Tag Archives: Plugins

How To Show/Hide WordPress Menus With Conditional Statements?

You can use each item of WordPress menus with your conditional statements. The plugin allows visibility features to all WordPress menus you manage from the dashboard’s appearance section. It allows you to display or hide menus based on conditional statements such as show/hide this menu if the page is a single page, if a user is logged in etc.

To start, first install and activate the If Menu plugin then visit your area Dashboard -> Appearance -> Menus page and select a menu from the ‘Select a menu to edit‘ drop box. [Read: How To Create & Manage WordPress Menus?]

Let’s say you want to add a ‘Login’ link in your navigation menu but you want to show it only to logged-out users (as it is of no use for logged-in users) then first add the custom login to your menu structure and tick ‘Enable Conditional Logic ‘ checkbox.

As you tick this option it starts showing a show/hide dropdown box with if conditional logic options as shown in the given screenshot. Now select a show or hide option and then choose your visibility conditions.

How To Use Conditional Statements With WordPress Menus?

In the above example, we have selected the hide option with the conditional statement ‘if a user is logged in’ to make the login button automatically disappear for all logged-in users. Alternatively, in the above-given case, we can also use the ‘show’ option for all ‘logged out’ users.

The plugin lets you set basic visibility rules such as the user is logged in, its user role, the page type (front page, archive page, search page single page or post), or the visitor device is mobile. It also offers a premium version with an advanced set of visibility rules such as the visitor’s location, visitor’s language, based on WooCommerce subscriptions or memberships, his WishList, and its subscription level.

How To Hide Dashboard Menu Items From Subsite Admins In WordPress?

Do you want to hide some specific admin menu items from subsite administrators on your WordPress multisite network? Superadmins can selectively hide side admin menus and their sub-menus from the admins of other websites on a multisite network or from other users on the website.

How To Hide WordPress Menus & Top-Bar Items?

For a basic single-site WordPress installation, you may use the Hide Admin Menu plugin. Simply install and activate it, after activation visit the ‘Hide Menu’ item on your dashboard.

Here it offers you checkbox options to show or hide the side admin menu as well as the top-bar items.  You simply need to select your options and click the ‘Update’ button.

Admin also can hide menu according to the role of users.

How To Hide WordPress Menus Network Wide?

Another plugin called User Role Editor works both for single and multisite WordPress installations. Simply install and network activate it. Upon activation, navigate to Settings -> User Role Editor on your network admin dashboard.

Select the ‘Administrator’ role, remove the capabilities that you want to remove, tick the “Apply to All Sites” option (so that it applies to all the sites on the network), and save your new settings.

Now check the backend of any of your subsites and you will notice that the selected menu is no more there. Similarly, you can hide other menu pages as well. 

How To Auto Redirect Old Permalinks To New Ones In WordPress?

Changing WordPress default permalinks to a “Post Name” structure is crucial for better SEO, user experience, and readability. Default URLs in WordPress are often unattractive and not informative (e.g., ?p=123). By switching to post name permalinks, the URLs become more meaningful and descriptive (e.g., example.com/sample-post), which helps search engines understand the content better, leading to improved rankings.

Additionally, this format is more user-friendly, making it easier for visitors to remember and share, enhancing your site’s visibility and accessibility. But the problem occurs when you switch to a new permalink structure (Dashboard -> Settings -> Permalinks), your old links archived by search engines or shared on social media become a broken link to your website.

In this lesson, you will learn about auto-redirecting old permalinks to new ones. You can simply change your default WordPress permalinks, switch to SEO-friendly post-name permalinks, and then automatically redirect old permalinks to new ones in one click with the help of a plugin.

WP Permalink Redirect is a WordPress plugin that automatically process permalink redirection on your website. All you have to do is install-activate it and that’s all. The plugin has no configuration page, it immediately starts to work upon activation.

Upon activation, the plugin also removes duplicated content issues and redirects your visitors to the new permalink using a 301 i.e. permanently redirect status code. You can even confirm its working with Google webmaster tools. It also takes good care of website pagination of taxonomies like categories and blog lists to allow them to work normally on your WordPress site.

How To Remove The Tag Base From WordPress Permalinks?

You can remove the base tag slug in the WordPress permalinks structure. Earlier this was done with the help of a plugin or PHP function but now you can do it from your admin area dashboard.

By default the tag URL on WordPress looks something like this – yourdomain.com/tag/tag-name, now we have to remove the tag from the permalink so that URLs should look something like this yourdomain.com/tag-name/.

