Show widgets only to some members (Restrict WP Widgets)
In Ultimate Membership Pro, the Restrict WP Widgets add-on lets you choose, for each widget in your sidebars, whether it is shown or hidden for visitors, for logged-in users or for the members of a Membership. It keeps a sidebar useful for everyone: a join box for visitors, a live session link for members.
This guide switches the add-on on, sets a rule for each widget, and shows what visitors and members see.
Before you start
- The Restrict WP Widgets add-on is installed and active. It’s a Pro add-on, included in the Full Package and Agency plans. See Install a Pro add-on.
- Your license is active. See Find and activate your license key.
- Your theme has widget areas with widgets in them, set up in Appearance›Widgets. The add-on lists the widgets it finds there.
- Your Memberships exist, so you can pick them.
Switch on the add-on
- Go to Ultimate Membership Pro›Modules and open Restrict WP Widgets, in the Content Protection group.
- Switch on Activate/Hold Restrict Widgets Integration.
Applies your widget rules on the front end. Switch it off to stop all rules at once without losing them.
Default: Off
Choose who sees each widget
Under the switch, every widget of your widget areas has its own row, named after its area and its type, such as Sidebar Text. If you have several widgets of the same type in one area, the rows follow their order in the area.
- Pick Block Widget Only or Show Widget Only.
- In for:, pick who the rule is for. Each choice appears as a tag, and the x on a tag removes it.
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the screen.
The widget area and the widget type, for example Sidebar Text or Footer Text.
How the people picked in for: are used.
- Block Widget Only: the widget is hidden from the people you pick, and everyone else sees it.
- Show Widget Only: the widget is shown to the people you pick, and hidden from everyone else.
Default: Block Widget Only
Who the rule is for: All, Registered Users (logged in, with or without a Membership), Unregistered Users (visitors) or one of your Memberships. A Membership counts while it is active. With nothing picked, the widget has no rule and everyone sees it.
Administrators always see every widget. A widget without a rule, like Sidebar Search above, is shown to everyone.
See the result
Open a page with your widget areas in a private window, or log in as a member, because administrators see everything. A visitor sees the widgets that aren’t blocked for visitors and not the members-only ones:
A Pro Monthly member sees the members-only widgets and no longer sees the join box:
Example: a sidebar that changes with the visitor
- Search widget
- No rule, so everyone sees it
- Sidebar Text: Live session link
- Show Widget Only for Registered Users
- Sidebar Recent Posts
- Block Widget Only for Unregistered Users
- Footer Text: New here?
- Block Widget Only for Pro Monthly and Annual Pass
- Result
- Visitors see Search and New here?. Free Community members see all four. Paying members see Search, the live session link and the latest posts
Learn more about Restrict WP Widgets
- Restrict WP Widgets add-on page: what it does, at a glance.
- All Pro add-ons for Ultimate Membership Pro.
- Ultimate Membership Pro plans: Pro add-ons come with the Full Package and Agency plans.
- Managing WordPress widgets.
Troubleshooting
Why does the screen say No Widgets available?
No widget is placed in a widget area of your theme. Add widgets in Appearance›Widgets, then reload the screen. Themes without widget areas have nothing to list.
Why can I still see a widget I restricted?
Administrators see every widget, so check in a private window or as a member. Then check that the switch is on and saved, that you clicked Save Changes after picking the people in for:, and that the widget has a person picked, because a widget with nothing picked has no rule. If your site uses page caching, clear the cache.
Why does each row show only the widget type and not its title?
Each row is named after its widget area and its widget type, such as Sidebar Text. When you have several widgets of one type in an area, the rows follow the order of the widgets in that area in Appearance › Widgets.
How do I show a widget only to members of one Membership in Ultimate Membership Pro?
Switch on the Restrict WP Widgets add-on, then find the widget’s row, choose Show Widget Only, pick the Membership in for:, and click Save Changes. Only members who have that Membership see the widget.
