---
title: Restricting Logins for Unverified Users in WooCommerce
description: Block unverified users from logging in to WooCommerce until they click their activation link.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/restrict-unverified-logins/"
updated: "2026-09-26"
category: How to
tags:
  - Email Verification for WooCommerce
---

# Restricting Logins for Unverified Users in WooCommerce

To block unverified users from logging in, keep **Block unverified login** on at **WPFactory > Email Verification** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Email Verification**) > **General** in [Customer Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/). It is on by default and free. Until a customer clicks their activation link, a login attempt is refused and shows the **Error** message with a resend link.

![Block unverified login option on the General sub-tab](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/article3.png)

## Step-by-step

1. Go to **WPFactory > Email Verification** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Email Verification**) and open the **General** sub-tab.
2. Find **Block unverified login** (option `alg_wc_ev_block_unverified_login`, on by default) and tick **Block login from unverified users**.
3. Check **Ignore user roles**. Roles listed there (administrator by default) never need to verify.
4. Click **Save changes**.

## Related login options

| Label | Sub-tab | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Login on activation | General | Yes | Free |
| Pre-plugin users (demand verification from accounts created before the plugin) | General | No | Free |
| Redirect on failure | General | No | Free |
| Prevent login after register | Advanced | Yes | Free |
| Prevent login after checkout | Advanced | Yes | Free |
| Log out unverified users on "My Account" page / on every page | Blocking | No | Free |

## What the customer sees

- An unverified user who tries to log in is refused and shown the **Error** message from the **Messages** sub-tab.
- That message can include the `%resend_verification_url%` placeholder so they can request a fresh activation email.
- After they click the activation link, **Login on activation** signs them in automatically.
- With **Redirect on failure** on, the refused user is sent to your custom URL, with `?alg_wc_ev_email_verified_error` added.

## If verification should be optional

If you turn **Block unverified login** off, verification becomes optional. In that case you will usually want to:

- Reword the **Activate** message on the **Messages** sub-tab so it no longer says login is blocked.
- Turn off the login prevention options on the **Advanced** sub-tab.
- Show verification status on the account page with the **My Account page** option. See [How to Display Verification Information](https://wpfactory.com/docs/display-verification-info/).

## If unverified users can still log in

- **Their role is ignored:** remove it from **Ignore user roles**.
- **The account is older than the plugin:** turn on **Pre-plugin users**. Without it, existing accounts count as verified.
- **A custom login form bypasses the check:** open the **Advanced** sub-tab and enable **Block auth cookies**, or switch the **Authenticate filter** to `authenticate`. The `authenticate` filter also shows the verification error before an "incorrect password" error.
- **They were already logged in:** enable **Log out unverified users on every page** on the Blocking sub-tab.

## FAQ

### Is blocking unverified logins free?

Yes. Block unverified login and all options in the table above are in the free version.

### Will this lock me out as an admin?

No. The administrator role is in Ignore user roles by default.

### Can I verify a user manually so they can log in?

Yes, from the Users screen. See [Managing User Verification from the Admin Panel](https://wpfactory.com/docs/manage-user-verification/).

### Get more control

Blocking unverified logins is free. [Customer Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/) Pro adds checkout and cart blocking, editable email content, link expiry and third-party integrations. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/).

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [Email Verification support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Restricting Checkout and Cart Access for Unverified Users](https://wpfactory.com/docs/restrict-checkout-access/)
- [How to Delete Unverified Users in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-delete-unverified-users/)
- [How to Restrict Unverified Users with the Blocking Settings](https://wpfactory.com/docs/control-user-access/)
- [How to Verify Users via the REST API](https://wpfactory.com/docs/email-verification-rest-api-verify-endpoint/)
- [How to Verify Guest Users at Checkout in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-verify-guest-users-checkout/)

 

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