How to Hide the Member Directory Page

Introduction

The BuddyBoss platform does not provide a built-in option to disable or hide the Member Directory page. If you want to prevent users from accessing the members directory, you can achieve this by adding a small custom function to your active theme. This approach forces the Member Directory page to return a 404 error, effectively hiding it from public access. This guide explains how to hide the Member Directory page using a custom workaround.

Custom Workaround

Before proceeding, make sure you have a complete site backup.

1. Go to Appearance > Theme Editor in your WordPress admin dashboard.
   
2. Under Select theme to edit, choose your active theme (preferably a BuddyBoss Child Theme), then click Select.
   
3. From the Theme Files list, open Theme Functions (functions.php).
   
4. Add the following code just before the closing PHP tag (?>):
   

function bbp_hide_members_directory() {
    if ( bp_is_members_directory() ) {
        bp_do_404();
        load_template( get_404_template() );
        exit( 0 );
    }
}
add_action( 'bp_template_redirect', 'bbp_hide_members_directory' );

5. Click Update File to save the changes.
   

After saving, visiting the Members Directory page will display a 404 page instead of the directory.

Screenshots

With the code:

Without the Code: 

Note: Modifications are typically considered custom work, but we are making an exception in this case. Please review the BuddyBoss Support Policy.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Q: The Members Directory is still accessible.
A: Make sure the code is added to your child theme’s functions.php file. Clear any caching plugins and refresh the page. Also confirm that BuddyBoss Platform is active.

Q: Does this remove member profiles as well?
A: No. This only hides the main Members Directory listing. Individual member profile URLs will still be accessible unless restricted separately.

Q: Can I hide the directory only for logged-out users?
A: Yes. The function can be modified to check is_user_logged_in() if you want to restrict access conditionally.

Q: Can I undo this change later?
A: Yes. Simply remove the code from functions.php and save the file. The Members Directory will become accessible again.