How to Add reCaptcha to WordPress (Quickly!)

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How to Add reCaptcha to WordPress (Quickly!)

Getting Started

Google reCAPTCHA is a free service that protects your website from spam and abuse. It uses advanced risk analysis techniques to tell humans and bots apart. This guide will show you how to add reCAPTCHA to WordPress to keep your site safe and secure.

Step 1: Google reCAPTCHA Registration

First, you have to register your site with Google reCAPTCHA. Here are the easy to follow steps:

  1. Visit the Google reCAPTCHA website.
  2. Click on the ‘Admin Console’ button at the top right corner.
  3. Log in with your Google account.
  4. Next, click the ‘+’ button to register a new site.
  5. Enter a label and choose reCAPTCHA v3.
  6. Enter your website domain into the ‘Domains’ field.
  7. Accept the terms of service and click ‘Submit’.

After successful completion, you will receive your Site Key and Secret Key.

Step 2: Install a WordPress reCAPTCHA Plugin

To add Google reCAPTCHA to your WordPress site, you will need a compatible plugin. One highly recommended plugin is Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) by BestWebSoft.

  1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
  2. Search for ‘Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) by BestWebSoft’ and click ‘Install Now’.
  3. After installation, click ‘Activate’.

Upon activation, you need to configure the plugin settings.

Step 3: Configure your WordPress Plugin

  1. Go to Settings > Google Captcha.
  2. You will be redirected to the plugin settings page.
  3. Enter the Site Key and Secret Key that you received from the Google reCAPTCHA platform.
  4. Choose the desired settings.
  5. Click ‘Save Changes’.

The plugin offers a variety of settings that you can adjust according to your needs. You can enable reCAPTCHA for login, registration, comment and contact forms.

Although this guide uses Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) by BestWebSoft, there are many other plugins that can also be used to add Google reCAPTCHA to your WordPress site. Examples are WP-reCAPTCHA and Advanced noCaptcha & invisible Captcha.

Step 4: Validate reCAPTCHA on WordPress Pages

Finally, verify if the reCAPTCHA is working correctly on your WordPress pages.

  1. Open the website in incognito mode/private browsing.
  2. Navigate to the page where you enabled reCAPTCHA (login, registration, comments, or contact form).
  3. You should be able to see the reCAPTCHA box under the form.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully added Google reCAPTCHA to your WordPress site!

Conclusion

To wrap up, adding Google reCAPTCHA to your WordPress site will not only keep it safe from spam and bots but also ensure a simple and effective user interaction. Make sure to keep your Site Key and Secret Key confidential, and always test your setup to prevent any future issues.

Remember, security should be a top priority when managing a website, and tools like reCAPTCHA are a great way to add an extra level of protection.

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