How to Automatically logout idle users in WordPress

In this article, we’ll discuss on how to automatically logout idle users in WordPress using the “Inactive Logout” plugin. With the increasing number of online attacks, website owners need to ensure that their website is secure from all potential threats. One common threat is unauthorized access to a user’s account.

Why is Idle Logout a Must-have?

Auto logout is necessary in a system for several reasons related to security and privacy. Here are some of the main reasons why auto logout is important:

1. Prevent unauthorized access: When users forget to log out or keep their sessions open, it can leave their accounts vulnerable to unauthorized access. This is particularly true in shared or public computers, where someone else might access the system and use the open session to gain access to the user’s account. Auto logout helps prevent this by automatically closing the session after a period of inactivity.
2. Protect sensitive data: Auto logout also helps protect sensitive data that might be stored in the user’s account. By automatically logging out users after a certain period of inactivity, the system ensures that sensitive data is not accessible to anyone who might gain unauthorized access to the account.
3. Save resources: Auto logout can also help save resources on the system by freeing up resources that would otherwise be allocated to an idle user. When a user forgets to log out, the system continues to allocate resources such as memory and processing power, which can slow down the system and affect performance.

How to Automatically Logout idle users?

You can download the “Inactive Logout” plugin in order to automatically logout your users.

The “Inactive Logout” plugin is a simple yet effective solution to automatically log out idle users from your WordPress website. This plugin is easy to install and configure, and it provides you with complete control over the logout settings. The plugin is available for free on the WordPress plugin repository, and it is regularly updated to ensure that it is compatible with the latest version of WordPress.

To get started, you will need to install and activate the “Inactive Logout” plugin on your WordPress website. Once you have done that, go to the plugin settings page by clicking on the “Inactive Logout” menu item in the WordPress dashboard.

On the settings page, you will see a number of options that you can configure to customize the plugin to suit your needs. The first option is the “Logout Time” setting, which allows you to set the time after which idle users will be automatically logged out. You can choose any time interval between 1 minute and 24 hours.

The next option is the “Logout Message” setting, which allows you to display a custom message to users when they are automatically logged out. This message can be used to inform users of the reason for their logout, and to provide them with any additional information they may need.

The “Redirect URL” setting allows you to specify the URL that users will be redirected to after they are logged out. This can be useful if you want to redirect users to a specific page or section of your website after they have been logged out.

Popup message before logout. Allows you customize popup text as well.

Finally, the “Exclude Users” setting allows you to exclude certain users from being automatically logged out. This can be useful if you have certain users who need to remain logged in for an extended period of time, such as administrators or editors.

In conclusion, the “Inactive Logout” plugin is an excellent solution for automatically logging out idle users from your WordPress website. With its easy-to-use settings and flexible options, it is an essential tool for any website owner who wants to ensure the security of their website. So, if you haven’t already, be sure to install and activate the “Inactive Logout” plugin today!

Here below is a screenshot of all basic settings the plugin provides.

These below are the settings for role based logouts.

Getting more out of Inactive Logout with Pro Version

The Pro version of the Inactive Logout plugin offers additional features and functionality compared to the free version. Here are some ways to get more out of the Pro version:

1. Customize the logout message: With the Pro version, you can customize the logout message with a rich text editor, allowing you to add formatting, images, and links. This can be useful if you want to provide users with more information or instructions when they are logged out.
2. Choose different logout methods: The Pro version allows you to choose from different logout methods, including a simple redirect, a popup message, or a custom page. This can provide more flexibility and customization options when logging out users.
3. Logout a user after a browser tab is closed.
4. Logout any user from WordPress dashboard which would show popup to the logged out user that they have been logged out manually.
5. Control user roles and permissions: The Pro version includes advanced user role and permission settings, allowing you to exclude certain user roles or users with specific capabilities from being logged out. This can be useful if you have certain users who need to remain logged in for a longer period of time.
6. Get priority support: With the Pro version, you get access to priority support from the plugin developers, ensuring that any issues or questions you have are addressed in a timely and efficient manner.
7. Access future updates and new features: By purchasing the Pro version, you get access to future updates and new features that may not be available in the free version. This ensures that your site stays up to date with the latest security features and improvements.
8. and many more..

In summary, the Pro version of the Inactive Logout plugin offers advanced features and customization options that can provide more flexibility and control over how users are logged out. By taking advantage of these features, you can improve the security and performance of your website while providing a better user experience for your visitors.