These steps allow you to remove the tag prefix completely by modifying your site’s permanent link settings.

  1. Navigate to your WordPress dashboard
  2. Navigate to Settings -> Permalinks page
  3. Scroll to Custom Structure and put ‘/%tag%/%postname%/’.
  4. Go to Tag Base and type in a dot “. “
  5. Save your changes.

The tag prefix is removed by typing the dot in the tag base field. It completely removes the mandatory tag base from the tag permalinks, so the tag name comes right after your domain name in the permalink structure.

By default, this field is left blank which represents the default prefix.

How To Remove The Category Base From WordPress Permalinks?

You can remove the base category slug in the WordPress permalinks structure. Earlier this was done with the help of a plugin or PHP function but now you can do it from your admin area dashboard.

By default the category URL on WordPress looks something like this – yourdomain.com/category/category-name, now we have to remove the category from the permalink so that URLs should look something like this yourdomain.com/category-name/.

These steps allow you to remove the category prefix completely by modifying your site’s permanent link settings.

  1. Navigate to your WordPress dashboard
  2. Navigate to Settings -> Permalinks page
  3. Scroll to Custom Structure and put ‘/%category%/%postname%/’.
  4. Go to Category Base and type in a dot “. “
  5. Save your changes.

The category prefix is removed by typing the dot in the category base field. It completely removes the mandatory category base from the category permalinks, so the category name comes right after your domain name in the permalink structure.

By default, this field is left blank which represents the default prefix.

Alternatively, you may add the following rule in .htaccess file present in the root directory of your website :

RewriteRule ^category/(.+)$ https://www.yoursite.com/$1 [R=301,L]

This also removed the category base, don’t forget to replace yoursite.com with your domain. The same can be done with the help of the Yoast SEO plugin. If you are using it on your website simply navigate to Yoast SEO -> Search Appearance and open the ‘Taxonomies’ tab.

Scroll to the Category URLs, select ‘Remove the categories prefix’, and save the changes.

How To Display Outdated Content Alerts With Old Post Notice In WordPress?

The Old Post Notice plugin is a valuable tool for WordPress users managing blogs with large archives. It helps notify visitors when viewing older posts that might contain outdated information. This feature can significantly enhance the user experience, ensuring readers are aware that the content they’re consuming may no longer be current, which is especially important for tech, news, or product blogs that update frequently.

The plugin offers several features that provide flexibility and control over how notices appear on older posts:

  1. Customizable Notices: You can set your own notice text to inform users about a post’s potential outdatedness. This customization includes options for color schemes (background and text) and where the notice appears—above or below the content.
  2. Post Age Settings: You decide how many days old a post should be before the notice is triggered. This allows you to target only significantly older posts while keeping recent articles clear of notices.
  3. Published vs. Modified Date: The plugin lets you choose whether the notice is based on the post’s original publish date or the last modified date. This is useful if you frequently update older posts with fresh information.
  4. Built-in and Custom Styling: It includes a default styling option, but advanced users can disable it to apply their custom CSS.
  5. Control Over Activation: You can easily enable or disable the notice without losing your settings.

How to Use Old Post Notice Plugin?

Once you install and activate the Old Post Notice plugin, follow the given steps of configuration:

Step-1 Navigate to Settings -> Old Post Notice in your WordPress dashboard.

Step-2 Enable the notice by ticking the option. You may customize the notice text, choose the number of days to trigger the notice, and decide whether it’s based on the post’s published or modified date.

Step-3 Adjust the styling options, such as the background and text colors, or apply custom CSS if desired. Then save your changes.

    The notice will automatically display on all posts that meet the given age criteria.

    The plugin lets you keep your blog relevant and transparent, ensuring that your readers are informed about older content. This adds credibility to your site and helps manage user expectations.

    How To Set External Links To Open In A New Tab In WordPress?

    It is easy to link a word and set its target to blank so that it opens in a new tab. Most website owners want to make all external links open in a new window and all internal links open in the same tab, you can make this thing easy and automatic with the help of a plugin.

    Simply install and activate Open external links in a new window on your WordPress site. Once the plugin is activated, navigate to your admin area dashboard Settings -> External Links page.

