Ever wished you could keep certain WordPress pages private—whether for unfinished content, exclusive member areas, or personal notes? Knowing how to hide pages from visitors or search engines is key to managing your site’s privacy and user experience.
Understanding the best ways to conceal pages helps you control what content gets seen and when. In this article, you’ll find straightforward steps, practical tips, and expert insights for hiding WordPress pages with ease.
How to Hide Pages on WordPress: A Complete Guide
Do you have pages on your WordPress site you’d rather keep out of public view? Whether it’s a thank-you page, a work-in-progress, or a page meant for client eyes only, WordPress offers several easy ways to hide pages from your visitors—all without needing any coding skills. This guide walks you through the most effective methods, offers practical tips, and covers best practices to help you manage your website content with confidence.
Why You Might Want to Hide a Page
Before diving into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” There are many scenarios when hiding a page makes sense:
- You’re building a page for a future product launch.
- You want to create a private client area.
- You need landing pages for specific ad campaigns.
- You want to keep system or thank-you pages away from public navigation.
- You’re editing an old page but don’t want to delete or unpublish it.
5 Simple Methods to Hide Pages in WordPress
Here are the most straightforward and reliable ways to hide a page in WordPress. Each method fits different needs, so you can pick the one that works best for your situation.
1. Exclude Pages from Navigation Menus
By default, WordPress adds pages to your menu automatically. If you want to keep a page “live” but make it less discoverable, simply remove it from your site’s menus.
Steps:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and click on “Appearance” > “Menus.”
- Find the page you want to hide in the menu structure.
- Click the dropdown arrow next to the page item.
- Click “Remove.”
- Save the menu.
Benefit:
The page still exists and can be accessed if someone knows the URL, but most visitors won’t stumble across it.
Tip:
This method is great for thank-you pages or landing pages you use with email campaigns.
2. Set the Page Visibility to Private or Password Protected
WordPress lets you restrict access to individual pages using visibility settings.
Steps:
- Edit the page you want to hide.
- In the right sidebar, find the “Visibility” option (usually under “Publish” or “Status & visibility”).
-
Choose between “Private” or “Password Protected.”
-
Private: Only users who are logged in with the right permissions (like admins and editors) can view the page.
- Password Protected: Anyone who has the password can view the page.
Benefit:
Perfect for client content, drafts, or internal documentation.
Challenge:
Private pages don’t work for everyone—visitors will see a “Not Found” error if they try to access it. Password-protected pages require you to share the password with the right people.
3. Use Plugins to Hide Pages
There are several plugins that add more hiding options and flexibility, such as hiding pages from search engines or excluding them from sitemaps. Popular ones include “WP Hide Post,” “AIOSEO,” or “Nav Menu Roles.”
Steps (Generic Plugin Approach):
- Go to “Plugins” > “Add New.”
- Search for a suitable hiding plugin.
- Install and activate the plugin.
- Follow the plugin’s settings to hide the desired page from menus, search, or sitemaps.
Benefits:
– You get granular control—hide from navigation, internal search, or even search engines.
– Many plugins are free, though some offer premium features.
Tip:
Always check plugin compatibility and reviews before installing.
4. Use Noindex to Hide Pages from Search Engines
Sometimes, you want a page visible to people with the link, but you don’t want search engines (like Google) to index it. This is ideal for landing or confirmation pages.
Steps:
- Install an SEO plugin (e.g., Yoast, Rank Math, or AIOSEO).
- Open the SEO settings for the page you want to hide.
- Find the option to set the page as “noindex.”
- Save the page.
Benefit:
Search engines won’t list the page, so it’s unlikely to be found via search.
Best Practice:
Combine this with removing the page from navigation for extra privacy.
5. Restrict Page Access Using Membership or User Role Plugins
If you’re managing a membership site or need advanced control, use plugins that restrict pages based on user roles (e.g., Members, MemberPress, Restrict Content).
Steps:
- Install your membership/user role plugin of choice.
- Create rules for which user roles can view the page.
- Assign roles to your users as needed.
Benefit:
Ideal for online courses, private blog posts, or exclusive client areas.
Challenge:
Some plugins require a paid license for advanced features, so consider your budget.
Frequently Overlooked Mistakes When Hiding Pages
While hiding a page on WordPress is straightforward, there are a few pitfalls to avoid:
– Forgetting to Hide from Search: Excluding a page from navigation doesn’t prevent search engines from indexing it.
– Leaking Links in Other Content: If you link to your hidden page from public posts, it’s still discoverable.
– Misconfiguring Password Protection: Choose strong, unique passwords and share them securely.
– Ignoring User Permissions: Make sure that private pages are only visible to the intended roles.
Practical Tips & Best Practices
- Always test as a visitor: Log out or open a private browser window to see what regular visitors experience.
- Use strong passwords: For password-protected pages, avoid common or guessable words.
- Audit your menus and widgets: Hidden pages can sometimes appear in widgets, related posts, or breadcrumbs—double-check these!
- Update your sitemaps: If you use SEO plugins, resubmit your sitemap after major changes for search engines to recognize the updates.
- Monitor for outdated links: If you change the status of a page often, keep track to avoid broken or orphaned links.
Cost Tips
Most ways to hide pages on WordPress are free:
– Built-in options like menu editing and privacy settings cost nothing.
– Plugins: Many are free, but advanced functionality (like detailed user permissions or membership levels) may require a paid subscription. Prices range from $30 to $200 per year for premium versions.
– Time investment: Plugins save you time but add small maintenance needs, whereas manual methods are instant but may be less flexible for large sites.
Summary
Hiding pages on WordPress is easy—even if you’re a beginner. Whether you simply want to remove a page from your menus, add some password protection, or keep the search engines away, WordPress has you covered. With free built-in tools, helpful plugins, and a few best practices, you can control exactly who sees what on your site. Remember to test each method as a visitor and regularly update your navigation and sitemaps to keep your site tidy and secure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I make a page private on WordPress?
Edit the page, find the “Visibility” setting in the sidebar, and choose “Private.” Only site admins and editors will see the page, and regular visitors will get a “Not Found” message.
Will search engines find my hidden page if it’s not in the menu?
Yes, unless you set the page to “noindex” using an SEO plugin or restrict access, search engines can still index your page if there are links pointing to it.
Can I hide specific pages from logged-in users or certain roles?
Yes. Use membership or user role management plugins to control access so that only people with the desired role can see certain pages.
What’s the difference between password-protecting and making a page private?
A private page hides content from anyone who’s not logged in as an admin or editor. Password protection shows the page but requires a password—and any visitor with the password can access it.
Do I need to install a plugin to hide pages?
Not always. You can use WordPress’s built-in visibility settings or remove pages from menus manually. Plugins are helpful if you need more control, like hiding pages from search engines or setting up user-based restrictions.
With these methods and tips, you can customize your WordPress site’s visibility and keep any page as public or private as you like. Happy editing!