WordPress Plugin Setup & Troubleshooting Guide

⏱️ TL;DR

• Two-Step Install: Simply uploading the Memberstack WordPress plugin is not enough—you must click "Activate" in your WordPress dashboard.
• Failure Mode: If you skip activation, your checkout buttons will either do nothing, redirect to the homepage, or fail to open Stripe Checkout.
• For all information related to everything WordPress and Memberstack please check out our WordPress specific Memberstack website! 

1. Step-by-Step Installation & Activation

To get Memberstack up and running on your WordPress site, follow these steps to ensure the plugin is fully active.

Step 1: Install the Core Plugin

1. Download the official Memberstack WordPress plugin .zip file from your Memberstack dashboard or the WordPress plugin directory (or click the link we provided which will take you straight to it!).
2. In your WordPress Admin Dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin > and the search for 'Memberstack' 
3. Find the "Memberstack – Member Management & Content Protection" plugin and click Install Now.

Step 2: Activate the Plugin (Crucial!)

⚠️ The #1 Missed Step: Many users click "Install" and assume they are finished. The plugin will do nothing until it is activated.

1. Once installation is complete, click the blue Activate Plugin button.
2. Alternatively, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, locate Memberstack, and click Activate.
3. Go to the new **Memberstack** menu item in your WordPress sidebar and paste your **App ID** from your Memberstack Dashboard settings to link your site. (Note: The plugin only requires your App ID. Do not paste your Secret API keys here, as there is no field for them and they are not needed for the plugin to function).

2. Selling Paid Memberships? Just Connect Stripe and Create Plans

The core Memberstack WordPress plugin handles member authentication, custom fields, and content gating. To process payments and trigger Stripe Checkout, you do not need to install any additional WordPress plugins.

How to set up paid plans:

1. Go to your Memberstack Dashboard and navigate to Settings > Stripe Settings to connect your Stripe account.
2. Navigate to Plans in your Memberstack Dashboard and click Add Plan to create your paid tier and set its price.
3. To let members purchase this plan on your WordPress site, simply add the purchase button or link using Memberstack's data attributes (e.g., data-ms-price:add="YOUR_PRICE_ID"). You can do this using a Custom HTML block in WordPress, or by adding the attribute directly to a button/link if you are using Gutenberg or in case you are using page builders like Elementor, Bricks etc. you can search for the Memberstack Button where you can choose the 'Button Type' to be 'Plan' and configure the options per your requirements.

3. Common Issues & How to Fix Them

If Memberstack isn't working as expected on your WordPress site, check these three common failure states:

❌ Symptom A: The Memberstack modal doesn't open (Nothing happens)

• The Cause: The core Memberstack plugin is installed but not activated, or your App ID is missing from the plugin settings.
• The Fix: Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins. Ensure "Memberstack" is active. If it is, go to the Memberstack settings in WordPress and verify your App ID is pasted correctly.

❌ Symptom B: Members are logged in, but they still cannot see gated content (Caching issue)

• The Cause: WordPress caching plugins (like WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or W3 Total Cache) are serving cached "logged-out" versions of your pages to logged-in members.
• The Fix: Configure your caching plugin to exclude Memberstack cookies and dynamic pages (like your member dashboard or account page) from being cached.

❌ **Symptom C: Constant connection conflicts, login loops, or gating failures**

• The Cause: You have manually pasted the Memberstack installation script into your WordPress theme settings (e.g., Divi Theme Options, Elementor Custom Code, or `header.php`) while also having the Memberstack plugin active. This causes the script to load twice on every page.
• The Fix: Since the WordPress plugin automatically injects the script into the `<head>` of your site, you must delete any manually pasted Memberstack scripts from your theme settings.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Where do I find my Memberstack App ID to paste into WordPress?

Log into your Memberstack Dashboard, go to Settings, and you will see your Memberstack App ID (which starts with app_...) at the top of the page. Copy and paste this exact ID into your WordPress Memberstack settings.

Q: Do I need to manually paste the Memberstack header script if I use the plugin?

No! The WordPress plugin automatically injects your Memberstack installation script into the <head> of every page on your site. You do not need to paste any header code manually.

Q: Can I use WordPress Elementor, Divi, or Gutenberg with Memberstack?

Yes! Memberstack works with all major WordPress page builders. You can add Memberstack attributes (like data-ms-form="signup") directly to buttons and forms using your builder's "Custom Attributes" or "Advanced HTML Attributes" settingsor if you are using page builders like Elementor, Bricks etc. you can search for pre-built Memberstack Button where you can configure the options per your requirements.

Q. Can I use WordPress shortcodes (like [memberstack_signup])?

Yes, but with limitations. Shortcodes are great for simple, standard forms. However, if you have set up **Custom Fields** (like First Name, Phone Number, etc.) in Memberstack, they will *not* automatically render inside a shortcode form. 

To use custom fields, you must either:

1. Use the pre-built Memberstack modal (which automatically includes all your custom fields).

2. Build a custom HTML form inside your WordPress page builder and map the fields manually using custom data attributes (e.g., `data-ms-member="your-custom-field-id"`).

Q: Is there a shortcode to display the Member Profile page?

No. There is no official `[memberstack_profile]` shortcode in Memberstack 2.0. To allow members to view or edit their profile, simply add a button or link in your page builder and assign it the custom attribute: `data-ms-modal="profile"`. When clicked, this will securely trigger the profile modal.