    By default, the plugin makes all external links open in a new tab but on its settings page, you can type URLs that should either be forced to open in a new window or ignored. Some of the basic features of this plugin include:

    1. It opens up all (or specific) external links in a new window
    2. It produces XHTML Strict compliant and is search engine optimized (SEO)
    3. It can can open external links starting with http:// or https:// in a separate browser window or tab
    4. It handles the links client-side, which lets search engines follow the links properly
    5. It becomes inactive when a browser does not support JavaScript, and hence doesn’t result any errors

    If you need more advanced features, there is another free plugin called WP External Links. This plugin lets you manage all external and internal links on your website by enabling you to control icons, nofollow, no opener, UGC (User Generated Content), sponsored, and yes if links open in a new window or new tab.

    How To Make All Links (Internal & External) Open In New Tab In WordPress?

    You can set all links (internal and external) on your WordPress website to open in a new tab.

    By default all WordPress links open in the same tab, although there is an option in the links box to set specific links to open in a new tab, you can do that while adding a new link in your post or page content. But to make all the links open in a new browser tab, you simply need to add a few lines of JavaScript code to your website which can be done by activating the following plugin.

    The WordPress plugin Open Links In New Tab automatically sets links to open in a new tab. You simply need to install and activate it on your website and that’s all. The plugin provides you an option if you want to set only external links to open in a new tab, or just internal links in a new tab, or both.

    This plugin works by adding a few JavaScript code lines on your website, it doesn’t depend on any external library and doesn’t even require jQuery, which is the most common JavaScript library.

    How To Find & Remove Broken Links In WordPress?

    Broken Link Checker is a popular WordPress plugin that lets you identify and fix broken links on your website. A broken link, also known as a dead link, can negatively impact both user experience and SEO rankings. This plugin scans your website content—posts, pages, comments, etc to detect any non-working URLs, images, or embedded media like YouTube videos that may have been removed or relocated.

    To start removing broken links using the Broken Link Checker plugin on your WordPress site, simply follow these steps:

    1. Install & Activate the Plugin: Install Broken Link Checker from the Plugins -> Add New page and activate it.
    2. Scan for Broken Links: The plugin will automatically begin scanning your site for broken links. You can monitor the scan in your WordPress dashboard under the Link Checker page.
    3. Fix or Remove Links: Once broken links are detected, go to the Broken Links page. You can either: Update the broken link, remove it, or dismiss that it’s not an issue.
    4. Bulk Actions: The plugin allows you to fix multiple links at once using bulk actions for faster management.

    By following these steps, you can keep your WordPress site free from broken links, ensuring a better user experience and preserving SEO rankings.

    The plugin does real-time monitoring and also sends you email as it finds any dead links on your website. You can fix or remove the link from the plugin’s interface.

    How To Add Product Videos In WordPress WooCommerce Website?

    You can add videos to describe or promote your products at your WordPress eCommerce store. This enhances the shopping experience and helps showcase product features effectively.

    Woocommerce allows anyone to build an online shop without technical skills. All you have to do is register your domain name, subscribe WordPress, and install the WooCommerce plugin. Then you can manage your website from its admin interface.

    This lesson will guide you on adding single or multiple videos on any product to its linked featured image or product gallery.

    WPC Product Videos for WooCommerce

    To start you will need to install-activate a WordPress plugin called WPC Product Videos for WooCommerce. Upon activation, open the product you want the video to be added or you can do this while adding a new product.

    The product admin page will show you a newly added field for the video URL, this is next below the featured image section. Simply paste your video URL there and update or publish your product. It boosts product presentation and can improve conversions.

    The plugin works for YouTube and Vimeo videos. Alternatively, you can upload your video from your WordPress Media Library and use then its URL.

    Product Video Gallery for WooCommerce

    Product Video Gallery for WooCommerce is another plugin that allows you to enhance product pages by adding videos to the product gallery. It supports various video formats like YouTube, Vimeo, or self-hosted videos, making it easy for you to display your product through engaging visuals.

    Simply install and activate it on your website and then navigate to Products -> WC Product Video, now tick the checkbox to configure a setting, and then save your changes. The plugin usage is quite simple, to add a video to your product: open the edit product page and insert your product YouTube video URL in {Product Video Url} field. That’s it.

    This plugin lets users upload multiple videos alongside product images, creating a dynamic gallery. It also integrates smoothly with WooCommerce themes, providing a more interactive shopping experience for customers.

    How To Clean Unnecessary Tables From MySQL Database?

    Cleaning unnecessary database tables means deleting tables that were created before by some plugin and now are not in use on your website. Removing such tables lightens up your MySQL database. In this lesson, you will learn about cleaning up a database manually and with plugins’ help.

    Before making any changes, always ensure and be careful when deleting database tables, as removing the wrong ones can break your WordPress site. Always keep a full WordPress database backup.

