About this plugin
Role Membership Access for WooCommerce lets you restrict WooCommerce product visibility, purchasing, add-to-cart, cart, and checkout access based on WordPress user roles.
You can:
* Restrict access using Category Allowed Roles (Products → Categories).
* Restrict access using Product Allowed Roles with Access Mode (Products → Edit Product).
* Prevent unauthorized users from:
– Viewing restricted products in the shop/catalog (theme dependent, hardened via filters)
– Adding restricted products to cart
– Purchasing restricted products
– Completing checkout if restricted products are in cart
The plugin provides:
* A WooCommerce Settings tab: WooCommerce → Settings → WooRole Access
* Per-category role restrictions
* Per-product role restrictions with Access Mode (Inherit / Manual / Combine)
* Multi-category conflict strategy options (Union / Intersection / Priority Category)
* Optional redirect for unauthorized users
* A reliable inline notice shown above product title (supports block themes)
Setup / Configuration
Step 1: Configure global plugin settings
Go to:
WooCommerce → Settings → WooRole Access
Available settings:
1. Restriction Message
– The message displayed when a user is blocked.
2. Redirect Unauthorized Users
– If enabled, blocked users will be redirected to the URL below.
3. Redirect URL
– Recommended: My Account page or a custom “Join Membership” page.
4. Restricted Product Page Behavior
– What a visitor without access sees when they open a restricted product page directly:
– Teaser (default): page stays visible, but price/description and add-to-cart are hidden
– Hide completely: shows a 404 Not Found page
– Redirect: sends the visitor to the Redirect URL above
5. Multi-Category Strategy
– Determines behavior when a product belongs to multiple restricted categories:
– Union (OR): allowed roles from any restricted category (recommended default)
– Intersection (AND): user must match all restricted categories
– Priority Category: use only the product’s “Primary Category”
Step 2: Restrict categories (recommended first)
Go to:
Products → Categories → Add/Edit Category
Set:
Allowed Roles (multi-select)
Behavior:
* If a category has Allowed Roles set, products in that category are restricted depending on their Product Access Mode.
Step 3: Restrict individual products (when needed)
Go to:
Products → Edit Product → Product data → General
Fields:
1. Access Mode
– Inherit from Categories (default)
– Manual Override
– Combine (Manual + Categories)
2. Allowed Roles (Manual)
– Used only for Manual Override or Combine
3. Primary Category (for Priority Strategy)
– Used only when global Multi-Category Strategy = Priority Category
How Access Mode Works
Inherit from Categories
The product uses category Allowed Roles only.
* If no categories have restrictions, product is unrestricted.
Manual Override
The product ignores category restrictions and uses Allowed Roles (Manual) only.
Combine (Manual + Categories)
The product is accessible if the user matches either:
* Product manual roles OR
* Category roles
Multi-Category Strategy (Conflict Handling)
When a product belongs to multiple categories with different Allowed Roles:
1) Union (OR)
– Allowed roles are combined from all restricted categories.
– Prevents accidental lockouts. Recommended for most stores.
2) Intersection (AND)
– Allowed roles are the overlap of restricted category roles.
– Can lock products if categories disagree (use carefully).
3) Priority Category
– Only one category drives access.
– Select a Primary Category in product settings.
– Optionally set a Default Primary Category globally to reduce per-product setup.
Blocking Behavior
If a user is not authorized:
* Product may be hidden from catalog (theme dependent)
* User cannot add to cart
* User cannot proceed with checkout if restricted items are in the cart
* Notice is injected above the product title (block-theme friendly)
* Optional redirect can be enabled
Example: Restrict a Category to Subscriber Only
- Go to Products → Categories
- Edit the category (example: “Members Only”)
- In Allowed Roles, select: subscriber
- Save
All products in that category will be restricted based on their Access Mode:
– Inherit: category restriction applies
– Manual: product manual roles apply instead
– Combine: both apply
Example: Restrict a Product to Editor Only
- Go to Products → Edit Product
- Product Data → General
- Access Mode: Manual Override
- Allowed Roles (Manual): editor
- Save
Result: only users with editor role can view/purchase.
Privacy Policy
Role Membership Access for WooCommerce does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data.
This plugin operates entirely within the WordPress and WooCommerce environment and uses existing user roles and product/category settings to control access.
No data is sent to external servers.
No tracking, analytics, or cookies are added by this plugin.
No personal or sensitive user information is stored outside of WordPress.
If you choose to use optional external links (such as PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee), you will be redirected to third-party services that operate under their own privacy policies.
For questions or concerns, please visit:
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