Official Member Guide – Updated December 2025
Where to find the setting (it looks exactly like the “Location” field)
- Log in to the site.
- View Profile.
- On your profile page, click the big Edit Profile button (top right).
- Stay on the first tab called Base (Primary) – you will now see a new dropdown field near the top called Profile Visibility.
What each option actually does
| Option | Who can open and view your full profile page | Your name & avatar still appear in the Members Directory and activity stream? |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone (default) | Any visitor, even if not logged in | Yes |
| Logged-in Members Only | Only people who are logged in to the site | Yes |
| My Friends Only | Only people you have accepted as friends | Yes |
| Only Me | Nobody else – not even your friends can open your profile | Yes (but clicking your name shows “This member’s profile is private”) |
Step-by-step: How to make your profile private
- Go to Edit Profile → Base (Primary).
- Find the dropdown Profile Visibility.
- Choose the level of privacy you want:
- Want maximum privacy? → select Only Me
- Want only friends to see your profile? → select My Friends Only
- Want to hide from guests but okay with logged-in members? → select Logged-in Members Only
- Scroll down and click Save Changes.
That’s it – the change takes effect immediately!
Recommended privacy combinations most members use
| Goal | Profile Visibility setting | Additional field settings (optional but recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| Almost completely anonymous | Only Me | Set every other field (About Me, age, website, etc.) to “Only Me” |
| Only friends see personal details | My Friends Only | Set most other fields to “My Friends Only” or “Only Me” |
| Hide from guests but okay with members | Logged-in Members Only | Keep other fields as you like – they’ll only be seen by logged-in people |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why can people still see my name and photo in the Members list? A: This is normal and required by BuddyPress so the community can still function (friend requests, @mentions, activity stream, etc.). The actual profile page is what gets protected.
Q: Can I hide my name completely from the directory? A: Not with free tools without breaking a lot of features. The solution above is the maximum privacy 99% of sites allow.
Q: I chose “Only Me” but my friends say they can’t see anything – is that correct? A: Yes, that’s exactly how “Only Me” works. Change it to “My Friends Only” if you want friends to be able to visit your profile.
Q: I don’t see the “Profile Visibility” dropdown! A: Make sure you are on Edit Profile → Base (Primary) tab. If it’s still missing, try clearing your browser cache or log out/in once.
You now have full control over who can view your profile – just like on Facebook or LinkedIn! If anything is unclear, reply to this topic or send a message to the site admin.
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