---
title: Activate Accounts Only for Paying Customers in WooCommerce
description: "Keep WooCommerce customer accounts inactive until they place a paid order with Block non-paying users."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/activate-accounts-on-payment/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
tags:
  - Email Verification for WooCommerce
---

# Activate Accounts Only for Paying Customers in WooCommerce

To activate accounts only for paying customers, go to WPFactory > Email Verification (also reachable at WooCommerce > Settings > Email Verification), open the Blocking sub-tab, and tick Block non-paying users. Customer Email Verification for WooCommerce then blocks the activation link until the customer has an order considered paid. The block is free; holding the activation email is Pro.

![Block non-paying users options on the Blocking sub-tab](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/13.1.png)

### Before you start

- WooCommerce, active.
- [Customer Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/), installed and active.
- This works best when customers register during checkout, so they can place a paying order with the same email they need to activate.

### Where to find it

Go to **WPFactory > Email Verification** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Email Verification**) and open the **Blocking** sub-tab. Scroll to the **Block non-paying users** section.

**Note:** this section is on the **Blocking** sub-tab, not the General sub-tab. A related but separate option, **Paying customers** (`alg_wc_ev_auto_verify_paying_user`) on the General sub-tab, does the opposite: it auto-verifies a customer as soon as one of their non-free orders is paid.

### Options reference

| Label | Option ID | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Block non-paying users | `alg_wc_ev_block_nonpaying_users_activation` | No | Free |
| Activation email | `alg_wc_ev_block_nonpaying_users_activation_email_on_payment` | No | Pro |
| Role checking | `alg_wc_ev_block_nonpaying_users_activation_role` | Customer | Free |
| Error notice | `alg_wc_ev_block_nonpaying_users_activation_error_notice` | Built-in text | Free |

### How it decides who is a paying customer

- **Block non-paying users** blocks the activation link until the customer places an order whose status is considered paid. The plugin treats the **Completed** status as paid for this check.
- Already verified users are never blocked.
- **Role checking** limits the block to the roles you select. Leave it on **Customer** in most cases, or clear it to apply the block to every role.
- **Activation email**, when enabled, holds the activation email back until a non-free order is paid, so no email goes out for an unpaid registration.
- **Error notice** is shown when a blocked user tries to log in or activate. It accepts the `%resend_verification_url%` placeholder.

### Step-by-step

1. Open the **Blocking** sub-tab and find **Block non-paying users**.
2. Tick **Block activation link until the customer places an order and its status is considered paid**.
3. Set **Role checking** (usually **Customer**).
4. Optionally enable **Activation email** so the email is sent only after payment, and edit the **Error notice**.
5. Click **Save changes**.

### Get more control

Blocking non-paying users is free. [Customer Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/) Pro adds the payment-triggered activation email here, plus guest checkout verification, the REST API endpoint and scheduled cleanup of unverified users. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Configuring Email Delivery for Customer Verification](https://wpfactory.com/docs/setup-verification-emails/)
- [Cart Emptied After a Customer Registers](https://wpfactory.com/docs/email-verification-cart-emptied-after-registration/)
- [Verification Link Does Not Verify the Account](https://wpfactory.com/docs/users-cannot-verify/)
- [How to Install and Set Up Customer Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/install-email-verification/)
- [How to Delete Unverified Users in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-delete-unverified-users/)

 

[![Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Email-Verification-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/)