    Step-1, access your hosting’s cPanel and locate the phpMyAdmin option under the Databases section. Click on it to access the database management interface.

    Step-2 In phpMyAdmin, find your WordPress database on the left-hand side panel. Click on the name of the database to view the tables it contains.

    Step-3 Now identify unnecessary tables. Unnecessary tables might come from uninstalled plugins or themes. Tables that don’t seem to match the standard WordPress table names like wp_posts, wp_users, or wp_options may be safe to delete. Some tables have a prefix based on the name of a plugin (e.g., wp_woocommerce_* for WooCommerce).

    Step-4 Once you identify the tables you no longer need, select them by checking the box next to each table. Then, scroll down and choose Drop from the options in the dropdown menu. Confirm the deletion.

    Automatically Identify & Clean MySQL Database Tables

    Alternatively, You can clean your database with a plugin. Plugins such as WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner let you automatically identify and clean up unnecessary tables without manually going into phpMyAdmin.

    These WordPress plugins provide you with an easy way to clean up unnecessary database tables from your WordPress site.

    How To Convert Accent Character Images Into SEO Friendly File Names In WordPress?

    Bad filenames unrelated to the image are also not good for SEO. The reason is; that search engines like descriptive and meaningful filenames.

    Another drawback of bad filenames is that they sometimes break your images in a web browser. The problem arises when you host many media files on a multi-author WordPress installation and you cannot monitor everyone to upload pictures with good and meaningful names.

    These issues can be easily resolved by using a WordPress plugin called Clean Image Filenames.

    The plugin works by auto-enforcing clean filenames on images and other media files you upload to the WordPress media library. Thus, it improves your website’s search engine optimization. The plugin works while you upload new files, it doesn’t work on old files uploaded on your media library.

    How Does It Work?

    Bad image filenames such as Château de Ferrières.jpg or Smörgåsbord.png are changed to good and clean filenames like chateau-de-ferrieres.jpg and smargasbord.png.

    The plugin simply replaces accents and special characters, like Swedish or German umlauts, in the filename uploaded to your media library.

    • It converts accent characters to non-accent, Latin equivalents in Swedish, Danish, German, and more.
    • It removes special characters such as exclamation marks, periods, hashtags, and more.

    You should also know that the range of files can be extended using a filter in your theme or plugin.

    How To Use It?

    Install and activate Clean Image Filenames plugin on your WordPress site. Upon activation visit your admin area dashboard Media -> Add New page and upload a new image file with accent characters like Smörgåsbord.png

    On the plugin settings page, you can set whether the plugin should work only on images or all file types.

    As soon the image is uploaded, the filename will be filtered by the plugin to smargasbord.png. That’s what this plugin does for you.

    Renaming Filename Based On Post Title

    File Renaming on Upload is another good plugin that provides you with more powerful controls and options.

    Unlike the Clean Image Filenames plugin which works automatically and has one manual setting to make, File Renaming on upload allows you to select various options on how to rename an individual filename after upload.

    For example: You can auto-add your site name in the image file, remove strings and accents, rename the file based on the post title, and more.

    How To Track, Identify, And Remove Unused Images for a Faster WordPress Site?

    This lesson will help you optimize your website by identifying and listing unused images in your WordPress media library. You can review the list and remove unwanted or unused images to free up storage space and improve your website’s performance.

    Unused media files can be easily identified and deleted from the WordPress admin area. You can do this simply by navigating to the Media -> Library page and then selecting the ‘Unattached’ option from the dropdown box.

    Now there is also a new WordPress plugin that enables you to track media files, know to what posts or pages an image is being used, and easily manage such images to clutter-free your website.

    Simply install and activate the Media Tracker by searching for the ‘Media Tracker’ plugin on Plugins -> Add New page on your WordPress dashboard. Once the plugin is activated just navigate to the Media -> Cleaner page for managing the unused media files on your website.

    Click any image to view what posts, pages, or post types are using that image. The Media Usage plugin offers a detailed overview of where each image is utilized across your WordPress site. It allows you to effortlessly locate and manage your media files, ensuring that all files are effectively utilized.

    Next, the Media -> Cleaner page lists all unused images on your website. It provides you with the option to remove such images in bulk to declutter your website.

    By identifying media usage throughout your content, this plugin helps you maintain an organized media library and avoid redundancy.

    Identify And Block Fake Email Addresses From Registering & Commenting On Your WordPress Site

    You can use AI to block fake spam email addresses from registering or commenting on your WordPress website. This can be easily done by using the new WordPress plugin called UserCheck.

