So you’ve got Ultimate Member installed and you’re ready to make it your own? Perfect! This configuration guide will walk you through all the important settings and help you customize everything to match your site’s needs.
I’ll cover everything from basic settings to advanced configurations. Don’t worry if some sections don’t apply to your site right now – you can always come back later as your needs grow.
General Settings Overview
Let’s start with the general settings. These control the overall behavior of Ultimate Member on your site:
- Go to Ultimate Member → Settings → General
- Here you’ll find options for site key, page setup, and general options
- Most of these are set correctly by default, but let’s review the important ones
The site key is important for security – make sure it’s unique. If you’re running multiple sites, each should have a different site key.
Pages Configuration
Ultimate Member needs several pages to function properly. Let’s make sure they’re all set up correctly:
Required Pages
- Login Page – Where users log in
- Registration Page – Where new users sign up
- Account Page – User account management
- User Page – Public user profiles
- Password Reset Page – For forgotten passwords
- Logout Page – Handles user logout
To configure these, go to Ultimate Member → Settings → Pages. Make sure each page is assigned correctly. If any are missing, click “Create Pages” to generate them automatically.
Form Builder Configuration
The form builder is one of Ultimate Member’s most powerful features. Here’s how to get the most out of it:
Creating Custom Forms
You can create multiple registration and profile forms for different purposes:
- Go to Ultimate Member → Forms
- Click “Add New”
- Choose the form type (Registration or Profile)
- Use the drag-and-drop builder to add fields
- Configure each field’s settings
- Save your form
Field Types Available
Ultimate Member offers many field types:
- Text fields (single line, multiline)
- Select dropdowns
- Radio buttons
- Checkboxes
- Date pickers
- File uploads
- And many more
Each field can be customized with labels, placeholders, validation rules, and conditional logic. Take time to explore the options – you’ll be surprised how flexible it is.
User Roles Setup
User roles are crucial for managing different types of members. Here’s how to configure them:
Default Roles
Ultimate Member comes with a default “Member” role. You can modify this or create new roles:
- Go to Ultimate Member → User Roles
- Click on a role to edit it, or click “Add New”
- Set the role name and permissions
- Configure what users with this role can do
Role Permissions
For each role, you can set:
- Which pages they can access
- What content they can view
- Whether they can post or comment
- Profile visibility settings
- And much more
Think carefully about what each role needs. It’s better to start restrictive and add permissions later than to give too much access initially.
Member Directory Configuration
Member directories help users find and connect with each other. Here’s how to set them up:
Creating a Directory
- Go to Ultimate Member → Member Directories
- Click “Add New”
- Choose which roles to display
- Select which fields to show
- Configure search and filter options
- Set display settings (grid or list view)
Directory Features
You can enable various features in your directory:
- Search functionality
- Filters by role or custom fields
- Sorting options
- Pagination
- Profile cards or list view
Experiment with different layouts to see what works best for your community.
Content Restriction Settings
One of Ultimate Member’s key features is content restriction. You can protect pages, posts, or entire sections of your site:
Restricting Content
There are several ways to restrict content:
- By Role – Only certain roles can view
- By Login Status – Only logged-in users
- By Individual User – Specific users only
Setting Up Restrictions
- Edit the page or post you want to restrict
- Look for the “Ultimate Member” meta box
- Choose your restriction settings
- Set a custom message for non-authorized users
- Save your changes
You can also set global restrictions in Ultimate Member → Settings → Access. This is useful for protecting entire sections of your site.
Email Configuration
Email notifications keep your users informed. Let’s configure them properly:
Email Templates
Ultimate Member sends several types of emails:
- Welcome emails
- Password reset emails
- Account activation emails
- Profile update notifications
You can customize all of these in Ultimate Member → Settings → Email. Each template can be edited with your own text and branding.
Email Settings
Make sure to configure:
- From name and email address
- Email template styling
- Which emails to send
- Email content and formatting
Professional-looking emails build trust with your members. Take time to customize them.
Advanced Configuration Options
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you might want to explore advanced options:
Custom CSS
Ultimate Member → Settings → Appearance lets you add custom CSS to style your forms and profiles. This is great for matching your theme exactly.
Developer Options
If you’re a developer, check out Ultimate Member → Settings → Advanced. Here you’ll find options for:
- Debugging
- Custom code snippets
- API settings
- Performance optimization
Testing Your Configuration
After making changes, always test:
- Create a test account
- Try registering with different forms
- Test login and logout
- Check profile pages
- Test content restrictions
- Verify email notifications
It’s much easier to catch issues now than after you have real users. Be thorough with your testing.
Common Configuration Mistakes
Here are some things to watch out for:
Not Setting Up Pages Correctly
Make sure all required pages are created and assigned. Missing pages will cause errors.
Overcomplicating Forms
Keep forms simple. Too many fields or complex conditional logic can confuse users and reduce signups.
Forgetting Mobile Users
Test everything on mobile devices. Many users will access your site from phones, so make sure forms and profiles work well on small screens.
Next Steps
You’ve now configured the core features of Ultimate Member! Here’s what you might want to explore next:
- Premium extensions for advanced features
- Customizing the appearance to match your brand
- Setting up automated workflows
- Integrating with other plugins
Remember, configuration is an ongoing process. As your site grows, you’ll discover new needs and want to adjust settings. That’s perfectly normal – Ultimate Member is designed to grow with you.
Final Tips
Before we wrap up, here are a few final tips:
- Backup your site before making major configuration changes
- Document your settings – you might forget why you configured something a certain way
- Test changes on a staging site if possible
- Don’t be afraid to experiment – you can always change things back
Configuration might seem overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll see how powerful and flexible Ultimate Member really is. Take your time, test thoroughly, and don’t hesitate to explore all the options available to you.