A weak password is all it takes for a hacker to hijack your website. Without extra security, everything you’ve built is at risk.
One simple solution? Security questions. And setting them up is easier than you might think.
I’ve tested various authentication methods on WordPress websites and found that adding security questions is a simple way to help prevent unauthorized access. 🔑
By requiring unique answers that only you know, you add a layer of security to your website. It makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access, even if they steal your password.
In this guide, I will show you how to add security questions to your WordPress login screen. You don’t need to be a tech expert—just follow along, and you’ll have an extra security layer in minutes.

Why Add Security Questions in WordPress?
Your WordPress login page is like your website’s front door. A password is a good lock, but adding security questions is like adding a deadbolt – it makes it that much harder for someone to break in.
Security questions add an extra layer of protection to your WordPress admin area, making it harder for attackers to sneak in. When this feature is enabled, users must answer one or more personal questions before they can log in.
Here’s how security questions can help:
🔒 An Extra Hurdle for Hackers: Even if someone guesses your password, security questions make it more difficult for them to get in
🤖 Prevents Automated Attacks: Hackers often use bots to guess passwords. But security questions require personal answers that bots can’t easily figure out, making automated attacks less effective.
🔑 Helps Recover Accounts More Securely: Forgot your password? Instead of waiting for a reset email (which can be intercepted), security questions provide a quick and safe way to regain access.
⚡ Quick and Easy Setup: Security questions are easier to set up than two-factor authentication (2FA), which requires an app or separate device. While convenient, security questions offer a lighter level of protection than 2FA, which I generally recommend for maximum security.
While helpful, security questions aren’t foolproof. Clever hackers might try to guess your answers or even trick you into revealing them (this is called ‘social engineering’).
So, it’s important to choose questions with answers that aren’t easily guessed or publicly available online.
💡Important Reminder:
Keep in mind that while security questions can add an extra layer of protection, they shouldn’t be your only defense. For the best results, use them as part of a broader security strategy that includes two-factor authentication, strong password policies, and limited login attempts. To get started, see our ultimate WordPress security guide.
Having said that, let’s see how you can easily add security questions to your WordPress login screen. In this tutorial, I will be showing two methods.
You can use the links below to jump to whichever method you prefer:
Method 1: Adding Security Questions to Your Admin Login Screen With WPCode
If you want a simple way to add security questions to your WordPress admin login, then this method is for you.
I’ve seen many other websites use this tactic alongside two-factor authentication and other login protection, and it’s worked really well for them as another hurdle for potential intruders.
To do this, you will need to add custom code to your functions.php file. This can be a bit overwhelming since the smallest error can break your website. That’s why I recommend WPCode, which is the best WordPress code snippets plugin on the market.
After thorough testing, my teammates and I have concluded that it is the easiest and safest way to add custom code to your website. To learn more, see our complete WPCode review.
First, you need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For step-by-step instructions, you may want to see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
🚨 Note: The plugin also has a free version that you can use. However, upgrading to the pro plan will give you access to features like a cloud library of code snippets, smart conditional logic, block snippets, and more.
Once you activate the plugin, visit the Code Snippets » + Add Snippet page from the WordPress dashboard.
Here, click the ‘Use Snippet’ button under the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option.

This will take you to a new screen, where you can add a name for your code snippet.
Keep in mind that this name won’t be shown to any users. It is simply to help you easily identify the code snippet you are creating.
Next, choose ‘PHP Snippet’ as the ‘Code Type’ from the popup.

Now, add the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:
add_action( 'login_form', function () {
?>
<p><label for="security_question">What is your favorite color?<br/>
<input type="text" name="security_question" id="security_question" class="input" autocomplete="off"/></label>
</p>
<?php
} );
add_filter( 'wp_authenticate_user', function( $user, $password ) {
$answer = isset( $_POST['security_question'] ) ? sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['security_question'] ) ) : '';
if ( 'blue' !== strtolower( $answer ) ) { // Replace 'blue' with your expected answer
return new WP_Error( 'security_question_error', '<strong>ERROR</strong>: Incorrect answer to the security question.' );
}
return $user;
}, 10, 2 );
By default, the custom code sets “What is your favorite color?” as the security question.
However, I strongly recommend you change it to something that isn’t easily guessed. It’s best to choose something personal to you that few people know.
For example, some common security questions are:
🐶 “What was the name of your first childhood pet?”
🏡 “What was the name of the first street you lived on?”
👩 “What is your mother’s maiden name?”
Just locate this line in the code and replace it with your desired question.
<p><label for="security_question">What was the name of your first childhood pet?<br/>
Once you do that, scroll down to this line in the code:
if ( 'spike' !== strtolower( $answer ) ) { // Replace 'spike' with your expected answer
You can now change the answer to the security question from here.
Once you’ve double-checked that your question and answer are as you want, simply toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active.’

Finally, click the ‘Save Snippet’ button to store your settings.
You can now visit your WordPress login screen to see the security question.

