The “Remember me” checkbox on the WordPress login screen is one of those features that have always been there but perhaps we have never stopped to analyze what it does, what it is for, if it is useful for anything.
What is the “Remember me” box on the WordPress login screen for?
The “Remember me” checkbox defines, whether active or not, the duration of the session cookie. Basically, it works like this:
- Unchecked “Remember me” box – The cookie lasts for the current session. The next time you open the browser you will have to re-enter your username and password.
- Checkbox “Remember me” activated – The cookie lasts for 2 weeks. Even if you close the browser a session cookie is saved that will allow you to log in to manage your WordPress for 15 days without having to enter your username and password.
Why might I want to remove the “Remember me” checkbox from the WordPress login screen?
If you’ve read the explanation above, there are situations where you probably don’t want any session cookies to be stored, so that every user who logs out or closes the browser ends their session, without the risk of someone else accessing your web administration with “YOUR” session cookie.
I’m thinking of hotel computers, coworking sites, PCs shared with other people, etc.
In these situations you might consider, for security reasons, removing the “Remember me” checkbox so that neither you nor anyone else can activate the two-week saving of the session cookie, thus forcing you to always have to enter username and password for each session.
How do I remove the “Remember me” checkbox from the WordPress login screen?
If you are clear about the advantages of not being able to activate the session reminder cookie for 2 weeks, and you want to always have to log in at each new session, here are 2 methods for not being able to activate the checkbox.
Hide the “Remember me” checkbox from the WordPress login screen with code
Simply add this code, using the method you are most comfortable with, and the “Remember me” option will disappear from the login screen:
/* Remove "Remember me" from login */
add_action('login_head', 'wphelp_remove_remember_me');
function wphelp_remove_remember_me()
{
echo '<style type="text/css">.forgetmenot { display:none; }</style>';
}Code language: HTML, XML (xml)Hide the “Remember me” checkbox from the WordPress login screen with a plugin
If you prefer to use a plugin then install and activate Remember Me Controls.
Once activated you will find under “Settings → Remember Me” the plugin options.
There are more settings possible, but for what concerns us simply check the box at the bottom, the one that says “Disable the “Remember Me” feature?” and save the changes.
No matter which method is chosen, in both cases the “Remember me” checkbox will no longer be available on the WordPress login screen.
