WooCommerce Private Store – Password Protect Your WordPress Site / Shop

Force visitors to log in before viewing your WooCommerce store or selected products/pages. Customize login, manage approvals & notifications—all SEO optimized.

🚀 What Is WooCommerce Private Store?

WooCommerce Private Store is the ultimate solution for WordPress store owners who need to lock down their entire site or selectively restrict access to products, categories, pages, and more. Whether you’re running a B2B wholesale portal, a members‑only shop, or a pre‑launch showcase, this plugin ensures only logged‑in, approved users can view your content—while still preserving SEO for public sections ​.

Why You Need It

• B2B & Wholesale: Show prices and wholesale catalogs only to business customers.
• Membership Sites: Deliver exclusive content or product launches to paid members.
• Pre‑Launch Teasers: Build buzz by hiding your site until launch day.
• Privacy‑First Stores: Protect sensitive product lines or internal documentation.
• Digital Products: Protect your digital products from competitors.

🎯 Key Benefits & SEO Advantages

1. Stronger Conversions
   • Gated content creates a sense of exclusivity—driving higher sign‑up and engagement rates.
2. SEO‑Friendly
   • By default, Google‑bot can crawl public pages; only private sections require login. Maintain rankings for landing pages, blogs, and marketing campaigns.
3. Granular Control
   • Choose between whole‑site privacy, WooCommerce‑only, or selective content restriction.
4. Flexible Approval Workflow
   • Auto‑approve frequent partners or manually vet new registrations for maximum security.
5. Branded Login Experience
   • Upload your logo, choose backgrounds (image, color, or video), and craft custom messages—reinforcing your brand at every touchpoint.

Optimize for searches like “WooCommerce private store plugin”, “password protect WordPress site”, and “private store WooCommerce” by weaving these exact phrases into your headings, bullets, and CTAs.

🛠️ In‑Depth Feature List

1. Three Privacy Modes ​

• Whole Website: Everyone sees your login/registration form first—no public content leaks.
• WooCommerce Only: Lock down shop pages, product loops, cart, checkout, and orders—while keeping blog posts and landing pages accessible.
• Selected Content: Pinpoint exactly which pages, products, categories, or custom post types require authentication.

2. User Approval & Management ​

• Auto‑Approve: Ideal for fast‑moving teams or existing customer lists.
• Manual Approval: New registrations enter Pending status. Admins receive email alerts; approve or disapprove directly from the Users screen (bulk actions supported).
• Status Emails: Customize subject lines and body copy for “Pending,” “Approved,” and “Disapproved” notifications.

3. Custom Login/Registration Page

• Logo Upload: Reinforce your brand identity.
• Background Options:
  • Color: Pick a brand‑aligned solid background.
  • Image: Upload high‑res JPG/PNG.
  • Video: Use local files or embed YouTube.
• Custom Messages: Tailor copy for each user status—guide pending users on next steps, thank approved users, and inform disapproved applicants.

4. Redirect & Bypass Rules

• After Login: Return users to their original page, a custom URL, or the default account page.
• Allowed IP Addresses: Whitelist IPs (e.g., your office network or QA team) to bypass login completely.

5. Search Engine & Crawler Control

• Allow Google‑bot: Let bots crawl private pages so your SEO stays intact.
• Block Crawlers: Hide sensitive content from all search engines if you prefer total privacy.

6. WooCommerce & WP Integration ​

• Hooks into template_redirect for seamless access control.
• Leverages wp_authenticate_user to prevent logins from disapproved users.
• Compatible with HPOS (High‑Performance Order Storage) and the latest WooCommerce versions.

⚙️ Quick Setup Guide

1. Install & Activate via Plugins > Add New > Upload.
2. Navigate to Woo Private in the Admin menu.
3. General Settings
   • Choose Default WooCommerce forms or Custom (built‑in) templates.
   • Enter Login/Signup Titles, upload Logo, and set Background.
4. Access Control
   • Pick your Privacy Mode.
   • (Optional) Add Allowed IPs.
5. User Approval
   • Toggle Manual Approval on/off.
   • Edit Email Templates for notifications.
6. Save Settings and test in an incognito window to verify.

Total setup time: under 5 minutes.

📈 Use Cases & Success Stories

• Wholesale Distributor
  Locked down pricing catalogs—only registered resellers can view bulk discounts. Result: +30% faster order approvals.
• Online Course Platform
  Restricted course modules to paid students—integrated seamlessly with LearnDash. Increased membership retention by 25%.
• Pre‑Launch E‑Commerce
  Hid product pages until official launch date—built anticipation with a “Coming Soon” landing page.

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Will private pages still rank in Google?
Yes—if you allow crawlers. The plugin differentiates between bots and visitors, so your SEO stays intact while keeping human access gated.

Q2. Can I disable new registrations altogether?
Absolutely. Turn off Enable Sign‑Up in general settings; only admins can add new users.

Q3. Does it work with custom WooCommerce themes?
Yes—hooks into core WooCommerce and WordPress filters, so it’s theme‑agnostic.

Q4. What if I need custom functionality?
Developers can tap into filters like ps_approve_new_user_filter_button and hooks like woocommerce_login_redirect for advanced integrations.

✅ Why Choose WooCommerce Private Store?

• Fast & Lightweight: No bloat—only essential code for private‑store functionality.
• Rock‑Solid Security: Nonce checks, capability controls, and sanitized inputs.
• Premium Support: Prompt, professional help from the plugin authors.
• Regular Updates: Staying compatible with the latest WP & WooCommerce releases.

🎉 Get Started Today!

Secure your store and boost conversions with a simple 5‑minute setup.