---
title: "authenticate(completionHandler:)"
framework: gamekit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "gamekit/gklocalplayer/authenticate(completionhandler:)"
---

# authenticate(completionHandler:)

Initializes the local player on the device.

## Declaration

```swift
func authenticate(completionHandler: (@Sendable ((any Error)?) -> Void)? = nil)
```

```swift
func authenticate() async throws
```

## Parameters

- `completionHandler`: A block to call when the player initializes or when an error occurs. The block takes the following parameter:

## Discussion

Discussion For more information, see Authenticating a player.

## See Also

### Deprecated methods

- [generateIdentityVerificationSignature(completionHandler:)](gamekit/gklocalplayer/generateidentityverificationsignature(completionhandler:).md)
- [loadDefaultLeaderboardCategoryID(completionHandler:)](gamekit/gklocalplayer/loaddefaultleaderboardcategoryid(completionhandler:).md)
- [loadFriendPlayers(completionHandler:)](gamekit/gklocalplayer/loadfriendplayers(completionhandler:).md)
- [loadFriendsObsoleted(completionHandler:)](gamekit/gklocalplayer/loadfriendsobsoleted(completionhandler:).md)
- [setDefaultLeaderboardCategoryID(_:completionHandler:)](gamekit/gklocalplayer/setdefaultleaderboardcategoryid(_:completionhandler:).md)