Why Your Custom Login Page Might Not Be Working Correctly
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WPS Hide Login is a popular plugin for changing the default WordPress login URL to enhance security. However, users sometimes encounter issues where the custom login page doesn't behave as expected. This guide covers the most common problems and their solutions, based on community reports.
Common Issues and Solutions
1. Themed or Custom Front-End Login Pages Stop Working
Problem: After activating WPS Hide Login, your themed login page (often created by another plugin) is replaced by the default WordPress login screen.
Why it happens: WPS Hide Login intercepts requests to the login page. If your theme or another plugin uses a different method to create a custom login page, there can be a conflict where WPS Hide Login takes precedence.
Solution: This is typically a compatibility issue. You may need to check the documentation for your theme or page builder plugin to see if it offers a way to integrate with or bypass the login URL change. A conflict test can confirm this: deactivate all other plugins except WPS Hide Login to see if the issue persists.
2. The Default Login URL Still Works
Problem: After setting a custom slug, you find that both the default /wp-admin, /wp-login.php, or the plugin's default /login URL still grant access to the login page.
Why it happens: The most common causes are server or browser caching or a conflict with another plugin or theme. Cached pages might serve the old redirect rules. In some cases, other membership or forum plugins (like bbPress) can also create their own login endpoints.
Solution:
- Clear all caches: Purge your browser cache, any server-level cache (like Varnish), and your WordPress caching plugins.
- Resave Permalinks: Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress admin and simply click "Save Changes" to refresh the rewrite rules.
- Conflict Test: Deactivate all other plugins to see if the issue is resolved. If it is, reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.
- Check for Pages: Ensure you do not have a WordPress page published with a slug that matches a default login URL (e.g., a page named "Login" with the slug
/login).
3. Login Error Messages Do Not Appear
Problem: After changing the login URL, standard WordPress login error messages (like "Incorrect password") no longer display.
Why it happens: This is a known behavior with many login-changing plugins. It is often an intentional security feature to prevent bots from discovering valid usernames by revealing whether the username or password was incorrect.
Solution: If you require detailed error messages, you may need to use a complementary plugin like WPS Limit Login, which provides attempt feedback without revealing specific user information. Be aware that showing specific errors can be a security risk.
4. Login Links in Emails Are Incorrect
Problem: On WordPress Multisite installations, welcome emails sent to new users contain the default /login URL instead of the custom network-wide slug, leading to a 404 error.
Why it happens: The email templates may be generated before the WPS Hide Login settings are fully applied or may not be fully compatible with the network settings.
Solution: Manually override the email templates in your Multisite network admin settings to include the correct login URL.
5. The `is_login()` Function Returns False
Problem: The WordPress 6.1+ function is_login() returns false even when on the custom login page, breaking functionality that relies on it.
Why it happens: This function relies on comparing the output of wp_login_url() with a server variable. The plugin's URL changes can interfere with this comparison.
Solution: This appears to be a compatibility issue with the core WordPress function. An alternative is to use the is_user_logged_in() function to check a user's status, though the specific use case will determine the best workaround.
Need More Help?
If these solutions don't resolve your issue, the broader WordPress community on forums like the WordPress.org support forums can be an excellent resource. Be sure to describe your problem in detail, including the steps you've already tried.
Related Support Threads Support
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Only default WordPress login page?https://wordpress.org/support/topic/only-default-wordpress-login-page/
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After activating going to wp-admin will redirect to custom url – intentional?https://wordpress.org/support/topic/after-activating-going-to-wp-admin-will-redirect-to-custom-url-intentiona/
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Create custom login slug prior to installationhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-custom-login-slug-prior-to-installation/
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Login url wrong in emailhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-url-wrong-in-email/
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Default login errors not showinghttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/default-login-errors-not-showing/
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Change default login url in installation fileshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/change-default-login-url-in-installation-files/
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wp_login_form() action URLhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_login_form-action-url/
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Is /login safer than /wp-login.php?https://wordpress.org/support/topic/is-login-safer-than-wp-login-php/
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define two login page urlhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-two-login-page-url/
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wp_login_url() still returns ‘/wp-login.php’https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_login_url-still-returns-wp-login-php/
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Forget the login page url, but I have the access to the databasehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/forget-the-login-page-url-but-i-have-the-access-to-the-database/
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different urls to differel user rolehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/different-urls-to-differel-user-role/
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Now I have two URLs for loginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/now-i-have-two-urls-for-login/
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When the plugin is on, the is_login() function does not work.https://wordpress.org/support/topic/when-the-plugin-is-on-the-is_login-function-does-not-work/
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What about the Default Login URL “/login” ?https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-about-the-default-login-url-login/
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default login page still showshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/default-login-page-still-shows/
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wp-login.phphttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp-login-php-9/
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Change the default URLhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/change-the-default-url/