Table of contents

Why add a login button to your homepage?Method 1: Using WordPress menu settingsMethod 2: With a widget or shortcodeMethod 3: Use WPForms to create a login formMethod 4: Add a dynamic login/logout menuOptional: Add conditional display using PHPTips for styling and placementNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Admin → Add Login Button

How to add a login button to your WordPress homepage

Need to give users easy access to login? Whether you’re running a membership site, online store, or client portal, adding a login button to your homepage makes a huge difference.

Let’s walk through how to add one using menus, widgets, or powerful plugins like WPForms and LoginPress.

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Why add a login button to your homepage?

Adding a login button to your homepage makes your site more accessible and user-friendly.

Helps members, clients, or customers log in quickly.
Reduces support requests and confusion about where to log in.
Looks more polished and professional.
Supports dynamic display (login/logout) for better UX.

Method 1: Add a login button using WordPress menu settings

WordPress includes built-in functionality to add login/logout links directly to your menus.

Log in to your WordPress dashboard
Go to Appearance > Menus
Open Screen Options in the top right corner. Check the box for Login/Logout to enable that menu item section.
Choose or create a menu to edit
Find the new Login/Logout panel in “Add menu items”
Select “Login” and click Add to Menu
Drag it to your preferred spot in the menu and click Save Menu

Your login button will now appear in the menu on your homepage.

Method 2: Add a login button with a widget or shortcode

This method works well if your homepage has a widget area or supports shortcodes.

Using manage_options to check for admin access

Go to Appearance > Widgets or open the site editor if you’re using a block theme
Add a Custom HTML, Shortcode, or Paragraph block to your homepage area
Insert this simple login link or button code:

<a href="/wp-login.php" class="login-button">Login</a>

Style the button with CSS

Add this to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS:

.login-button {
  background: #0073aa;
  color: #fff;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border-radius: 5px;
  text-decoration: none;
  display: inline-block;
}
.login-button:hover {
  background: #005177;
}

Method 3: Use WPForms to create a custom login form

WPForms lets you build a beautiful login form and display it anywhere on your homepage.

Install and activate WPForms. To access login forms, you’ll need the User Registration Addon (requires WPForms Pro).
Go to WPForms > Addons and activate User Registration
Create a new form. Go to WPForms > Add New and select the User Login Form template.
Customize your login form. You can add form fields, enable social logins, and tweak button styles.
Embed the form on your homepage
- Use the WPForms block in the block editor.
- Or add a shortcode like [wpforms id=”123″] to a widget, page, or template. Replace 123 with your form ID.

Method 4: Add a dynamic login/logout menu with a plugin

Plugins give you more flexibility and control, especially for logged-in user behavior.

Recommended plugins:

Login Logout Menu – Adds dynamic login/logout items to menus.
LoginPress – Customize your login page and use login forms anywhere.
WP User Manager – Includes login shortcodes and user profile tools.

Example: Setup with Login Logout Menu

Install and activate the plugin.
Go to Appearance > Menus.
A new section labeled “Login/Logout links” appears.
Add the login/logout link to your menu.
Go to Settings > Login Logout Menu to configure redirects and display rules.

Optional: Add conditional display using PHP

If you’re comfortable editing theme files, you can show or hide login/logout links with code:

<?php if ( is_user_logged_in() ) : ?>
  <a href="<?php echo wp_logout_url(); ?>">Logout</a>
<?php else : ?>
  <a href="<?php echo wp_login_url(); ?>">Login</a>
<?php endif; ?>

Install and activate the plugin.
Go to Appearance > Menus.
A new section labeled “Login/Logout links” appears.
Add the login/logout link to your menu.
Go to Settings > Login Logout Menu to configure redirects and display rules.

Optional: Add conditional display using PHP

If you’re comfortable editing theme files, you can show or hide login/logout links with code:

<?php if ( is_user_logged_in() ) : ?>
  <a href="<?php echo wp_logout_url(); ?>">Logout</a>
<?php else : ?>
  <a href="<?php echo wp_login_url(); ?>">Login</a>
<?php endif; ?>

Add this to your header.php or any template where you’d like the button to appear.

Tips for styling and placement

Make sure your login button is easy to find and works across devices.

Use a contrasting color that matches your design system.
Place it in the top navigation or homepage hero section.
Add icons to make it visually clear.
Use hover effects and spacing to enhance UX.
Test it on mobile and ensure touch targets are large enough.

Next steps for adding a WordPress login button

Adding a login button to your homepage improves navigation, user experience, and access for your members or clients. Whether you use the menu editor, a shortcode, or a plugin like WPForms, it only takes a few minutes to set up.

Pick the method that fits your site layout and user needs. Want full control over design and features? Try a custom form with WPForms or LoginPress.

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