Restrict for WordPress lets you control exactly who can see the content on your site, but before you can create your first restriction rule, the plugin needs to be up and running. This guide shows you how to install Restrict for WordPress, upload the premium version to your site, and activate it with your license key. The whole process takes only a few minutes, even if you have never installed a premium WordPress plugin before.
Before you begin
To follow this guide, you will need:
- Administrator access to your WordPress dashboard, so you can install and activate plugins.
- An active Restrict license. If you have not purchased one yet, head over to the pricing page. Every plan is available as a 1 site, 5 sites, or unlimited sites license, billed either yearly or as a one-time lifetime payment, and comes with a 7-day free trial and a 7-day money-back guarantee.
If you just want to try the plugin first, a free version of Restrict is available on WordPress.org and can be installed like any other free plugin. The steps below cover the premium version, which is delivered as a ZIP file from your Restrict account.
Step 1: Download the premium version and copy your license key
Once you have purchased your Restrict license, log in to your account here. Within the Downloads area of your Restrict account, you will be able to download the premium version to your computer. As soon as you start downloading it, a popup will appear with your license key. Copy the key to your clipboard for now — you will need it in a moment to activate the plugin.
Keep the downloaded ZIP file as it is. WordPress expects plugins to be uploaded as ZIP archives, so there is no need to extract it.
Step 2: Upload and install the plugin
Next, log in to the dashboard of your website and navigate to the Plugins area:
- Once the plugins page loads, click the Add New button.
- Upload the premium version of Restrict that you have downloaded to your computer.
- When the upload finishes, install the plugin.
Step 3: Activate Restrict with your license key
When you have uploaded and installed the plugin, click the Activate button. You will then be met with a prompt to enter your license key. Simply paste the license key you copied earlier and click the Agree & Activate button.
If you have entered a correct license key, the premium version of Restrict is now successfully installed and activated on your website. As long as your license is active, you will keep receiving plugin updates and premium support; lifetime licenses never expire, so there is nothing to renew.
Troubleshooting activation
If the license key is not accepted, a few quick checks usually solve it:
- Check for extra spaces. When copying the key from the popup, it is easy to grab a leading or trailing space. Paste the key into a plain text editor first if you are unsure, then copy it again cleanly.
- Make sure you are using the right key. If you own more than one Restrict product (for example, the Bundle with both Restrict for WordPress and Restrict for Elementor), each plugin needs its matching key.
- Retrieve your key again. If you closed the popup before copying the key, simply log back in to your account and start the download again — the popup with your license key will appear once more.
Still stuck? Contact the support team and they will help you get activated.
What to do next
With Restrict installed and activated, you are ready to start protecting your content. A good first stop is the General settings, where you can define the messages shown to visitors who are not allowed to see restricted content. After that, try restricting the content of a page or post — it takes just one dropdown selection.