    The plugin uses an AI service for checking and blocking spam emails to maintain the quality of your website. You simply need to install and activate the UserCheck plugin by visiting Plugins -> Add New page on your WordPress admin area dashboard, then searching for the ‘UserCheck’ plugin to add it to your website.

    Once the plugin is activated, it seamlessly integrates with WordPress registration and comment forms and starts to work automatically in the background. There are no configuration options to set.

    How To Mirror Content From One WordPress Post Or Post Type To Another ?

    If you’re using the Block Editor, you can use the “Query Loop” block or “Reusable Blocks” to include content from other posts or pages.

    Creating & Inserting Reusable Blocks

    1. Go to Posts or Pages and edit the content you want to reuse.
    2. Select the block(s) you want to reuse, click the three dots, and select “Add to Reusable Blocks”.
    3. Name the reusable block and save it.
    4. For inserting the Reusable Block, edit the post or page where you want to display the content.
    5. Add a “Reusable Block” and select the one you created.

    Using Query Loop Block

    1. Edit the post or page where you want to show content.
    2. Click the “+” button to add a new block and select “Query Loop”.
    3. Configure the block to display specific posts or pages.

    The Insert Pages Plugin

    The Insert Pages plugin for WordPress is a useful tool that allows you to embed the content of one page into another page or post. This is particularly helpful if you want to reuse content across multiple locations on your website without duplicating it.

    1. Simply install and activate the plugin.
    2. Upon activation, open the post, page, or any post type where you want to display content and click the ‘+’ icon.
    3. Type ‘Insert Page’ in the search and insert the correct block.
    4. Select the page you want to embed using the settings in the right-hand menu.
    5. Under the ‘Insert Page’ option, either enter the URL of the page or begin typing its title, which will trigger a dropdown menu. From this menu, choose the appropriate page or post.
    6. In the ‘Settings’ section you can view how the embedded content will look like.
    7. From the ‘Display’ dropdown, select the type of content you want to include, such as the post title, link, excerpt, or the full page content.
    8. The plugin also enables you to add custom CSS, opt to display the page content inline, and even restrict visibility to registered users only, hiding the content from anonymous visitors.
    9. Once you’re satisfied with the appearance of the content, be sure to click ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ to save your changes.

    Alternatively, especially on old WordPress installations or sites using the classic WordPress editor, you can mirror content by using the Content Mirror plugin. The plugin enables you to mirror your WordPress site content from one page or post to another, you can also do this between subsites in a WordPress multisite network.

    Simply install and activate Content Mirror. After activation, the plugin adds its TinyMCE button in the content visual editor, the button is simply used for mirroring content.

    The plugin lets you mirror content from pages and posts, as well as custom post types and display it on other pages, posts, or custom post types. It is multisite compatible and works across sites in a WordPress multisite network configuration.

    How To Bulk Update Product Prices In WooCommerce Using Its Built-In Feature?

    WooCommerce provides a built-in bulk edit feature that lets you update prices directly from the Products page in the WordPress dashboard.

    Step 1. Navigate to the Products Page

    Log in to your WordPress admin area dashboard and navigate to the Products > All Products page. This will display a list of all your WooCommerce products.

    Step 2. Select Products for Bulk Editing

    Now select the products you want to edit:

    • To select individual products, check the boxes next to each product.
    • To select all products on the current page, check the box at the top.
    • If you want to edit all products, even those not currently visible on the page then click on “Select all X items” after selecting the products on the current page.

    Step 3. Choose Bulk Edit Option

    Once your products are selected, click on the Bulk Actions dropdown menu at the top of the product list. Next, from the dropdown, select Edit and click the Apply button. This will open the Bulk Edit options panel.

    Step 4. Increase or Decrease the Prices

    In the Bulk Edit panel, you can update prices in several ways:

    Update Prices by Percentage:

    • To increase prices, select Increase by % from the Price dropdown and enter the percentage increase.
    • To decrease prices, select Decrease by % and enter the percentage decrease.

    Update Prices by Fixed Amount:

    Select Increase by $ or Decrease by $ from the Price dropdown and enter the fixed amount you want to add or subtract from the current price.

    If you want to set a new fixed price for the selected products, choose ‘Set to‘ from the Price dropdown and enter the new price in the field provided.

    Step 5. Apply the Changes

    Click the Update button at the bottom right of the Bulk Edit panel. WooCommerce will then apply these changes to all selected products

    This built-in process of updating WooCommerce prices needs no additional plugins or tools. It lets you quickly apply changes to multiple products based on a fixed amount or percentage without editing each product individually.

