Set Admin Approval After Email Confirmation Option for Registering a User

This guide explains how to configure a two-step verification process for new user registrations. Users must first confirm their email address, then wait for manual admin approval before gaining full access to your site.

What You'll Need

User Registration & Membership Pro plugin installed and activated

At least one registration form created

Admin access to the WordPress dashboard

Understanding the Two-Step Process

When you enable admin approval after email confirmation, new users go through this workflow:

User submits the registration form

User verifies their email via a confirmation link

Admin reviews the request

Admin approves or denies the user

User is notified and can log in (if approved)

This creates a secure, two-layer verification system that ensures both email validity and admin oversight.

How to Enable This Feature

Step 1: Access Your Registration Form

Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard

Navigate to User Registration & Membership → All Forms → Registration Forms

Click Edit on the registration form you want to configure

Step 2: Configure Approval Settings

In the Form Editor, click on the Form Settings tab

Go to General → User Approval and Login Options

From the dropdown menu, select Admin Approval after Email Confirmation

Click Update form to save your changes

Step 3: Customize Admin Approval Email (Optional)

You can customize the email that admins receive when a user completes email verification:

Navigate to User Registration & Membership → Settings → Emails → To Admin

Find Admin Approval Request Email with Approval Link

Click the settings icon to customize the email content

Add the {{approval_link}} placeholder to include the approval URL in the email

Optionally add {{form_name}} and {{denial_link}} placeholders

Click Save to update the email template

How to Approve or Deny Users

After a user verifies their email, you'll need to manually approve their registration:

Go to Dashboard → Users → All Users

Find users with Pending status (these have verified email but await approval)

Hover over the username and click Approve or Deny

Alternatively, if you included the {{approval_link}} in the admin email, you can approve directly from the email notification.

What Users See

After submitting the registration form, users will see a message prompting them to verify their email. The exact message can be customized at User Registration & Membership → Settings → Registration & Login → Messages.

After email verification, users will see a message indicating that admin approval is still required. They cannot log in until you approve their registration.