User Overrides and Exemptions

Pro. This feature requires WB Member Blog Pro. The free plugin must be installed and active first. See the Pro index for every Pro module.

Give specific users custom posting limits or exempt them from restrictions entirely. User overrides let you reward top contributors, accommodate special cases, and manage VIP members without changing role-based settings.

What You’ll Learn

How to set custom limits for individual users How to exempt users from all restrictions Managing exempt users list When to use overrides vs. exemptions

Override vs. Exemption

OptionWhat It DoesBest ForCustom OverrideSet specific limits for one userVIP members who need higher limitsFull ExemptionBypass all restrictions entirelyStaff, moderators, trusted contributors

Setting User-Specific Overrides

Step 1: Open User Profile

Go to Users → All Users and click Edit on the user you want to configure.

Step 2: Find Member Blog Restrictions

Scroll down to the Member Blog Restrictions section on the user profile page.

Step 3: Set Custom Limits

Enter custom values for any time period:

Per Hour: Custom hourly limit Per Day: Custom daily limit Per Week: Custom weekly limit Per Month: Custom monthly limit Per Year: Custom yearly limit

Leave fields empty to use the default role-based limits for that period.

Step 4: Update Profile

Click Update User to save the custom limits.

Exempting Users Completely

Method 1: Per-User Exemption

Go to Users → Edit User Find Member Blog Restrictions Check Exempt from Restrictions Update the profile

Method 2: Exempt Users List

Go to Member Blog → Restrictions Find Exempt Users field Enter user IDs (comma-separated) Save changes

Example: 1, 5, 12, 45 exempts users with those IDs.

Who Should Be Exempt?

User TypeRecommendationSite administratorsExempt - they manage contentContent moderatorsExempt - may need to post frequentlyStaff writersExempt or high limitsTrusted contributorsCustom high limits or exemptContest winnersTemporary exemption or bonusVIP membersCustom high limits

Override Priority Order

When checking restrictions, the system follows this priority:

Exemption check: If user is exempt, skip all restrictions User override: If custom limits set, use those Member type limits: If user has member type with limits, use those Role limits: Fall back to role-based restrictions

Higher priority settings always take precedence.

Use Case Examples

Reward a Top Contributor

User has been consistently posting quality content. Give them a boost:

Normal Subscriber limit: 5 posts/month Override for this user: 20 posts/month

Contest Winner Bonus

Winner of a blog contest gets unlimited posting for a month:

Add user ID to exempt list Set a reminder to remove after the month ends

New Hire Onboarding

New staff member needs unlimited access but has Contributor role:

Exempt them from restrictions Keep their role for other permission purposes

Viewing Exempt Status

Exempt users see a notice in their Author Dashboard:

“You are exempt from posting limits.”

The Limits tab in their dashboard shows unlimited allowances.

Tips for Managing Overrides

Document your decisions: Keep notes on why users have overrides Review periodically: Check if exemptions are still needed Use sparingly: Too many exemptions defeat the purpose of limits Consider member types: For groups of users, member type limits may be easier to manage