--- title: Restricted content is visible to everyone description: "You restricted a page but can still see it, or so can visitors. Work through these causes, starting with the most common one: testing while logged in as an administrator." url: "https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/set-up-private-content-but-everything-is-public/" updated: "2026-10-18" category: Content Restriction --- # Restricted content is visible to everyone 3 minBeginnerUltimate Membership Pro 14.2+ You set up a [restriction](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/features/content-restriction/) in Ultimate Membership Pro, open the page, and the restricted content is still visible. In most cases the plugin is working and the test is the problem. Go through the causes below in order; each one takes a minute to check. Before you start - Have a test member account with a known Membership, and a private (incognito) browser window. ## You're logged in as an administrator Cause Administrators always see everything: pages, Inside Locker sections, [menu links](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-restrict-menu-links/) and files. This is by design, so you never lock yourself out. Fix Open the page in a private window to test as a visitor, or log in there with your test member. ## The Locker has no member type Cause A Locker, an Inside Locker or a menu rule with nothing under its member types doesn't restrict anything. Fix Edit the page and add at least one member type in the Locker box. See [Restrict your first page](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/step-3-restrict-pagescontent/). ## The rule points the other way Cause **Show Page Only** lets only the selected member types in. **Block Page Only** keeps only the selected ones out. **Block Page Only** for a Membership leaves the page open to everyone else, visitors included. Fix To keep a page for members, use **Show Page Only** with their Memberships. ## The member type includes the person testing Cause **All** means everyone. **Registered Users** means anyone logged in, with or without a Membership. Fix Pick the Memberships themselves when only paying members should get in. ## An Access Rule doesn't match Cause **Entire URL** rules match the exact link: http or https, www, the trailing slash and any query string all count. Category and post type rules skip the post IDs listed in **Excluding**. Fix Copy the link from the address bar into the rule, and check the Excluding field. See [Restrict content with Access Rules](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-restrict-any-page-or-group-of-pages/). ## A cache serves an old copy Cause [Page caching](https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/performance/cache/) (a caching plugin, your host or a CDN) can deliver a saved copy of the page without running the plugin's check. Fix Clear the cache after changing a restriction, and exclude members-only pages and logged-in users from page caching. ## Restricted posts show up in lists Cause **Show hidden Pages/Posts Titles in listing** is on in Ultimate Membership Pro*›*Settings*›*Public Workflow. It keeps restricted posts in blog and archive lists even when the visitor can't open them. Fix Switch it off to drop restricted posts from lists. ## The page is one the plugin keeps open Cause Some pages are never restricted so that people can always log in and pay: links that contain ultimate-membership-pro, and the Default Redirect Page, which is never redirected to avoid loops. Fix Don't put members-only content on [the plugin's own pages](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/step-1-set-default-pages/). Check them in Ultimate Membership Pro*›*Settings*›*Pages Setup. Still visible? - Search engine crawlers can be allowed through on purpose: check Authorize Search Engines in Settings › Security. - Check the [test member's Membership](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-change-member-status/) in Members: it must be active for Show rules to let them in, and for Block rules to keep them out. ## What's next [**Restrict your first page**The Locker, step by step.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/step-3-restrict-pagescontent/)[**Restrict content with Access Rules**Lock groups of pages.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-restrict-any-page-or-group-of-pages/)[**Hide part of a page**Lock a section of a page.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/how-to-set-an-inside-locker/)[**Let search engines index restricted pages**What crawlers can see.](https://ultimatemembershippro.com/docs/let-search-engines-index-restricted-pages/)