    Still, for more advanced price updates or when dealing with complex product variations, you may use a dedicated WooCommerce bulk edit plugin such as:

    1. Bulk Edit Products, Prices & Attributes for WooCommerce
    2. YITH WooCommerce Bulk Product Editing
    3. WooCommerce Advanced Bulk Edit

    Depending on the complexity and scale of your needs, you may choose the method that best fits your workflow.

    Enhance Your WooCommerce Store with Automated PDF Invoices and Packing Slips

    WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips is a popular plugin that automatically generates and manages PDF invoices, packing slips, and other documents for your eCommerce store. Here’s a detailed overview of the plugin:

    1. Automatic PDF Invoice Generation: Automatically generates PDF invoices for each order placed on your WooCommerce store. These invoices are then attached to the order confirmation emails sent to customers.
    2. Fully Customizable Templates: You can customize the invoice and packing slip templates to match your brand’s look and feel. The plugin offers a simple drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to add your company logo, choose fonts, and modify the layout.
    3. Bulk PDF Invoice & Packing Slip Generation: Store admins can easily generate invoices and packing slips in bulk from the WooCommerce orders overview page, saving time when processing multiple orders.
    4. Manual PDF Creation & Download: If needed, you can manually create, download, or print PDF invoices and packing slips directly from the WooCommerce order page. This feature is useful for handling customer inquiries or resending documents.
    5. Sequential Invoice Numbering: The plugin supports sequential invoice numbering, ensuring that your invoices follow a logical order. You can also customize the invoice number format to include prefixes, suffixes, and other patterns.
    6. Pro Features: The premium version of the plugin offers additional features, such as credit notes, proforma invoices, and more advanced template customization options. The plugin also includes automatic backups of PDF invoices and the ability to generate packing slips and invoices for individual products.

    How to Use WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips Plugin?

    Simply install and activate WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips plugin. Upon activation navigate to WooCommerce > PDF Invoices page on your dashboard.

    Configure general settings such as attaching PDFs to order emails, choosing the document types (invoices, packing slips, etc.), and setting up invoice numbering.

    Under the Templates tab, you would be able to customize the look of your invoices and packing slips. Upload your logo, choose colors, and adjust the layout to suit your branding.

    Next, from the WooCommerce order page, you can view, download, or print the generated PDFs. You can also generate PDFs for multiple orders simultaneously from the orders overview page.


    WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips is an essential plugin for WooCommerce stores that want to automate and streamline their invoicing process. It provides professional, branded invoices thus enhancing your store’s credibility, and helps maintain accurate and organized records of all transactions, which is essential for tax and accounting purposes.

    While the free version is powerful, some advanced features like credit notes and more in-depth customization options are only available in the premium version.

    Google Authenticator Vs Wordfence Security: Essential Two-Factor Authentication Plugins for WordPress

    Implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) on your WordPress site is a great way to enhance security by adding an extra layer of protection. Here are some of the best two-factor authentication plugins for WordPress:

    1. Google Authenticator – Two Factor Authentication (2FA)

    This plugin is among the most popular choices for adding two-factor authentication to WordPress. It’s simple to set up and integrates seamlessly with the Google Authenticator app.

    Key Features:

    • App-Based Authentication: Works with the Google Authenticator app, providing time-based one-time passwords (TOTP).
    • Multiple 2FA Methods: Supports TOTP, QR codes, and push notifications for authentication.
    • Role-Based Access Control: You can enable or disable 2FA for specific user roles.
    • Backup Codes: Provides backup codes if you lose access to your authenticator app.
    • Compatibility: Compatible with WooCommerce, WP Multisite, and custom login pages.
    • Customizable: You can customize the 2FA experience, including setting up whitelisting or blacklisting for certain IP addresses.

    Advantages:

    • Easy to use and set up.
    • Flexible with multiple 2FA options.
    • Highly secure with regular updates and support.

    Limitations:

    • Requires users to have access to a smartphone or authenticator app.

    The plugin is ideal for users who prefer app-based authentication and need flexibility in managing 2FA for different user roles.

    2. Wordfence Security – Firewall & Malware Scan

    Wordfence is primarily known for its comprehensive security features, but it also includes a robust two-factor authentication feature.

