How to Display Recently Registered Users in WordPress

Ever visited a website and thought, “Wow, this place is active—I want to be part of it!”? That’s the power of showing off your newest members.

Displaying recently registered users on your WordPress site creates a sense of community and encourages more people to join. It highlights an active, growing user base, which builds trust and drives engagement.

But there’s a catch – you need to do it right. That means balancing privacy, design, and seamless integration.

In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to display recently registered users in WordPress to spark more participation.

Why Display Recently Registered Users in WordPress?

Displaying new sign-ups on your website is a classic example of social proof. When potential users see that others are actively joining, it builds immediate trust and creates a sense of a vibrant community.

In our experience running membership sites, we’ve found that showcasing an active community is one of the most effective ways to encourage new sign-ups. It signals that your site offers real value that people are excited about.

Here are just a few ways you can use a recent user list:

• Create a resource of shared contact information for members.
• For small business sites, create a filterable directory of your team members or contributors.
• Showcase a list of donors for your nonprofit.
• Encourage new forum sign-ups by showing the community is growing.
• Display new students for an online course to build engagement.

For maximum impact, you can consider placing your list of recent users in a sidebar widget on your community’s About page. Or, you can put it right next to your registration form to give potential members that final nudge to join.

With that in mind, we’ll show you how you can display recently registered users in WordPress. You can simply use the quick links below to jump straight to the method you want to use:

• Method 1. Display Recently Registered Users by Adding Code to WordPress
• Method 2. Display Recently Registered Users with Formidable Forms
• Method 3. Display Recently Registered Users with Dynamic User Directory
• Bonus Tip: Maximize Your Social Proof With TrustPulse
• FAQs About Displaying Recently Registered Users in WordPress
• More User Management Tips

Ready? Let’s get started.

Method 1. Display Recently Registered Users by Adding Code to WordPress

The simplest way you can display your recently registered users is by adding code to WordPress.

Typically, people will tell you to add a custom code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file.

However, we strongly recommend that you avoid this. It’s not very beginner-friendly – one tiny mistake, you risk breaking your website.

Instead, we recommend using a code snippets plugin like WPCode. This way, you can safely add and manage custom code snippets on your site.

WPCode is the best code snippet plugin out there, and we use it on our own websites. For a deeper look into the tool, check out our detailed WPCode review.

So, let’s install and activate the WPCode plugin. If you need help, you can refer to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, let’s first navigate to Code Snippet » + Add Snippet.

On the next screen, you’ll want to hover over ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ and click on the ‘+ Add Custom Snippet’ button.

After that, WPCode will prompt you to choose a code type.

Here, you’ll need to click on ‘PHP Snippet.’

This will take you to the code editor.

The first thing to do is name the custom code snippet. This is for your reference only, so feel free to give any name you want. Just be sure to use a clear name so it’s easier for you to refer to it later.

Then, you can go ahead and paste the following custom code snippet into the ‘Code Preview’ area:

function wpb_recently_registered_users() {
    global $wpdb;

    ob_start();

    $recent_users = $wpdb->get_results(
        "SELECT user_nicename, user_url, user_email
        FROM $wpdb->users
        ORDER BY user_registered DESC
        LIMIT 5"
    );

    if ( $recent_users ) {
        echo '<ul class="recently-registered-users">';
        foreach ( $recent_users as $user ) {
            $avatar = get_avatar( $user->user_email, 45 );
            $user_url = esc_url( $user->user_url );
            $user_nicename = esc_html( $user->user_nicename );

            echo '<li>';
            if ( ! empty( $user_url ) ) {
                echo '<a href="' . $user_url . '" title="' . $user_nicename . '">' . $avatar . $user_nicename . '</a>';
            } else {
                echo $avatar . $user_nicename;
            }
            echo '</li>';
        }
        echo '</ul>';
    }

    return ob_get_clean();
}
add_shortcode( 'wpb_newusers', 'wpb_recently_registered_users' );

Here’s what it should look like:

After that, you can toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active.’

And finally, don’t forget to click the ‘Save Snippet’ button.

This code snippet does a few key things: It securely fetches the 5 most recently registered users from your WordPress database, grabs their username and avatar, and then wraps them in a simple list.

