How to Add a Password Request to Protected WordPress Content

When visitors reach a password protected WordPress content (i.e., a WordPress page, post, category, product, etc.) without credentials, they need a way to request access. Otherwise, they’ll leave without a second thought.

Password Protected solves this problem with its Request Password feature. Visitors can request access by clicking the Request for Password link and submitting their email address. You can then review each request, approve or reject it, and send approved visitors a password.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to add a password request feature to WordPress, customize the request form and email templates, manage access requests, and handle password reactivation.

What Is the Request Password Feature in Password Protected?

The Request Password feature in Password Protected Pro lets visitors request access to a password protected WordPress site when they don’t have the password. Instead of contacting you through a separate form or email, they can submit their email address directly from the protected page.

When a visitor clicks the Request for password link below the password field, a short form asks for their email address. The visitor submits the email address, and the request appears in your WordPress dashboard for review.

You can approve or reject each request. When you approve a request, Password Protected generates a password. You can then send it to the visitor using the Send Password Email action.

The feature also supports reactivation requests when a visitor reaches the password’s usage limit or expiration date.

Here’s how the Request Password workflow works:

1. A visitor opens a password protected site.
2. The visitor clicks Request for password and submits an email address.
3. Visitor recieves an email and verifies the submission.
4. Now you can review the request and approve or reject it from your WordPress dashboard.
5. If you approve the request, you can send the visitor the generated password.

The Request Password feature gives visitors a clear way to request access while keeping the final approval decision in your hands.

Why Allow Visitors to Request a Password?

Password protection limits access to selected content, but visitors still need a clear way to request permission. The Request Password feature helps you manage those requests without handling every inquiry manually.

1. Control Who Gets Access

You don’t have to share a password with everyone who asks. Review each request in your WordPress dashboard and approve only the visitors you want to access your protected content.

This workflow works well for private resources, client materials, internal documents, and other content that requires administrator approval.

2. Give Visitors a Clear Access Request Process

Without a request option, visitors may have to contact you through a separate form or email address. The Request Password feature places the request option directly on the protected page, so visitors know what to do next.

3. Manage Requests From WordPress

The Requests screen lets you review submitted email addresses, requested content, request statuses, and submission dates. You can review the submitted email address, requested content, request status, and date and time before deciding what to do.

4. Apply Password Usage Limits and Expiration

Password Protected Pro can generate passwords with usage limits and expiration settings. These controls help you manage how long an issued password remains valid and how many times visitors can use it.

5. Handle Reactivation Requests

Visitors can request password reactivation after reaching the usage limit or expiration date. You can then use the Resend Password Email action in the Request Password section to send the password again.

How to Add a Password Request Feature to WordPress in 3 Steps

You can add a Request Password option to a protected WordPress site so visitors can request access without contacting you separately. Follow these three steps to enable the feature, configure its email notifications, and manage incoming password requests.

Step 1: Install and Activate Password Protected Pro

🚨 NOTE: Request Password is a premium feature, but Password Protected Pro requires the free Password Protected plugin, so install and activate both to use all premium features, including Request Password.

Start by installing the free plugin, then activate the Pro version.

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to Plugins → Add Plugin.

3. Search for Password Protected.

4. Click Install Now, then Activate.

5. Go to the Password Protected pricing page and purchase the Business plan.
6. Download the Pro plugin ZIP file from the purchase email or account.
7. Navigate to Plugins → Add Plugin → Upload Plugin.

8. Upload the ZIP file, click Install Now, and activate the plugin.

9. Enter your license key and click Activate License.

After activation, open the Password Protected dashboard to access the Pro features.

Step 2: Enable Password Requests and Customize Labels

If you haven’t protected your content yet, first follow the relevant guide to protect your entire WordPress site.

After password protecting your entire site, enable password requests in the plugin settings.

1. Open your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Password Protected → Request Password.

3. Find the Enable Password Requests option.

4. Turn on the option and customize the labels as needed.
5. Click Save Changes.

The plugin will display a “Request for Password text” with a hyperlink on supported password protected content.

Before testing the feature, confirm that you’ve already protected the relevant content. Password requests let you ask for access; they don’t replace the underlying password protection settings.

If you need to protect a group of posts, see the guide to protecting WordPress categories and taxonomies.

Step 3: Customize the Email Templates

Password Protected Pro lets you customize the email template involved in the access approval process. Clear instructions help visitors understand what happens after they submit a request.

1. Open Password Protected → Request Password → Email Templates.

Password Protected Pro provides three email templates for the request workflow:

• Validation Email: Sent to visitors so they can verify their email addresses.
• Password Request Notification Email: Notifies the administrator about a password request.
• Send Password/Content Access Email: Delivers the password to a visitor after the administrator approves the request and initiates password delivery.

Customize each template to match your website’s tone and explain the next action clearly.

2. Use placeholders in email templates.

The email templates support placeholders that insert information into the message automatically.

Placeholder	Purpose
{site_name}	Displays your website’s name.
{validation_link}	Inserts the email verification link.
{requested_content}	Identifies the requested page or post.
{user_email_address}	Inserts the visitor’s submitted email address.
{status}	Displays the request status, such as Approved or Rejected.

3. Use the placeholders supported by the relevant template. 
4. Click on Save Settings.

What Visitors See After Enabling Password Requests

Once you enable the Request Password feature, visitors can request access directly from your password-protected page.

1. Request Password link

Visitors see the Request for Password link below the password field. They can click it if they don’t have the password and want to request access.

2. Password request form

Clicking the link opens a short form where visitors can enter their email address to request access to the protected content.

3. Request submission confirmation

After submitting the form, visitors see a confirmation screen indicating that they’ve submitted their request. They may need to verify their email address before you can review the request in your WordPress dashboard.

How to Review, Approve, or Reject Password Requests in WordPress

Once visitors submit their requests, manage them from the Password Protected dashboard.

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Password Protected → Request Password → Requests.

3. Review the requests listed in the dashboard.
4. Click Approve or Reject, depending on your decision.

5. If approved, you can now click the “Send Password Email” button to send the password email.

Approve a Password Request

When you approve a request, the plugin changes its status from Pending to Approved and generates a password in the multiple-password management area.

The administrator can then use the Send Email Password action to deliver the password to the visitor.

Review the requested content and email address before sending the password. Approval and password delivery are separate actions in this workflow, so confirm that you’ve completed both.

Reject a Password Request

If you don’t want to grant access, reject the request from the request management screen. The plugin records the decision in the request status.

You can also customize the relevant notification email to explain the outcome clearly. Avoid including sensitive information in rejection messages.

Let Visitors Request Access Without Giving Up Control

A password protected page shouldn’t leave visitors without a clear next step. Password Protected Pro’s Request Password feature lets visitors request access while administrators decide who receives a password.

Enable password requests, customize the form and email templates, and review requests from your WordPress dashboard. You can also manage password usage limits and handle reactivation requests through the same workflow.

Need to manage access requests on your WordPress site? 

Get Password Protected Pro to let visitors request access to your protected WordPress content while you control who receives a password.

Frequently Asked Questions