How to Configure Access Rules in Your BuddyBoss App

Introduction

Access Rules empower you to tailor your BuddyBoss App’s content to specific member segments. Whether you’re gating premium courses for paying members, hiding draft blog posts from guests, or surfacing custom menus by profile type, Access Rules make it simple to deliver personalized experiences and drive upgrades.

This guide will show you how to enable Access Controls, build Access Groups around your key audiences, and craft rules that restrict login, pages, posts, and LearnDash courses to exactly the members you choose.

Access Rules will be used to restrict content in the app to either:

• All logged-in members
• Members in specific access groups

As a site admin, you will be able to setup access rules for:

• General access to the app
• App Pages
• Pages
• Posts
• Courses (LearnDash)

Go to BuddyBoss App > Access Controls to configure Access Rules.

Tutorial Video

Prerequisite

Ensure Access Controls is enabled on your BuddyBoss App

Configuring General Access

Go to BuddyBoss App > Access Controls > General.

1. Check Restrict Access to require login. With this, only specified groups may enter the app.

2. Select one or more Access Groups (e.g., “Gold Members”).

3. Choose a Restricted Action:
   • Return to Login
   • Show Product Screen
   • Show App Page

4. Click Save Changes.

Note: To lock out all non-logged-in users by default, enable Private App under BuddyBoss App > Settings > General > Privacy.

Restricting App Pages, WordPress Pages & Blog Posts

Switch to the App Pages, Pages, or Posts tab.

1. Click + Add Rule next to the item you wish to protect.

2. From the dropdown, select restriction type:
   
   • All logged-in members
   • Members in specific Access Groups

3. If using groups, select the group(s).
   
4. Choose Default or Custom restricted message:

Note: Custom lets you override title, copy, button action, and enable a content teaser.

5. Click Save.
   

Note: Logged-out users always see the login modal first when trying to access protected content.

Restricting LearnDash Courses

Specific Courses

Go to Courses > Courses.

1. Click + Add Rule for the target course.
   
2. Select restriction (logged-in or by Access Group).
   
3. Click Save.

Categories & Tags

Switch to Courses > Categories & Tags.

1. Add rule for any course Category, Tag, or custom taxonomy.
   
2. Define access conditions and click Save.

All Courses Default

Open Courses > Default Settings.

1. Check Restrict All Courses.
   
2. Select restriction type and Access Group.
   
3. Choose to hide or show restricted courses in directories and blocks.
   
4. Click Save Changes.
   

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Restrict Access isn’t working for some users.
A: Recalculate the group’s membership count. Hover the group in Access Groups and click Recalculate Members.

Q: I don’t see my membership plugin in Access Rules.
A: Ensure that plugin (e.g., Restrict Content Pro) is active. Only enabled integrations appear.

Q: Custom message changes aren’t showing in the app.
A: Force-close and reopen the app to clear cache and fetch updated rules.

Q: Can I protect both a page and its menu entry?
A: Yes, protect the page under Pages, and set up a Menu Rule in BuddyBoss App > Menus using the same group.