Finally, it creates the [wpb_newusers] shortcode so you can easily display this list anywhere on your site.

To add the shortcode to your website, simply open the page where you want the list of users to display.

Then, you’ll want to click the ‘+’ add block icon, search for ‘Shortcode,’ and select it.

After that, you can paste the [wpb_newusers]shortcode into the block.

When you’re done making changes, click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to make your changes live.

You can follow the same steps by adding the shortcode to a post or a widget area.

Now, you can view your list of recently registered users:

Method 2. Display Recently Registered Users with Formidable Forms

Another way to display recently registered users is to use the Formidable Forms plugin.

It’s one of the top contact form plugins and best user registration plugins for WordPress. This plugin has advanced features that let you format, filter, and display user-submitted data, including user profile data, on the front end of your website.

Explore all the features we’ve tested in our complete Formidable Forms review.

This method doesn’t automatically display all users, but it gives you more control and richer profiles. You can add custom fields for bios, social media links, job titles, and more.

It even integrates with MemberPress, so you can easily display a list of your recently registered members on your membership website.

Plus, you can use it to create all kinds of useful online tools like web directories, online calculators, and more.

The first thing you need to do is install and activate the Formidable Forms plugin. For more details, feel free to see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, you’ll need to go to Formidable » Global Settings.

Then, simply click the ‘Connect an Account’ button or manually enter your license key. You can find this information under your account on the Formidable Forms website.

Once you’ve done that, go ahead and click the ‘Save License’ button.

Next, you need to install the Formidable Directory addon. Depending on your plan, this addon may already be active.

If not, then you’ll need to go to the Formidable Directory page and click the ‘Get Formidable Directory’ button.

After you complete the purchase, it will automatically be added to your account.

Next, let’s go to Formidable Forms » Add-Ons and search for the ‘Directory’ addon.

Once found, you’ll want to click the ‘Install’ button.

After that, navigate to Formidable » Global Settings.

Then, go ahead and click the ‘Directory’ menu option.

This will automatically start the setup wizard to help you create your user directory. If you haven’t connected your site to Formidable Forms, then you’ll be asked to do that now.

The next step is to click the ‘Install & Activate’ button to have any required add-ons ready for use.

Now, you can click the ‘User/Member’ box to display your recently registered users and choose a ‘Two Column’ or ‘Table List’ display.

Then, simply enter a page name for your listing form and your directory page and click the ‘Create Now’ button.

This will automatically create the necessary forms, views, and pages to display your users, but it doesn’t publish them yet, so you can still make changes.

After that, you can click the ‘View Page’ button in the ‘Customize Your New Pages’ section.

This will take you to a page with your registered user list. 

This page includes a search bar, an A-Z filter, and boxes containing each of your registered users. Feel free to take advantage of these features to explore your user list.

When everything is set, it’s time to publish.

To do this, simply click the ‘Edit Page’ button at the top of the screen.

This will open the page editor screen. You can edit this page and make necessary adjustments just as you would with any other WordPress page.

When you’ve finished editing the page, you can click the ‘Publish’ button to make it live.

If you want to customize how your registered user directory looks, then go to Formidable » Views.

In this area, you’ll want to hover over the view that was just created and click ‘Edit.’

This will bring you to the view editor screen.

Here, you can fully customize how your user directory looks. For example, you could limit the number of users per page, filter and sort the user entries, or add more content to their individual profiles.

Once you’re finished making changes, go ahead and click the ‘Update’ button.

It will automatically update the user directory you published earlier.

Publish the User Profile Form

After you customize and publish your user directory, you’ll need to publish the form connected to the directory, too.

Users who have already registered on your WordPress site will need to fill out this separate form to be listed in the user directory.

This is because, unlike the default WordPress registration, the directory lets users share richer profiles. They can add things like a bio or photo, but only if they choose to make that information public.

First, you’ll want to navigate to Pages » All Pages and then click on the page that was created earlier. In this case, it’s ‘Add a Listing’.

This will bring you to the page editor screen, where you’ll see the page title and a shortcode.

Next, simply click the ‘Publish’ button to make your page live.

