Frequently Asked Questions
Does this plugin require BuddyPress?
Section titled “Does this plugin require BuddyPress?”Yes. BuddyPress Status is an extension for BuddyPress and requires BuddyPress to be installed and active. It also works with BuddyBoss Platform.
What is the character limit for a status?
Section titled “What is the character limit for a status?”140 characters. It is enforced in the browser (the maxlength attribute on the textarea) and on the server before saving. The limit is defined by the constant BPSTS_STATUS_MAX_LENGTH. Developers can override it (see below and the Hooks and Filters reference).
Can members use custom emojis?
Section titled “Can members use custom emojis?”The plugin includes a large set of standard Unicode emojis. Custom, image-based emoji are not supported. You can add Unicode emoji directly into global status suggestions when creating them in the admin.
How do I hide the status form from certain user roles?
Section titled “How do I hide the status form from certain user roles?”Go to WB Plugins > BP Status > General, scroll to the user-role grid, and uncheck any role you want to restrict. Administrators always retain access.
Can I create my own feeling activities?
Section titled “Can I create my own feeling activities?”Yes. Go to WB Plugins > BP Status > Feeling Activities. You can edit or delete custom activities, edit the 11 defaults (they cannot be deleted), and add new ones with a title, question prompt, and Font Awesome icon.
What happens to status data if I deactivate the plugin?
Section titled “What happens to status data if I deactivate the plugin?”Status data is stored in WordPress user meta and stays in the database after deactivation. If you reactivate the plugin, previously saved statuses appear again.
Is the plugin compatible with multisite?
Section titled “Is the plugin compatible with multisite?”Yes. The plugin works on WordPress multisite when BuddyPress is network-activated.
Can I increase the 140-character limit?
Section titled “Can I increase the 140-character limit?”The limit is set by the constant BPSTS_STATUS_MAX_LENGTH (default 140). Because the plugin only defines it if it is not already set, you can define it earlier, from a must-use plugin or your theme’s functions.php:
if ( ! defined( 'BPSTS_STATUS_MAX_LENGTH' ) ) { define( 'BPSTS_STATUS_MAX_LENGTH', 280 );}The textarea maxlength and the server-side length check both use this constant. Note that the JavaScript character-counter warning text refers to 140 literally, so the on-screen warning message will still read “140” even after you raise the limit.
Does it work with RTL languages?
Section titled “Does it work with RTL languages?”Yes. The plugin ships RTL stylesheet variants.
Are status updates private?
Section titled “Are status updates private?”Statuses follow your BuddyPress privacy settings. Anyone who can view a member’s profile can see their current status. The plugin adds no privacy controls of its own beyond the user-role permissions.
How do I export status data?
Section titled “How do I export status data?”Status data lives in WordPress user meta under bpsts_saved_status. You can read it with WP-CLI:
wp user meta get <user_id> bpsts_saved_statusAnother plugin also loads Font Awesome. Will there be a conflict?
Section titled “Another plugin also loads Font Awesome. Will there be a conflict?”The plugin bundles Font Awesome 6.5.1 locally and, before loading it, deregisters common Font Awesome style handles registered by other plugins or themes so its activity icons render correctly. If you still see icon conflicts, deactivate other plugins one by one to identify the source, then contact support with the plugin name.
Where are the plugin settings?
Section titled “Where are the plugin settings?”Go to WP Admin > WB Plugins > BP Status. The settings are split across six tabs: Overview, General, Global Status, Feeling Activities, Support, and License.