Google reCAPTCHA
This documentation provides comprehensive instructions on enhancing spam protection for your registration and login forms through the incorporation of the free Google reCAPTCHA extension.
Installing & activating
To seamlessly integrate the Google reCAPTCHA extension into your site, follow the step-by-step process below:
- Download the plugin zip folder from the WordPress plugins catalog.
- Install the plugin by navigating to "Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin."
- On the upload plugin page, click the "Choose File" button and select the Google reCAPTCHA zip folder from your computer.
- Once the file
um-recaptcha.zip
appears on the screen, initiate the installation by clicking the "Install Now" button. - Wait for the "Plugin Installed Successfully" message.
- Complete the activation by clicking the "Activate Plugin" link.
Site & Secret Keys:
Upon activation, you will be redirected to the installed plugins page with the following notice:
To enable the Google reCAPTCHA extension on your site, generate the necessary site and secret keys. If you already possess these keys, you can skip this section. If not, click the "Generate Your Site and Secret Key" button to be redirected to the official Google reCAPTCHA website.
Generating Your Site & Secret Key:
- Register your domain.
- Click on v3 Admin Console and the plus sign button to create a new Google reCAPTCHA for your site or domain or simply go to this link: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/admin/create
- Enter a label for this application (e.g., your site name).
- Choose the type of reCAPTCHA (v2 or v3, with v3 recommended for new applications).
- Enter your site's domain name (without httр:// or www prefix and without a forward slash / at the end).
- Add an additional owner if needed.
- Accept the reCAPTCHA Terms of Service.
- Click the "Submit" button.
- Your application will be registered, copy your site key and secret key from the overview page. You may see these keys later in reCAPTCHA settings (under the gear icon) in the dropdown section "reCAPTCHA keys".
Settings Page:
Once you have the required keys, proceed as follows:
- Open your site and navigate to
wp-admin > Ultimate Member > Settings > Extensions > Google reCAPTCHA
. - Enable the reCAPTCHA feature by checking on "Enable Google reCAPTCHA" checkbox.
- Select the reCAPTCHA type specified during your application.
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Note: Update the keys if you change the reCAPTCHA type. Keys generated for reCAPTCHA v2 don't work with reCAPTCHA v3.
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Note: If you chose reCAPTCHA v3, the reCAPTCHA will only appear in the form if a bot or AI submits the form.
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- Enter your Site Key and Secret Key in the next two settings.
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Note: The reCAPTCHA will not display until you enter the keys. The incorrect key(s) will trigger an error on the forms where the reCAPTCHA should be.
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- Once the correct keys are entered, the reCAPTCHA will appear in your registration and login forms. Additional settings are available to toggle the reCAPTCHA feature in the Password Reset form and on default WordPress forms.
Turn On/Off reCAPTCHA for Certain Forms:
The extension provides the flexibility to show or hide the reCAPTCHA on a performance basis. Follow these steps:
- Edit the desired form by going to
wp-admin > Ultimate Member > Forms
. - Choose the desired form and click "Edit."
- In the Google reCAPTCHA widget, toggle the feature on or off.
- Update the form.
Setup Complete:
Congratulations! You have successfully added the official Google reCAPTCHA to your site. For any further inquiries about this extension, feel free to ask in the Google reCAPTCHA extension forum.