Now, you can view your page as well as your user registration form. 

New users can use this form to fill out their user directory profile information on your website.

If you want to customize the form fields, then navigate to Formidable » Forms.

Next, click on the form you named earlier. In this case, the ‘User Directory Profile’ form.

This will launch the form builder.

If you want to add new form fields, simply drag them from the options panel on the left onto your form.

To delete existing form fields, you can click on the field and click the ‘Three Dots’ menu option.

Go ahead and click’ Delete’ from the available dropdown menu items.

Once you’ve finished customizing your form, make sure to click the ‘Update’ button to save your changes. Your form will then automatically update.

Method 3. Display Recently Registered Users with Dynamic User Directory

If you prefer a free and lightweight option, the Dynamic User Directory plugin is a great choice. While it’s not as advanced or customizable as Formidable Forms, it lets you display a simple list of your recently registered users.

The first thing you need to do is install and activate the plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After that, you’ll need to go to Settings » Dynamic User Directory to configure your directory settings.

You can control how your registered user list is sorted in the ‘Sort Field’ dropdown. Then, you’ll choose which kind of directory type you want to display from ‘Directory Type’.

After that, you can enable a directory search feature by checking the ‘Directory Search’ box.

You can select certain user roles or specific users from the drop-down list if you want to exclude them.

Next, let’s control how your directory looks and the user information that will be displayed.

To do this, simply go to the ‘Listing Display Settings’ section. Here, you can control the user’s name, avatars, borders, and more.

Below that, in the ‘Directory Totals Settings’ meta box, you can choose the total number of users, customize the text, and more.

Displaying the total number of users can be helpful if you want to use social proof to encourage new users to create an account on your site.

Next, you can customize how the letter links and pagination will display on your user list.

You might want to set the number of users to show per page, change the spacing, and more.

Once you’re finished, go ahead and click the ‘Save options’ button at the bottom of the screen to save your directory.

This will create and display a shortcode for your user directory at the top of the page. You’ll need to copy this to add your directory to your site.

Simply open the page, post, or widget area to display your list of users.

The next step is to click the ‘+’ icon and search for ‘Shortcode.’ Once you find it, you can click on it.

Once you’ve added the ‘Shortcode’ block to the editor, you can paste the shortcode into the box.

Then, go ahead and click the ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ button.

Now, you can view your list of recently registered users on your site.

You can repeat the above steps to add the list of recently registered users to a post or widget area.

Bonus Tip: Maximize Your Social Proof With TrustPulse

Displaying recently registered users is a great way to show that your community is active. It works because people trust a site more when they see others are already joining.

You can take this idea a step further by adding real-time social proof notifications with TrustPulse. Instead of just showing a list of new users, TrustPulse pops up small messages on your site whenever someone signs up, submits a form, or makes a purchase.

For example, our partner brand OptinMonster uses TrustPulse to show recent sign-ups and customer activity, which helps build urgency and trust. We’ve seen how this strategy can boost conversions by convincing hesitant visitors to take action.

For details, see our guide on how to use FOMO on your WordPress site to increase conversions.

FAQs About Displaying Recently Registered Users in WordPress

Is it safe to display user information publicly on my WordPress site?

It depends on what information you display. We recommend never showing sensitive data like emails or full names without consent. Plus, opt-in directories like Formidable Forms are safer.

Can I choose which user information to display?

Yes. Plugins like Formidable Forms give full control. Developers can also modify the custom code snippet to add or remove fields.

Will displaying a list of users slow down my site?

Not if implemented correctly. The shortcode and plugins are lightweight, and pagination helps if you have thousands of users.

More User Management Tips

We hope this article has helped you learn how to display recently registered users in WordPress.

Want to dive deeper? Here are more tips on user management to help your WordPress site run more smoothly:

• How to Allow Users to Invite Their Friends to Register in WordPress
• How to Block a WordPress User Without Deleting Their Account
• How to Show Personalized Content to Different Users in WordPress
• How to Send an Email to All Registered Users in WordPress
• How to Restrict User Login to One Device in WordPress
• How to Apply CSS for Specific User Roles in WordPress
• Free User Management Plugins for WordPress

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