The WooCommerce Protected Categories Add-on is a powerful extension that allows store owners to control access to specific product categories. By combining password protection, user role restrictions, and optional reCAPTCHA verification, this tool ensures that only authorized users can view and purchase products within protected categories.
Whether you need to create private wholesale areas, members-only collections, or hidden product sections, WooCommerce Protected Categories provides a flexible and secure solution without requiring complex custom development.
Installation
- Install and activate the WooCommerce plugin.
- Install and activate the WooCommerce Protected Categories add-on.
- After activation, a new “Protected Categories” sub-menu will be added under the WooCommerce menu.
License Configuration
Navigate to the WooCommerce >Protected Categories menu and go to the License tab. Then, enter the License Key in the corresponding field and click on the Activate button.
General Settings
Navigate to the WooCommerce > WooCommerce Protected Categories > General Settings.
The General Settings tab allows you to configure how category protection works across your store. Each option is described below:
- Enable protection for bulk categories:
Toggle this option to activate or deactivate category protection across selected categories in bulk. - Select Protected Categories:
Choose which product categories you want to restrict. Only customers who meet the access conditions, such as entering the correct password or having the required user role. will be able to view products within these protected categories.
- Select User Roles:
Choose the roles to which category restrictions will apply. Products within the selected categories will be restricted for users assigned to these roles. - Select Users:
Choose specific users who will be subject to the selected category restrictions. These users will need to enter a password to unlock and access products in those restricted categories. - Excluded Users:
Select users who should be exempt from category restrictions. These users will always have unrestricted access to products in all categories.
- Heading:
Define a custom heading for the login/password form that appears on restricted categories. - Description:
Enter a description or instructions that will be displayed above the password/login form. - Password:
Set the password required to unlock the protected categories. - Unlock Button Text:
Customize the text displayed on the unlock/login button (e.g., “Submit”, “Access Now”).
After configuring your settings, click Update Settings to save changes.
Note: If both global rules and category-level rules are configured,category-level rules override global rules. If a parent category is locked, all its child categories remain locked until the parent is unlocked.
ReCAPTCHA Settings
The ReCAPTCHA Settings tab allows you to add Google reCAPTCHA V2 to the password form. This helps prevent bots and automated scripts from trying to access protected categories.
Site Key:
Enter the Site Key provided by Google when you register your site on the Google reCAPTCHA Admin Console. This key is used to display the reCAPTCHA widget on your website.
Secret Key:
Enter the Secret Key provided by Google. This is used on the server side to verify that each reCAPTCHA response is valid.
After entering your keys, click Update Settings to save.
Note: You need both keys to enable reCAPTCHA. Without them, the reCAPTCHA field will not display on the password/login form.
Category-Level Protection Settings:
In addition to global settings, the plugin provides per-category protection controls inside each category edit page. These settings take priority over global rules, allowing you to fine-tune restrictions for individual categories.
Category Level Settings
Navigate to the Products > Categories > Edit category.
- Enable protected category:
Toggle this option to activate or deactivate category protection across selected categories in bulk.
- Select User Roles:
Choose the user roles you want to restrict. The selected categories will be hidden from these roles. - Select Users To Restrict Access:
Choose the individual users you want to restrict. The selected categories will be hidden from these users.
- Exclude Users From Restriction:
Choose the users you want to exclude from the restriction. The selected categories will remain visible to these users.
- Heading:
Define a custom heading for the login/password form that appears on restricted categories. - Details:
Enter a description or instructions that will be displayed above the password/login form. - Category Password:
Set the password required to unlock the protected categories. - Unlock Button Text:
Customize the text displayed on the unlock/login button (e.g., “Submit”, “Access Now”).
After configuring your settings, click Update Settings to save changes.
Note: If both global rules and category-level rules are configured,category-level rules override global rules. If a parent category is locked, all its child categories remain locked until the parent is unlocked.
FAQ’s
1-Does the “WooCommerce Protected Categories” add-on have any dependent plugin(s)?
The “WooCommerce Protected Categories” add-on requires the WooCommerce plugin to be installed before activating it.
2- Can I protect only specific categories while keeping others public?
You can choose which categories to protect from the General Settings tab (bulk protection) or directly from the individual category edit page (category-level protection). Categories not selected remain public.
3- What happens if I apply both global and category-level rules?
Category-level rules always take priority over global rules. Additionally, if a parent category is locked, all of its child categories will remain locked until the parent is unlocked.
4- Can I restrict access based on user roles or individual users?
You can restrict categories for specific user roles or individual users. You can also set exceptions using the “Exclude Users From Restriction” option, which ensures selected users retain access even if the role or category is restricted.
5- How does reCAPTCHA work with protected categories?
You can enable Google reCAPTCHA on the category password form to prevent bots and automated scripts from attempting unauthorized access. You’ll need to add your Site Key and Secret Key from Google’s reCAPTCHA Admin Console for it to work.
Changelog’s
1.0.0
- Initial release.
