Solution to the User Registration Problem in WordPress

Creating a website in WordPress can be challenging, especially when it comes to managing user registrations in different languages. On this occasion, I want to share a specific problem I faced while developing a multilingual site for a Spanish academy in China.

Solution to the User Registration Problem in WordPress

Despite correctly setting the registration options in WordPress, new users could not register on the site. After extensive investigation, I discovered that the root of the problem was in the configuration of an SSL plugin.

Project Context

As mentioned, the website is a Spanish academy that offers exclusive content for registered users and a premium membership. The website needed to be available in multiple languages, including Chinese. Users needed to register to access certain exclusive content, and those with a premium subscription would have access to additional materials.

User Registration Problem

From the beginning, the site had problems with new user registrations. Despite correctly setting the registration options in WordPress, users could not register. I thoroughly checked the files on the FTP, including wp-config.php and .htaccess, without finding the cause of the problem.

Reviewing Code and Configurations

I spent several hours reviewing the site’s code and configurations. I checked all the settings in the WordPress admin panel, ensuring that the “Anyone can register” option was enabled.

However, this option, although marked, never stayed registered. I also reviewed the active plugins to identify any possible conflicts, deactivating and activating the following plugins one by one:

• 3D FlipBook : Dflip Lite
• Avada Builder
• Avada Core
• Code Snippets
• Contact Form 7
• Custom Login Page Customizer
• Classic Editor
• Hide Admin Notices
• Jetpack
• Jetpack Boost
• New User Approve
• Really Simple SSL
• Redirection
• Remove Dashboard Access
• Site Kit by Google
• Toolset Types
• TranslatePress – Multilingual
• WPCode Lite
• WPS Hide Login
• Yoast SEO

Despite these reviews, I found nothing that seemed to be causing the problem.

The SSL Plugin: The Source of the Problem

After much investigation, I discovered that the problem was related to the SSL plugin I was using: Really Simple SSL. This plugin is widely used to handle security and mixed content on WordPress sites, but it has a specific option that can block new user registrations if not configured properly.

Identifying the Problematic Configuration

While exploring the settings of the Really Simple SSL plugin, I found a not very visible option that was preventing new user registrations. Although the user registration was enabled in the WordPress settings, this option in the plugin was overriding those settings.

Resolving the Problem

To solve the problem, I took the following steps:

• Accessed the settings of the Really Simple SSL plugin.
• Searched for the option related to handling user registrations.
• Disabled any option that might be blocking new user registrations.
• Saved the changes and tested the registration process again.

After making these adjustments, new users could register without any issues. This change immediately solved the problem and allowed both free and premium users to register and access the academy’s exclusive content.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught me several important lessons:

• Review all plugin settings: Sometimes, the least visible options can have a significant impact on the site’s functionality.
• Documentation and support: It is crucial to review documentation and seek help in the plugin’s support forums to identify known issues and solutions.
• Exhaustive testing: Conducting detailed tests after each configuration change can help quickly identify the source of a problem.

Recommendations for WordPress Administrators

If you are managing a multilingual site in WordPress and face similar issues, here are some recommendations:

• Use quality plugins: Really Simple SSL is an excellent option for handling SSL in WordPress, but make sure you understand all its settings.
• Maintain regular backups: Before making significant changes, ensure you have a backup of your site to restore it in case of any issues.
• Monitor error logs: Use monitoring tools to review server and site error logs, which can provide valuable clues about the cause of problems.

In conclusion, solving user registration problems on a multilingual WordPress site can be complicated, but with patience and a meticulous review of all settings, it is possible to find a solution. Proper use of plugins and understanding their specific settings are key to maintaining site functionality and security.

Marketing Expert

I hope this experience is useful to you and helps you avoid or solve similar problems in your WordPress projects. If not, you can always write to me and I will respond quickly ;)

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