How to Password Protect Pages in WordPress (2 Methods)

There are various scenarios when it makes sense to password protect a WordPress page. Perhaps you create exclusive content for specific groups of users (like those with a subscription membership). Or, you might have a page or post under construction.

In these instances, you can restrict access to certain posts and pages so that only authorized users can view them. This is also great from a security perspective. You also have the option to password protect your entire WordPress site.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the reasons to password protect a WordPress page. Then, we’ll show you two ways to do this. Let’s get started!

Why You Might Want to Password Protect WordPress Pages

When you publish a page or post in WordPress, it’s instantly public. This means anyone can access it.

But you might decide to restrict access to content on your WordPress site. In this case, users will see a prompt to enter a password in order to view the page or post.

For instance, if you want to create a membership website, you’ll make some (or all) of your content exclusive to paying subscribers. You may also offer specific posts or pages for select groups of users.

Naturally, password protected content enables you to block unauthorized users from accessing your pages. But if security is your main goal, you’ll also need a reliable web hosting provider like NameHero:

All NameHero’s WordPress plans come with a free SSL certificate to encrypt data. You’ll also receive daily backups for disaster recovery, and automatic updates to keep your WordPress site patched against vulnerabilities.

NameHero also provides a web application firewall to filter incoming website traffic, round-the-clock DDoS mitigation, and 24/7 support. And, you can even use the cPanel dashboard to manage file and directory privacy.

How to Password Protect a WordPress Page (2 Ways)

Now that you know why it can be useful to password protect posts and pages in WordPress, here are two ways to restrict access to authorized users only.

1. Password Protect Pages Using the Default WordPress Settings

The simplest way to password protect WordPress pages, posts, or products is to use the built-in functionality. Note that you’ll only have access to the password protect tool if you’re logged in as an administrator.

From the WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Pages > All Pages and click to edit the page you want to password protect. In the Block editor, navigate to the Page settings and go to the Status option:

Your WordPress pages might currently be set to draft, pending, or published. To change the visibility status of your page, you’ll need to click on the blue link.

You might find that the Private setting is sufficient for your needs. In this instance, you can limit page access to editors and admins. But if you require the highest level of protection, select Password protected.

Thisrestricts visibility to users who provide the correct password. You’ll need to set a secure password to grant page access:

Then, update your page settings by clicking on Update or Publish. You can view your WordPress site on the front end to make sure that password protection has been applied successfully:

The downside of this method is that you’re unable to password protect posts or pages in bulk. Nor is it possible to protect parts of your page only.

Additionally, you won’t be able to apply site-wide password protection which can be useful if you’re undergoing in-depth site development. For that, you’ll require a plugin.

2. Set Up WordPress Password Protection Using a Plugin

There are plenty of free and premium plugins that enable you to set up a password protected WordPress page. We’re going to use the PPWP – WordPress Password Protect Page plugin for this tutorial.

This WordPress plugin offers a great deal of flexibility since you can password protect individual pages and posts, as well as your entire WordPress site. You’re also able to protect specific page content and customize the password form.

With the Pro version, you can password protect custom post types across your entire site (including WooCommerce products).

To get started, navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard and use the search bar to find the WordPress Password Protect Page plugin:

Here, click on Install Now > Activate. You should now see a new menu appear in the WordPress dashboard: Password Protect WordPress.

Hover your mouse above this new option and select Sitewide Protection:

From here, use the toggle to enable the Password Protect Entire Site feature. You’ll then be prompted to set a password to create a private website that’s fully password protected:

If you want to exclude certain pages and posts from password protection, you’ll require the Pro version of the plugin. Otherwise, simply enter your password and click on Save Changes to password protect your WordPress website.

Note that if you use a membership plugin, you won’t need an additional tool to password protect your premium content. A membership plugin will come with settings that enable you to select which posts and pages you want to limit access to, and only users who purchase a subscription plan and log into their accounts will be able to view that content.

Other Ways to Secure Your WordPress Site

As we’ve discussed, password protection is great for limiting access to users who have the correct credentials. This can help you prevent a range of security issues like brute force attacks.

That said, comprehensive password protection may not be enough. So, here are some other ways to increase security on your WordPress site, besides setting up password protected pages:

• Choose a secure web hosting provider like NameHero. This way, you’ll get access to features like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and round-the-clock support.
• Implement two-factor authentication so that users need to supply a password and a second key generated in real time. With NameHero, you can enable two-factor authentication from the cPanel dashboard.
• Secure the login process by hiding the login URL (or creating a custom login page).
• Limit login attempts so that users with several failed login attempts get locked out of your site. You can also use WordPress plugins that notify you about this.
• Regularly review WordPress user roles and permissions. This is the easiest way to limit the damage by hackers. You should also remove old user accounts.

For more information, check out our detailed guide to website security. If you run an online business, we have a dedicated guide to ecommerce security.

Conclusion

Password protecting a WordPress page prevents unauthorized users from viewing your content. It’s a great way to restrict access to specific groups of people, or hide content while it’s under development.

To recap, here are two ways to password protect a WordPress page:

1. Use the built-in WordPress settings to protect individual posts and pages.
2. Install a WordPress plugin like PPWP to limit access to your entire website.

Although you can implement password protection to secure your WordPress site, it’s also important to choose a reputable web host. At NameHero, we provide DDoS protection, a web application firewall, a free SSL certificate, and more. Check out our plans today!