Complete reference for all Member Blog settings. Navigate to Member Blog in your WordPress admin to access these options.
The Overview tab provides quick access to:
- Plugin version and status
- Quick links to documentation
- Support resources
- PRO version upgrade information
No configuration needed here — it’s informational only.
Member Blog requires two dedicated pages to function.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Purpose | The page where members write and submit new blog posts |
| Required Shortcode | [bp-member-blog-form] |
| Auto-Create | Click “Auto-Create Page” to generate a page with the shortcode already added |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Purpose | The page where members view, edit, and manage their existing posts |
| Required Shortcode | [bp-member-blog] |
| Auto-Create | Click “Auto-Create Page” to generate a page with the shortcode already added |
BuddyPress/BuddyBoss Users: Members access their blog through profile tabs. These pages are still needed for the post creation form and standalone access.
- ✅ Green checkmark — Page is set up correctly
- ⚠️ Yellow warning — Page selected but may be missing shortcode
- ❌ Red X — No page selected
Choose the writing experience for your members.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Modern communities wanting rich content creation |
| Features | Block-based editing, inline image uploads, headers, lists, quotes, code blocks |
| Member Experience | Type “/” to add blocks, or just start typing. Click “+” to add content types. |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Writing-focused communities where simplicity matters |
| Features | Distraction-free writing, floating toolbar on text selection |
| Member Experience | Just start typing. Select text to see formatting options. |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Communities familiar with traditional WordPress editing |
| Features | Fixed toolbar at top, all formatting options visible, WYSIWYG |
| Member Experience | Click toolbar buttons to format text, similar to Microsoft Word. |
Recommendation: Start with Editor.js for the best balance of features and usability. Switch to Classic Editor if members find it confusing.
Control who can create blog posts on your site.
Checkboxes for each WordPress user role. Only checked roles can access blog creation features.
Default: Subscriber, Contributor, Author, Editor (all checked)
| Role | Can Create | Can Edit Own | Auto-Publish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriber | ✅ | Pending only | ❌ Pending Review |
| Contributor | ✅ | Pending only | ❌ Pending Review |
| Author | ✅ | All posts | ✅ Yes |
| Editor | ✅ | All posts | ✅ Yes |
| Administrator | ✅ (always) | All posts | ✅ Yes |
Only visible if BuddyPress/BuddyBoss Member Types are configured
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Multi-select dropdown of BuddyPress member types |
| Purpose | Restrict blog creation to specific member types |
| Empty Selection | All member types can create posts (no restriction) |
Example: You have “Free Member” and “Premium Member” types. Select only “Premium Member” to make blogging a premium-only feature.
Both conditions must be met (AND logic):
- User’s role must be in the allowed roles list
- AND user’s member type must be in the allowed types list (if any selected)
Configure how members interact with categories and media.
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Toggle switch |
| When Enabled | Members can create new categories while writing posts |
| When Disabled | Members can only select from existing categories |
| Note | New categories created by members require admin approval |
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Multi-select dropdown of all categories |
| Purpose | Hide specific categories from members |
| How to Select Multiple | Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking |
Common Use Cases:
- News — Only admins post official news
- Featured — Admin-curated featured posts only
- Announcements — Official site announcements
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Toggle switch |
| When Enabled | Featured image removed from Media Library when post is deleted |
| When Disabled | Featured images remain in Media Library after post deletion |
| Recommendation | Enable to save disk space |
Only visible if BuddyPress/BuddyBoss Activity component is active
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Toggle switch |
| When Enabled | New published posts create activity entries in the BuddyPress stream |
| Activity Shows | Post title, excerpt, and link to full post |
PRO Feature: Member Blog Pro adds group activity integration, where posts linked to groups appear in that group’s activity stream.
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Number input (1-50) |
| Default | 5 posts |
| Purpose | Controls pagination in the member blog dashboard |
| Affects | Published posts, drafts, and pending review tabs |
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Number input (in MB) |
| Default | 2 MB |
| Purpose | Limits featured image file size for member uploads |
| Server Limit | Cannot exceed your server’s upload_max_filesize setting |
Member Blog automatically saves draft posts every 30 seconds while members are writing. This prevents content loss if the browser closes unexpectedly.
| Behavior | Details |
|---|---|
| Interval | Every 30 seconds |
| Status | Saves as “auto-draft” until manually saved |
| Notification | Members see “Draft saved” confirmation |
Click Save Changes at the bottom of each tab to apply your settings.
Note: Some settings (like page selection) take effect immediately. Others (like role permissions) may require members to log out and back in.