    Key Features:

    • 2FA for All Users: Supports two-factor authentication for all user roles, from administrators to subscribers.
    • App-Based Authentication: Uses TOTP via the Google Authenticator or any other TOTP-based app.
    • Login Security: Includes other login security features like CAPTCHA, brute force protection, and country blocking.
    • Detailed Reporting: Provides detailed reports on login attempts, including 2FA failures.
    • IP Whitelisting: Allows whitelisting of IP addresses, so users from specific locations can bypass 2FA.
    • Centralized Management: If you’re managing multiple sites, you can control 2FA settings from a single dashboard using Wordfence Central.

    Advantages:

    • A comprehensive security solution that goes beyond just 2FA.
    • Easy integration with existing WordPress security measures.
    • Detailed logging and reporting.

    Limitations:

    • The plugin might be overkill if you’re only looking for 2FA and not full-site security.
    • Some advanced features require a premium subscription.

    The plugin is best for users looking for an all-in-one security solution that includes two-factor authentication as part of a broader suite of security tools.

    Both of these plugins offer robust two-factor authentication features that can significantly improve your WordPress site’s security. Google Authenticator – Two Factor Authentication is ideal for users who need a straightforward, dedicated 2FA solution with flexibility for different user roles.

    Whereas, Wordfence Security is perfect for those who want a comprehensive security package that includes 2FA as well as other essential security features. Depending on your needs, either plugin can provide a significant boost to your website’s security.

    Performing Bulk Edits In WordPress Database With Better Search Replace Option

    In the previous lesson, you learned about editing MySQL databases using the search-replace option on the cPanel. For the more complex tasks, WordPress users may use the ‘Better Search Replace‘ plugin to effortlessly update their website’s database from their admin area dashboard.

    Using the Better Search Replace WordPress plugin is straightforward and can save you a lot of time when you need to perform bulk updates across your database. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use it:

    Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

    1. Log in to Your WordPress Admin Dashboard
    2. Install and activate the ‘Better Search Replace’ plugin from Plugins -> Add New page.
    3. Go to the Plugin Settings: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Tools > Better Search Replace to open the plugin’s settings page.

    Step 2: Configure Your Search and Replace Operation

    1. Enter the Search Term: In the Search for field, type the text or URL you want to search for in your database.
    2. Enter the Replace Term: In the Replace with field, type the text or URL you want to replace the original text with.
    3. Select the Tables to Update: Under the Select Tables section, choose the database tables where you want to perform the search and replace operation. You can select multiple tables or use the Select All option.
      • Common Tables:
        • wp_posts for post content and pages.
        • wp_options for site settings.
        • wp_postmeta for custom fields.

    Step 3: Run a Dry Run (Optional but Recommended)

    1. Enable the Dry Run Option: Check the Run as dry run? option. This will simulate the search and replace operation without making actual changes, allowing you to see how many fields will be affected.
    2. Run the Dry Run: Click the Run Search/Replace button. Review the results to ensure that the operation will do what you intend.

    Step 4: Execute the Search and Replace

    1. Disable the Dry Run Option: Uncheck the Run as dry run option.
    2. Run the Search/Replace: Click the Run Search/Replace button to execute the operation. The plugin will now make changes to your database based on your configuration.
    3. Check the Affected Content: After the plugin has run, review your site to ensure the changes have been applied correctly.
    4. Clear Caches (If Applicable): If you’re using a caching plugin, clear your site’s cache to ensure that the changes are reflected on the front end.

    Step 5: Repeat if Necessary

    If you need to run another search and replace operation on different tables or with different search/replace terms, repeat the steps above.

    Additional Tips:

    • Backup Your Database: It’s always good practice to back up your database before making bulk changes. So that if you encounter any issues, you can restore your database from the backup you created earlier.
    • Serialized Data: The plugin automatically handles serialized data, which is essential for many WordPress plugins and themes. This means you don’t have to worry about breaking serialized arrays during the search and replace process.
    • Multisite Support: If you’re running a WordPress Multisite network, you can perform search and replace operations on individual sites or across the entire network.

    Following these steps, you can efficiently update URLs, text, or any other content across your WordPress site.

    Automating WordPress Database Updates For Seamless Website Migration

    When migrating your WordPress site to a new domain or server, it’s often necessary to perform a search and replace operation on your database to ensure everything functions correctly. Thankfully, several plugins can handle this task, each offering a unique approach to key features.

    The “Better Search Replace” plugin for WordPress is a powerful tool designed to help site administrators quickly and efficiently search and replace text across their entire WordPress database. It’s particularly useful for tasks like changing URLs when migrating a site to a new domain, updating text or links throughout a site, or fixing common database issues.

