---
title: Control access to the WordPress dashboard
description: "By default only administrators can open the WordPress dashboard; every other logged-in user stays on the front end. Choose which other WordPress roles may enter."
url: "https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-provide-access-on-wp-dashboard/"
updated: "2026-10-18"
category: Content Restriction
tags:
  - access
  - dashboard
  - wordpress dashboard
---

# Control access to the WordPress dashboard

2 minBeginnerUltimate Membership Pro 14.2+

Members of your Ultimate Membership Pro site should [use the site itself](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/features/member-portal/), not the WordPress dashboard. Ultimate Membership Pro keeps every logged-in user except administrators on the front end and hides the WordPress admin bar for them. If your team uses other roles, such as Editor or Author, you give those roles WordPress dashboard access.

This guide lets editors and authors into the dashboard while members stay out.

Before you start

- You know which [WordPress role](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/roles-and-capabilities/) each team member has (Users › All Users in WordPress).

## Open WP Dashboard Access

Go to Ultimate Membership Pro*›*Settings*›*WP Dashboard Access.

[![WordPress Roles Management card with Administrator always on and switches for Editor, Author, Contributor, Subscriber and the other roles](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ump-dashboard-access-01-dashboard-access.png)](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ump-dashboard-access-01-dashboard-access.png)
Only Administrator is allowed by default.

## Switch on the roles that may enter

 Administrator

Always allowed. The switch can't be turned off.

Other roles

Each WordPress role on your site has a switch. On: users with that role can open the dashboard and see the admin bar. Off: they're sent to the homepage when they try to open the dashboard.

Default: **Off**

Click Save Changes.

Good to know

- This controls the WordPress dashboard only. The Ultimate Membership Pro screens stay available to administrators only, whatever you allow here.
- A user who has several roles gets in if any of them is switched on.
- On a [multisite network](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/multisite-subscriptions/), super admins always get in.
- Background requests that the front end makes (for example forms that save without reloading) keep working for everyone.

## Example: a site with staff writers

 **Coaching blog**Two writers publish articles. Members only use the front end.

**Administrator**
: On (always)

**Editor**
: On

**Author**
: On

**Subscriber and other roles**
: Off

## Troubleshooting

  A team member lands on the homepage when they open wp-admin

Their role isn't switched on. Check their role in Users › All Users and switch it on here.

  An editor can open the dashboard but not Ultimate Membership Pro

That's by design: only administrators can manage the plugin.

  Members still see the admin bar

Make sure their role is switched off, and clear any page cache.

## What's next

 [**Show menu items only to some members**Give members their own links.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-restrict-menu-links/)[**Restrict content with Access Rules**Lock groups of pages.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-restrict-any-page-or-group-of-pages/)[**Restrict your first page**Lock one page.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/step-3-restrict-pagescontent/)[**Let search engines index restricted pages**Keep locked pages in Google.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/let-search-engines-index-restricted-pages/)