Method 2: Adding Security Questions For All Users With MelaPress
If you want to add security questions for all users on your membership website or multi-author blog, then this method is for you.
For membership sites, this can help protect user accounts from unauthorized access during actions like password resets, account recovery, or reactivation after being disabled.
I have seen this work well on several websites offering paid subscriptions, online courses, and private communities.
For multi-author blogs, adding security questions gives extra protection for contributors, editors, and admins who have access to your WordPress dashboard. It helps prevent unauthorized changes and keeps your publishing workflow secure.
MelaPress Login Security allows you to require users to answer security questions before performing sensitive actions, like resetting a password or reactivating a disabled account.
This ensures that only the rightful account owner can complete these actions.
First, you need to install and activate the MelaPress Login Security plugin. For details, see my team’s tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.
🚨 Important: MelaPress has a free version. However, you will need the Pro plan to access the security questions feature.
After you activate the plugin, head over to the Login Security » Login Security Policies page from the WordPress admin dashboard and check the ‘Enable login security policies’ option.

Once you do that, new settings will appear on the screen. From here, scroll down to the ‘Security Questions’ section and check the ‘Activate Security questions’ box.
Then, choose if you want to require security questions to initiate a password reset or to activate a disabled account. You can also select both options.
Now, go ahead and select the number of pre-saved security questions that each user must answer.

After that, click the ‘Enable’ link next to the security questions that you want your users to answer.
If none of the default questions seem suitable, then you can just click the ‘Add question’ button and add your preferred question in the field.

You can also configure the rest of the security settings according to your liking.
Once you are done, just click the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your choices.
Now that the security questions policy has been enabled, users on your website will get a notice on their dashboard asking them to provide answers to some security questions.

Once the users click on the ‘Visit your profile page’ button, they will be taken to their WordPress profile page.
Here, they can answer the questions that you selected and click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Now, when a user on your website tries to reset their password or activate a disabled account, they will need to answer a security question first.
Here is a preview of how it will look on your login screen.

💡 Need Help Keeping Your Site Secure?
Our WordPress Maintenance Services take the hassle out of routine updates, security monitoring, and backups. We handle everything behind the scenes, so you can focus on growing your business without worrying about technical issues
For more information, see our WPBeginner Pro Services page!
Bonus Guides for Login Screen Security
I hope this tutorial helped you learn how to add security questions to your WordPress login screen. You may also want to see some guides on other ways you can protect your login screen:
- How to Add CAPTCHA in WordPress Login and Registration Form
- How to Add Passwordless Login in WordPress with Magic Links
- Why and How You Should Limit Login Attempts in WordPress
- How to Disable Login Hints in WordPress Login Error Messages
- How To Add Social Login To WordPress (The Easy Way)
- Beginner’s Guide to Adding a Custom Login URL in WordPress (Step by Step)
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Jiří Vaněk
As a second layer of protection for WordPress, where two-factor authentication can’t be used for some reason, such as with Google Authenticator, it’s definitely an interesting alternative. Every layer of security makes sense, and even though questions and answers aren’t as secure as 2FA via a mobile device and app, it’s certainly better than using nothing at all. So, as an alternative, it’s definitely an interesting solution to the app.
Dayo Olobayo
An interesting angle to consider is whether security questions become less effective over time. As social media profiles become more commonplace and people share more personal information online, I believe the answers to security questions can be easier to guess. Isn’t it possible for the security questions to auto update periodically?
WPBeginner Support
Not at the moment but possibly in the future
Admin
Mrteesurez
This is another way to protect a WordPress site by using Security questions especially for a membership site.
My question is, is this only applicable or works for a default WordPress login page ??
What of I want to use it in a custom reg and login page ??
WPBeginner Support
You can use it for a custom login page or the default login page.
Admin
Izzy
Is there a way to do this without a plugin?
WPBeginner Support
It would require some coding but we do not have a beginner-friendly method to set this up without a plugin at the moment.
Admin
Bette Greenfield
Is the information in this article up to date. Last updated on September 26th, 2016 by Editorial Staff
WPBeginner Support
The plugin should still be working but the plugin may have updated their interface since this article was last updated
Admin
chris
I just tried this plugin its totally crap
there no answer box just the question boxes. ???
WPBeginner Support
You can add your own questions and answers in plugins settings page.
Admin
chris
yes i know this, however the plugin only gave me the questions with no answer box
that is very strange with a glitch like that.
chris
I did all that and still even with putting an answer in or not it still doesn’t work it’s a crappy plugin no good to anyone.
I would not recommend this to my friends.
How embarrassing for this developer to put this out and for you to recommend.
bad bad bad
Dean Bartley
I tried it and it works just fine. Your plugins or theme must be conflicting with the plugin. And I really don’t see why your behaving the way you are. They are just trying to help. Chill with the negative comment and be thankful they are recommending stuff. If you don’t agree that is your opinion. Thanks for the recommendation wpbeginner. Keep up the good work.