Resolving Common Redirect and Login Issues with WPS Hide Login
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WPS Hide Login is a popular plugin for changing the default WordPress login URL, but like any software, it can sometimes conflict with other plugins, themes, or server configurations. Based on community reports, here are the most common issues and their solutions.
1. The ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS Error
This is one of the most frequent problems reported. It often occurs when another plugin or service, like Jetpack's Single Sign-On (SSO) or a BuddyPress private message link, tries to access the original wp-login.php URL. The WPS Hide Login plugin intercepts this request, and a redirect loop can begin if the other plugin isn't compatible.
Why it happens: The conflict arises because the third-party plugin or service is hardcoded to use the standard WordPress login URLs. When WPS Hide Login changes that URL, the other plugin's requests get caught in a loop.
How to fix it:
- Identify the conflict: Deactivate all other plugins and switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-One). If the error stops, reactivate your plugins one by one to find the culprit. Common conflicting plugins include Jetpack, BuddyPress, and WooCommerce.
- Check for updates: Ensure WPS Hide Login and all other plugins are updated to their latest versions. The WPS Hide Login team has addressed some of these conflicts in past updates (e.g., a Jetpack SSO fix was implemented in version 1.4.4).
- Alternative: If the conflict cannot be resolved, you may need to choose between using WPS Hide Login or the conflicting plugin's login feature.
2. The Endless Redirect Loop on wp-admin
Some users report that after a successful login, they are redirected to wp-admin and see a blank "access denied" page instead of the WordPress dashboard.
Why it happens: This is typically not a direct bug in WPS Hide Login but a conflict with another plugin or theme that manages user roles and capabilities. The WPS Hide Login plugin only redirects non-logged-in users; it should not affect post-login redirects for authenticated users.
How to fix it:
- Follow the same conflict isolation steps above: deactivate other plugins and test with a default theme.
- Check your theme's
functions.phpfile for any custom code that might be interfering with login redirects.
3. Login Page Returns a 404 Error
You set a new login slug, but it results in a "404 Not Found" error. This was notably reported on IONOS hosting and on sites with international characters (like German umlauts) in the domain name.
Why it happens: Server-level configurations, such as specific MU-plugins on IONOS hosting or how the server handles URL encoding for special characters, can prevent the plugin from correctly rewriting the login URL.
How to fix it:
- Hosting MU-Plugins: On IONOS hosting, try deactivating the "IONOS Performance" MU-plugin from the
wp-content/mu-pluginsdirectory via FTP. - Special Characters: Unfortunately, domains with special characters may not be fully compatible. A potential workaround is to use a domain without special characters.
- Trailing Slash: Some control panels, like the WordPress Toolkit in cPanel, require a trailing slash in the login slug (e.g.,
new_login/instead ofnew_login).
4. Issues After Deactivating the Plugin
Even after deactivating WPS Hide Login, the site might still redirect login attempts or a page with the slug 'login' might not work, being forced to something like 'login-2.php'.
Why it happens: The plugin stores its settings in the WordPress database. Simply deactivating the plugin does not always remove this data, leaving behind rewrite rules that can cause conflicts.
How to fix it:
- For a single site, go to your database's
wp_optionstable (the prefix may be different) and delete the row where theoption_nameiswhl_page. - On a WordPress Multisite network, you must Network Deactivate the plugin from the Network Admin dashboard to properly clear its settings across all sites.
5. Can't Use the redirect_to Parameter
A limitation of the plugin is that it does not support the standard WordPress ?redirect_to= parameter used after the login URL.
Why it happens: This is a known design limitation of the plugin, as confirmed by the WPS Hide Login team in support threads. The plugin focuses on renaming the login slug and does not process all the same parameters as the original login page.
How to fix it: There is no direct fix within the plugin's settings. If this functionality is critical for your site, you may need to seek an alternative plugin that supports this feature.
General Troubleshooting Steps
If you encounter an issue not listed here, always start with these steps:
- Clear Caches: Clear your browser cache, cookies, and any server-side or plugin-based caching (e.g., Cloudflare, WP Super Cache).
- Check Permalinks: Go to Settings > Permalinks and simply click "Save Changes" to refresh your site's rewrite rules. The plugin does not work if permalinks are set to "Plain."
- Conflict Test: The most reliable method is to deactivate all plugins except WPS Hide Login and switch to a default theme. If the problem resolves, reactivate each component one by one to identify the source of the conflict.
