How to Get User Model in Django – A Simple Guide With Examples

When I’m working with Django, one of the first things I often need to do is work with users – like getting the logged-in user, creating a new one, or extending the default user model to add more information.

Now, Django has a built-in User model, but sometimes you might want a custom one. That’s where things can get a little confusing if you’re just starting.

The good news? Getting the user model in Django is very simple once you understand how Django is set up.

Today, I’ll walk you through exactly how to get the user model in Django, explain why it matters, show you real code you can use, and answer a few common questions people usually have around this topic.

Let’s jump right into it.

Why Getting the User Model Correctly Matters

Before anything else, it’s important to know why this even matters.

Django projects depend heavily on user information – not just for logins, but for permissions, profiles, admin management, and much more.

If you get the user model the wrong way, you can easily run into problems later, especially if you customize your user model.

Django even warns you about this in its official documentation. If you don’t use the right way to access the user model, your project could break when you change or extend it.

That’s why it’s super important to always get the user model the recommended way, which I’ll show you next.

How to Get the User Model in Django

Alright, here’s the simplest way to get the user model in Django:

<span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> django.contrib.auth <span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> get_user_model

User = get_user_model()

What’s happening here?

get_user_model() is a built-in Django function.
It returns the correct User model – whether you’re using the default one or a custom one you created.

If you’re wondering why not just import from django.contrib.auth.models import User, the reason is this: if you ever swap out the default User model for a custom one, directly importing like that will break your code.

By using get_user_model(), you stay safe and future-proof your project.

Full Example: Using the User Model

Let’s look at a full working example, not just a little snippet.

Imagine you want to create a new user inside a Django view:

<span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> django.contrib.auth <span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> get_user_model
<span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> django.http <span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> HttpResponse

<span class="hljs-function"><span class="hljs-keyword">def</span> <span class="hljs-title">create_user_view</span>(<span class="hljs-params">request</span>):</span>
    User = get_user_model()
    user = User.objects.create_user(username=<span class="hljs-string">'newuser'</span>, password=<span class="hljs-string">'securepassword123'</span>)
    <span class="hljs-keyword">return</span> HttpResponse(<span class="hljs-string">f"Created user: <span class="hljs-subst">{user.username}</span>"</span>)

In this example:

First, I get the user model with get_user_model().
Then, I use Django’s built-in create_user method to create a user safely.
Finally, I send back a simple HTTP response showing the created username.

Notice how clean and flexible it is – no matter what user model you’re using under the hood.

When to Use `settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL`

Another thing you’ll often see in Django projects is something like this:

<span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> django.conf <span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> settings

settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL

This doesn’t get the user model. Instead, it gives you the string path to the user model, like "auth.User" (for default) or "myapp.MyCustomUser" if you customized it.

You usually use settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL inside your models.py when you want to link to the User model in a ForeignKey, OneToOneField, or ManyToManyField.

For example:

<span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> django.conf <span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> settings
<span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> django.db <span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> models

<span class="hljs-class"><span class="hljs-keyword">class</span> <span class="hljs-title">Profile</span>(<span class="hljs-params">models.Model</span>):</span>
    user = models.OneToOneField(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, on_delete=models.CASCADE)
    bio = models.TextField()

Here, the Profile model is tied to the correct user model. Again, this keeps your project flexible and future-proof.

Quick Summary

Situation	What to Use
Getting the actual User model in Python code (views, forms, admin, and so on)	`get_user_model()`
Referring to the User model in database relationships (ForeignKey, OneToOneField, and so on)	`settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL`

Remember this table – it saves a lot of headaches later!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Directly importing User: Never just do from django.contrib.auth.models import User unless you are 100% sure you’re sticking with the default model forever (not recommended).
Hardcoding relationships: If you write something like ForeignKey('auth.User') instead of using settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, it will break if you ever switch to a custom user model.
Not creating custom user models early: If you think you might ever need a custom user model (like adding phone numbers, extra profile fields), set it up early. Switching later is painful once you have a database full of users.

FAQs

1. Can I access `request.user` directly?

Yes! Inside views, request.user gives you the current logged-in user object. Behind the scenes, Django is using the correct user model, whether it’s custom or default.

2. What happens if I call `get_user_model()` multiple times?

No problem at all. Django caches it internally, so it’s efficient. Feel free to call it wherever you need it.

3. How do I know if I’m using a custom user model?

Check your Django settings file (settings.py) and look for AUTH_USER_MODEL. If it’s set (like 'myapp.MyCustomUser', you are using a custom model. If it’s not there, Django is using the default.

4. When should I create a custom user model?

If you even think you’ll need fields like phone number, date of birth, profile pictures, and so on, it’s better to set up a custom model early.

Here’s a great guide from Django’s official docs on customizing user models.

Conclusion

Working with users in Django doesn’t have to be tricky. Once you know to use get_user_model() when you need the model and settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL for database relationships, your code stays clean, safe, and ready for whatever changes come your way.

Now that you know how to get the user model in Django, what’s one thing you’d love to customize about your users in your project? Shoot me a message on X.

If you want me to show you how to build a custom user model from scratch, let me know – it’s not hard once you know the steps.

Further Resources

Source: freeCodeCamp Programming Tutorials: Python, JavaScript, Git & MoreÂ