    What You Can Do With This Plugin?

    1. Search and Replace Across the Database: The plugin allows you to search for a specific string of text and replace it with another across your entire database. This includes posts, pages, custom post types, widgets, options, and more.
    2. Dry Run Mode: Before making any actual changes, you can perform a “dry run” to see how many fields will be affected by your search and replace operation. This helps ensure you don’t accidentally replace something you didn’t intend to.
    3. Serialized Data Handling: One of the standout features of Better Search Replace is its ability to handle serialized data. Serialized data is a way of storing arrays or objects in the database. If a plugin or theme uses serialized data, a simple search and replace operation could corrupt it. Better Search Replace intelligently handles these cases to prevent issues.
    4. Multisite Support: The plugin also supports WordPress Multisite installations, allowing you to perform search and replace operations across all sites within a network.
    5. Select Specific Tables: You can choose which database tables to include in the search and replace operation, giving you more control over what gets changed.
    6. User-Friendly Interface: The plugin features an intuitive interface that integrates seamlessly with the WordPress dashboard, making it easy for even non-technical users to perform complex database operations.
    7. Logging and Reporting: It provides detailed reports of the search and replace operations, including what was changed and what wasn’t, allowing you to review the results and make informed decisions.

    How To Use Better Search Replace?

    Simply install and activate the Better Search Replace plugin from Plugins -> Add New page. Once the plugin is activated, it adds a page under the “Tools” menu on your WordPress admin area dashboard.

    When Use This Plugin?

    1. Domain Changes: When migrating a WordPress site to a new domain, all instances of the old domain in the database need to be updated to the new domain. Better Search Replace makes this process straightforward.
    2. HTTPS Migration: If you’re moving your site from HTTP to HTTPS, you can use the plugin to update all the links in your content to the secure version.
    3. Updating Text or Links: If you need to update a particular phrase, term, or URL across your entire site, this plugin can handle it quickly.

    How Better Search Replace Works On Multisite?

    When using this plugin on a WordPress Multisite installation, it will only be accessible and visible to Network Admins. They can navigate to the dashboard of any subsite to run a search and replace on that subsite’s specific tables, or they can go to the main site’s dashboard to perform a search and replace across all tables.

    Some Considerations

    1. Backup Your Website: Since this plugin modifies the database, it’s always recommended to take a full backup before performing any search and replace operation. This way, you can restore your site if something goes wrong.
    2. Performance Impact: On extensive databases, searching and replacing can be resource-intensive and may temporarily slow down your site. It’s best to perform such operations during low-traffic periods.

    The plugin is highly regarded in the WordPress community for its reliability and ease of use, making it a go-to tool for many WordPress developers and administrators.

    Automatically Cleanup Attached Media Files When WordPress Post Is Deleted

    WordPress allows you to upload and display a variety of media file types like images, music, and videos. But when you delete the post, all of the files attached to that specific post are left orphaned in your media library causing an undeserved load on your website. Since these files are of no more use, you may use a plugin for automatically deleting such images.

    Earlier, you have learned about deleting unattached images from your WordPress media library. Now in this lesson, you will learn about automatically deleting attached files when their post, page, or post type is removed.

    How To Automatically Delete Image Attachments When Any Post Is Deleted In WordPress?

    Autoremove Attachments plugin keeps your media library clean by removing all media files attached as attachments to a post, page, or custom post type when the parent post is deleted. Hence, you don’t have to manually track down and remove orphaned files that remain on the server.

    To start using the plugin simply log in to your WordPress site and follow these steps:

    1. Navigate to Plugins -> Add New section
    2. Search and install the ‘Autoremove Attachments’ plugin

    There are no configuration options to set. Upon activation, the plugin automatically starts working and it automatically removes child attachments when a parent post, page, or custom post type is deleted.

    The Compatibility With Other Plugins

    The ‘Autoremove Attachments’ plugin is compatible with WooCommerce i.e. WordPress Ecommerce plugin, Easy Digital Downloads plugin, and all plugins that work within the WordPress system.

    Make Sure

    That you are not using the same media files in multiple posts or you will end up missing images from other posts on your WordPress website. If you need to use the same images in addition to this plugin then you must re-upload such images for reusing them on other posts.

    Another important thing you should know is files are deleted when the parent post, page, or custom post type is permanently deleted so a soft delete that moves the content to the trash does not trigger attachment deletion. Hence, in order to delete the attached media files, you will have to permanently delete the post from the trash bin.