Troubleshooting WPS Hide Login Logout Issues: Common Causes and Fixes
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Many WordPress users turn to the WPS Hide Login plugin to enhance their site's security by changing the default login URL. However, a frequent issue reported in community forums involves problems with the logout functionality. Users often find themselves unable to log out, encountering blank pages, 404 errors, or simply being redirected without their session ending.
This guide compiles the most common causes and solutions for these logout problems, based on community reports and troubleshooting discussions.
Why Do Logout Issues Happen with WPS Hide Login?
The WPS Hide Login plugin works by intercepting requests to default WordPress URLs like wp-login.php and wp-admin. It redirects them to a 404 page while allowing access through a custom, secret slug. This process can sometimes interfere with the standard logout procedure, which relies on those original URLs. The conflict is rarely with the plugin itself but rather how it interacts with other parts of your WordPress setup.
Common Solutions for Logout Problems
1. Plugin or Theme Conflict
This is the most frequently cited cause. Another plugin or your theme might be generating logout links that are incompatible with the rewritten URLs.
How to troubleshoot:
- Deactivate all other plugins except WPS Hide Login.
- Attempt to log out. If it works, reactivate your plugins one-by-one, testing the logout after each, to identify the culprit.
- Switch temporarily to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four) to rule out a theme conflict.
2. Caching Issues
Caching is a powerful tool for site speed, but it can mistakenly cache the admin bar or logout links, preventing a proper logout. This is a common theme in threads involving services like AWS, Nginx, or other server-level caching.
How to fix it:
- Ensure your
wp-adminand login pages (both default and custom) are explicitly excluded from any caching rules in your caching plugin, server configuration, or CDN settings. - Clear all your cache (plugin, server, browser, and CDN) after making any changes to your login/logout setup.
3. Incorrect Logout Link Structure
After changing the login URL, some themes or plugins may generate a logout link pointing to the old wp-login.php?action=logout structure, which will result in a 404 error.
The solution: The correct logout link should use your custom slug and look like this:
https://yourwebsite.com/your-secret-slug/?action=logout&_wpnonce=xxxxxxxxxx
You may need to use a code snippet to filter the logout URL to ensure it uses the correct path. Some users have reported success by contacting their theme developers for a compatible filter.
4. Multisite and Translation Plugin Complications
While WPS Hide Login states it is compatible with WordPress Multisite, complex setups can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior. Similarly, plugins that manage languages and create subdirectories (like TranslatePress) can create conflicts with the rewritten logout URL.
What to do: Test the logout functionality on the primary site in your network or in the base language. If it works there but not on a sub-site or translated page, the conflict is likely with the multisite or translation setup. You may need to seek guidance from the support teams for those specific plugins.
5. Session and Cookie Handling
In rare cases, the plugin's redirection can interfere with how WordPress handles sessions and cookies during logout.
Troubleshooting step: If you have access, check your site's database in the wp_options table (the prefix may be different) for an option named whl_page. This stores your custom slug. If this value is missing or corrupt, it could cause problems. Ensure it contains the correct path.
What to Do If You're Locked Out
If you cannot log out or, worse, cannot log in to deactivate the plugin:
- Access your website's files via FTP, SFTP, or your hosting provider's file manager (e.g., cPanel).
- Navigate to the
/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Find the
wps-hide-loginfolder. - Rename this folder to something like
wps-hide-login_OFF. This will deactivate the plugin and restore the default WordPress login at/wp-login.php.
Remember, when seeking help in community forums, providing details about your setup (WordPress version, other active plugins, hosting environment) can help others diagnose the issue more quickly. The solutions above address the most common scenarios that prevent a smooth logout experience when using WPS Hide Login.
Related Support Threads Support
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Cannot login even though its exactly righthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-login-even-though-its-exactly-right/
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Logout Not workinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-not-working-14/
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errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-1140/
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“You Are Now Logged Into” – Message Issuehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/you-are-now-logged-into-message-issue/
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incorrect logout urlhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/incorrect-logout-url/
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Get logged out frequentlyhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/get-logged-out-frequently/
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Logout issuehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-issue-19/
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Signin link on 404 pages not workinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/signin-link-on-404-pages-not-working/
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Cant Log Outhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-log-out-16/
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Supporthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/support-280/
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Do you really want to log outhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/do-you-really-want-to-log-out-2/
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login page emptyhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-page-empty-2/
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Logout Issuehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-issue-18/
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can’t log OUThttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-log-out-14/
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Logging me out after a short time?https://wordpress.org/support/topic/logging-me-out-after-a-short-time/
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Conflict with Translate presshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/conflict-with-translate-press/
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Unable to log out of the administration interfacehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-log-out-of-the-administration-interface/
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Keeps Logging Out Problemhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/keeps-logging-out-problem/
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Can’t login anymorehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-login-anymore-28/
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critical error in logout: can’t log outhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-in-logout-cant-log-out/
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login page still foundhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-page-still-found/
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Individual Logout Linkhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/individual-logout-link/
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Cannot Log Outhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-log-out-10/
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Ugly Emailshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/ugly-emails/
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Logout Failurehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-failure-1/
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cant log out when this plugin is activehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-log-out-when-this-plugin-is-active/
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logout errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-error-7/
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404 on Edge but not FireFoxhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-on-edge-but-not-firefox/
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not logging out properly – V1.4.3 with WP 4.9.8https://wordpress.org/support/topic/not-logging-out-properly-v1-4-3-with-wp-4-9-8/
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Logout goes to error 404https://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-goes-to-error-404/
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Bug in the pluginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/bug-in-the-plugin-13/
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Page Footer Not Alignedhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/page-footer-not-aligned/
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logging out from “Edit my profile” does not workhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logging-out-from-edit-my-profile-does-not-work/
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Cannot Log Outhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-log-out-9/
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502 Bad Gateway on logout after updating WordPress to 4.8.3https://wordpress.org/support/topic/502-bad-gateway-on-logout-after-updating-wordpress-to-4-8-3/
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Logout does not work when the plugin is activehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-does-not-work-when-the-plugin-is-active/
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[NSFW] Show linkhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/show-link/
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Login now on my pge!https://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-now-on-my-pge/
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redirected you too many timeshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/redirected-you-too-many-times-6/
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plugin này bị xung đột với PLUGIN Loginfresshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-nay-bi-xung-dot-voi-plugin-loginfress/
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Login expiry 404https://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-expiry-404/
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Menu Logout returns 404https://wordpress.org/support/topic/menu-logout-returns-404/
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this is disabled 403 errors for some users but not othershttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/this-is-disabled-403-errors-for-some-users-but-not-others/
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Logout Doesn’t Workhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-doesnt-work-4/
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I am on a captcha loopinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/i-am-on-a-captcha-looping/
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mistakehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-visible-in-source-code/
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Can’t logouthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-logout-14/
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new log in not workinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/new-log-in-not-working/
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Can login but can’t logout when plugin activehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/can-login-but-cant-logout-when-plugin-active/
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Logout Errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/logout-error-8/