By default, WordPress does not offer the ability to control who sees which widgets. This can be limiting when building dynamic, user-focused websites such as directories or membership platforms.
For example, you may want to:
- Show a widget only to users who are logged in.
- Hide a login or registration widget from authenticated users.
- Display certain content exclusively to administrators, authors, or subscribers.
To achieve this, we recommend using the free plugin: If Widget – Visibility Control for Widgets. This plugin allows fine-grained control over when and to whom each widget appears.
How It Works
Once the plugin is installed and activated, a new section called “Visibility” will appear at the bottom of each widget’s settings panel (under Appearance > Widgets or the Customizer).
From there, you can apply conditions to show or hide the widget based on:
- User login status (Logged In / Logged Out)
- User roles (Administrator, Editor, Author, Subscriber, etc.)
- Post types, templates, taxonomies, and more (advanced conditional logic)
Example Use Cases
- Show a “Listing Author” widget only to logged-in users:
Useful for themes like Listify or Jobify, where you don’t want anonymous visitors accessing listing author details. - Hide a “Login” widget after login:
Prevents confusion or redundant options for users who have already signed in. - Display an “Admin Tools” widget only for administrators:
Great for adding quick links to backend settings for site managers without exposing them to general users.
Installation
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “If Widget – Visibility Control for Widgets“.
- Click Install and then Activate.
Next Steps
Once activated, visit Appearance > Widgets or use the WordPress Customizer to open the widget settings. Scroll down to the “Visibility” section and use the dropdown menus to define who can see each widget.
This plugin is especially useful when building custom experiences for different types of users in themes like Listify and Jobify, where user interactivity is essential.
Plugin Link: If Widget – Visibility Control for Widgets (WordPress.org)