In some cases, simply hiding the admin bar isn’t enough. You may want to completely restrict access to the WordPress dashboard (/wp-admin/) for users who aren’t meant to use it.
With Hide Admin Bar Pro, you can automatically redirect users away from the backend when their admin bar is hidden — ensuring they stay on the frontend or a public-facing page.
Use Cases #
- Prevent non-admin users from accessing
/wp-admin/ - Redirect LMS students or WooCommerce customers away from backend profile pages
- Improve UX by sending users to the homepage or custom dashboard instead of the WordPress backend
How to Enable Redirect Behavior #
1. Open Plugin Settings #
Navigate to:
Settings → Hide Admin Bar Settings
2. Locate the Setting: #
Redirect Users When Admin Bar is Hidden
This is a Pro-only checkbox.
3. Enable the Option #
Check the box to activate redirection logic.
4. Save Changes #
Click Save Changes to apply.
What Happens When Enabled? #
If a user’s admin bar is hidden (based on any rule: role, user, time, etc.) and they try to access a backend page (/wp-admin/...), they will be automatically redirected to your site’s homepage (or another fallback URL in future versions).
Technical Notes #
- Redirect is handled on the
admin_inithook - AJAX requests and logged-in admins are excluded
- Only applies to users affected by visibility rules
FAQs #
Can I change the redirect destination?
Not yet — the default is your site’s homepage. This will be customizable in a future update.
Will this block admin users?
No — only users whose admin bar is hidden will be redirected.
Can I whitelist certain backend pages?
Currently not — this is an all-or-nothing setting. More granular control is on the roadmap.
