How to Create a Custom User Registration Page in WordPress

There are many reasons to enable user registration on your WordPress site. For instance, you might be managing a membership site or running a forum community.

Alternatively, you may choose to allow only registered users to post comments to help moderate discussions. Whatever your reasons, we will guide you through the process of getting your users set up with their accounts.

Granting WordPress User Registration

Start by going to the Settings >> General page in your WordPress dashboard.

You’ll find two crucial options: Membership and New User Default Role. Ensure you check the box labeled “Anyone can register,” and select your default role. While Subscriber is the typical choice, evaluate whether it’s the best fit for your site, as each role comes with distinct permissions. Make a decision that aligns with your site’s goals.

There are 5 user roles by default:

• Subscriber

• Author

• Editor

• Contributor

• Administrator

Each role has a distinct set of permissions, and you can easily adjust them using specific plugins and code snippets.

Keep in mind that some membership plugins will create additional user roles to effectively manage your membership site, as do community and forum plugins.

For example, BuddyPress establishes the “Keymaster” role. The “Subscriber” role is highly recommended because it prevents users from creating posts and minimizes potential issues.

Once you press the “Save” button, your site will be ready for user registration. Ensure you also have a login and registration form in place to streamline this process.

1. The WordPress Registration Form

The easiest way to guide your users to the registration form is by going to the Appearance >> Widgets section, selecting the Meta widget, and dragging it into your sidebar or footer area.

It only offers a “Log In” link that takes users to the default WordPress login screen for registration. This link is not easily noticeable, which can be confusing for users.

Users will be directed to the standard WordPress registration and login page at yoursite.com/wp-admin. They must click on the somewhat hidden Register link to sign up.

To ensure your users can easily find the sign-up form, it’s essential to provide a clear link. Use the WordPress registration URL at https://yoursite.com/wp-login.php?action=register whenever necessary.

This link will take users directly to the default registration form, where they must select a username and enter their email address.

Don’t leave this to chance; guide them directly to the registration process.

Upon email confirmation, the account will receive the default permissions you set above.

2. By Using Plugin

If you’re looking to create a front-end registration form that you can place anywhere with ease, the Ultimate Member plugin is your best choice.

This powerful tool not only ensures that your WordPress user registration page mirrors your brand’s style, but it also streamlines user management.

With over 100,000 installations and regular updates, you can trust Ultimate Member to effectively handle your user registration needs.

Don’t compromise on quality; choose this plugin for a reliable solution.

To get started, download and install the Ultimate Member plugin from the repository. After activating the plugin, you’ll see a message indicating that it needs to create a few new pages to function properly. Please permit it to do so.

Once the pages are created, you are ready to proceed. Users can register immediately at yoursite.com/register, but you have the option to change that URL to something else.

If the default form does not meet your needs, you must take action. You have two options: either edit the existing form or create a new one. You can find both options in the Ultimate Member section of your admin panel.

Ensure that the Registration Form is highlighted. Creating the form is straightforward and follows a drag-and-drop method.

If you have experience with page builders or the new WordPress editor, Gutenberg, you will find this process quite familiar.

You can include a wide variety of fields. By clicking the + icon inside the editor, you can add as many details as you need to gather information about your users.

The key element in this process is the Shortcode box. You must copy and paste that code into a page or widget to display the registration form. For instance, paste it into the Custom HTML widget located under Appearance >> Widgets.

This step is essential for ensuring the form is visible.

After gets saved, in the sidebar, you can view the entire form

You can now confidently place that form in the middle of a post. This flexibility is one of the key benefits of tying it to a shortcode.

User Login Page in WordPress

To create a login page, follow the same steps as the user registration page. Just ensure the Login Form is selected during the process.

The Ultimate Member plugin automatically establishes the default login URL as yoursite.com/login. If you opt for this default form, you’re all set—no further action is required.

However, if you decide to create a new login form, make sure to insert the new shortcode into the appropriate page without delay.

The final result will resemble something like this. You can also use the same fields for the login page as you did for the registration page.

Manage the New Users

WordPress provides a basic user management system for administrators, but it’s far from comprehensive.

From the Users list in your admin dashboard, you can edit user accounts to change names, usernames, display names, email addresses, and roles.

However, when it comes to customizing permissions for these roles, the built-in options fall short.

To effectively manage user permissions, you must rely on plugins like Ultimate Member, which empower you to enhance functionality without the need to modify WordPress code.

Furthermore, You must create a member directory to effectively manage users and display everyone who has registered for your site or service. You can find this feature under Ultimate Member >> Member Directories.

Depending on your reasons for allowing registrations, you must decide whether to keep this information public or private.

By default, a directory page is generated at yoursite.com/members using the designated shortcode.

You have the option to delete or unpublish this page if necessary.

However, if you choose to use a directory, it will be displayed in this format by default. Make your choices accordingly.

The previous steps have effectively transformed your WordPress site from lacking user registration to showcasing a comprehensive member directory.

Conclusion

Regardless of your motivation, getting users to register on your site is surprisingly easy. With just a few clicks and some minor adjustments, you can transform WordPress user registration from something that feels confusing and hidden into a feature you’re proud of—one that can help you achieve great things.

So go ahead and start building your communities!