- Check .htaccess: Ensure your
.htaccessfile is writable and contains the standard WordPress rewrite rules.
Remember, when troubleshooting, it's crucial to make changes on a staging site first before applying them to your live website.
Related Support Threads Support
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When logging in on the new link, the page just refresheshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/when-logging-in-on-the-new-link-the-page-just-refreshes/
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login-2.php forced, even after deleing pluginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-2-php-forced-even-after-deleing-plugin/
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ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS with BuddyPress private messageshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/err_too_many_redirects-with-buddypress-private-messages/
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PrettyLinks “clicks” page redirected even after deactivating WPS Hide Loginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/prettylinks-clicks-page-redirected-even-after-deactivating-wps-hide-login/
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Users can’t answer on private messages any more via the email notificationshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/users-cant-answer-on-private-messages-any-more-via-the-email-notifications/
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login does not work the 1st time / cookie errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-does-not-work-the-1st-time-cookie-error/
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LinkedIn Loginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/linkedin-login/
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maintenance redirecthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-redirect/
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“wp-login/network” redirects to new login urlhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp-login-network-redirects-to-new-login-url/
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Error when plugin is disabled on a multisitehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-plugin-is-disabled-on-a-multisite/
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stuck on login screenhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/stuck-on-login-screen/
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Unable to access login-page on my website which contains german umlauthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-access-login-page-on-my-website-which-contains-german-umlaut/
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Redirect issue on login pagehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/redirect-issue-on-login-page/
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Plugin not completely workinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-not-completely-working/
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500 Internal Server Errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/500-internal-server-error-651/
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Bug with SSL and BuddyPresshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/bug-with-ssl-and-buddypress/
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wp-login.php not redirectinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp-login-php-not-redirecting/
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Too many redirects errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/too-many-redirects-error-13/
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after login redirect to the no logged visitors pagehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/after-login-redirect-to-the-no-logged-visitors-page/
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Many redirects when try open wp-login.phphttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/many-redirects-when-try-open-wp-login-php/
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Locked out while awaiting updatehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/locked-out-while-awaiting-update/
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Bad redirections / WC Conflicthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/bad-redirections-wc-conflict/
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Redirection after using plugin form to logonhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/redirection-after-using-plugin-form-to-logon/
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Plugin don’t workhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-dont-work-44/
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500 error with Temporary Login without Passwordhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/500-error-with-temporary-login-without-password/
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BUG? Reset / Lost password page when logged in redirects incorrectlyhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/bug-reset-lost-password-page-when-logged-in-redirects-incorrectly/
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wp-admin pagehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp-admin-page-6/
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Doesn’t work and break the update menuhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/doesnt-work-and-break-the-update-menu/
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Redirect login issues for each single posthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/redirect-login-issues-for-each-single-post/
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Small problemhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/small-problem-12/
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warning redirecthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/warning-redirect/
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FYI deactivated: redirects and password issueshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/fyi-deactivated-redirects-and-password-issues/
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Cannot login or log outhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-login-and-cannot-log-out/
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Can’t create a redirect pagehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-create-a-redirect-page/
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Jetpack Single Sign Onhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/jetpack-single-sign-on-2/
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Compatibility with Jetpack securityhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/compatibility-with-jetpack-security/
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Closed off sitehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/closed-off-site/
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Maintenance Mode Redirection Issuehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-mode-redirection-issue/
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Use with WordPress Toolkithttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/use-with-wordpress-toolkit/
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Too Many Redirects (Log in with WordPress.com)https://wordpress.org/support/topic/too-many-redirects-log-in-with-wordpress-com/
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‘redirect_to’ parameter not workinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/redirect_to-parameter-not-working/
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wp-login-php not redirect with Elementorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp-login-php-not-redirect-with-elementor/
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Can’t loginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-login-259/
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Redirection Issuehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/redirection-issue-43/
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Having a problem with this plugin and twitter connecthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-a-problem-with-this-plugin-and-twitter-connect/
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Registration still an issuehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/registration-still-an-issue/
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500 Internal Server Errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/500-internal-server-error-597/
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Plugin doesn’t work on a IONOS WPhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-doesnt-work-on-a-ionos-wp/
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Login forwards to wrong pagehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-forwards-to-wrong-page/