode in Asana?
A temporary Super Admin session offering visibility into public and private tasks, projects, and portfolios to diagnose or address issues—without permanently changing privacy settings. help.asana.com

How do I enable Work Access Mode?
Open Admin Console → Launch Asana → Work Access Mode, confirm the session, then use Advanced Search to locate items. Exit the session when done. Asana Forum+1

When should I use WAM vs a Service Account?
Use WAM for ad-hoc human troubleshooting or audits; utilize a Service Account for automations and regular system-level access. help.asana.com

What doesn’t WAM cover yet?
Community discussions show bundles and project templates aren’t yet included as of late 2025; plan alternative solutions for those items. Asana Forum+1