Content Time Lock — User Guide

Content Time Lock is a WordPress plugin that hides the content of any post or page until a date and time you choose. When that moment arrives, the content becomes visible automatically — no action required from you or your students.

Designed for course creators, membership sites, and anyone who needs to release content on a fixed schedule. Currently at version 1.1.0 · Tested up to WordPress 6.8.5 · PHP 7.4 or higher.

Key Features

• Hides content until a scheduled unlock date — automatically revealed, no manual action needed.
• Displays a customisable message and optional countdown timer while content is locked.
• Restricts access by user role — lock for guests only, all logged-in users, or specific roles.
• Per-post overrides let you customise the locked screen independently of global settings.
• Central Time Locks dashboard gives you a summary of all locked and unlocked content at a glance.
• Optional Call-to-Action button directs users elsewhere while they wait.
• Lightweight, responsive, and compatible with any WordPress theme.
• Translation-ready (Loco Translate, WPML, PolyLang).

Requirements

• WordPress 5.5 or higher
• PHP 7.4 or higher
• A modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

How to Install

1. In your WordPress dashboard go to Plugins → Add New and search for Content Time Lock.
2. Click Install Now, then Activate.
3. Alternatively, download the ZIP from WordPress.org and upload via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
4. After activation, navigate to Tools → Timed Content Locker → Global Settings to configure your defaults.

Quick Start

1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Go to Tools → Timed Content Locker → Global Settings and set your default locked message and countdown preference.
3. Open any post or page, find the Time Lock Content panel in the sidebar, and check Enable Time Lock.
4. Set the unlock date and time, choose who is restricted, and save.
5. Done — the content will unlock automatically at the scheduled moment.

Configuring Global Settings

Navigate to Tools → Timed Content Locker → Global Settings. These settings apply to every locked post or page unless overridden at the individual post level.

5.1 Locked Message

The message shown to restricted users. Supports plain text. Maximum 500 characters. Example: This lesson unlocks on the scheduled date. Check back soon!

5.2 Countdown Timer

Toggle whether a countdown timer is shown alongside the locked message. The timer counts down to the exact unlock date and time set on each post.

5.3 Appearance

Assign a custom CSS class to the locked placeholder. Default: tcl-locked-content. Use this to style the locked state to match your theme.

Locking a Post or Page

6.1 Enabling a Time Lock

Open any post or page in the block editor. In the right-hand sidebar, find the Time Lock Content panel and check Enable Time Lock.

6.2 Who Is Restricted

• All Logged In Users — all logged-in users and guests see the locked screen.
• Choose Specific Roles — restrict only selected user roles (e.g. Subscriber, Customer).
• Guest Users — only non-logged-in visitors are locked out.

Note: Administrators always see the full content and cannot be restricted.

6.3 Unlock Date & Time

Set the unlock date and time in the Time Lock Content panel and save the post. The time is based on your site’s timezone as set in Settings → General.

Customising the Locked Screen Per Post

Enable Override Global Settings on any post to set a custom locked message (up to 500 characters), toggle the countdown independently, and choose a different timer template. You can also add a Call-to-Action Button with custom label and URL to direct users elsewhere while they wait.

Managing All Time Locks

Navigate to Time Lock → All Time Locks for a central overview of every locked post and page. You’ll see summary counts and a Locked / Unlocked status badge for each item, making it easy to audit your whole site at a glance.

What Your Students See

When a restricted user visits a locked post, they see a lock icon, your custom message, and (if enabled) a live countdown timer ticking down to the unlock moment. As soon as the scheduled time passes, a page refresh reveals the full content with no intervention from you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need coding skills to use this plugin?

No. Everything is configured through the block editor sidebar and the Global Settings screen — no code required.

Does it work with any WordPress theme?

Yes. The plugin is designed to work with any theme that follows WordPress coding guidelines.

Is the plugin responsive?

Yes. The locked placeholder and countdown timer are fully responsive and display correctly on all screen sizes.

Can I translate the plugin?

Yes. All user-facing text is translation-ready. Use Loco Translate, WPML, or PolyLang to translate messages into any language.

Can administrators be locked out?

No. Administrators always see the full content regardless of the time lock settings.

Limitations

• Content is locked at the post/page level only — you cannot lock individual blocks within a post.
• The unlock date cannot be set in the past; attempting this will leave content locked.
• Countdown accuracy depends on the browser clock of the visiting user.
• The plugin does not currently support recurring schedules — each post has a single unlock date.

Getting Help

Have a question or found a bug? Head to the support forum on WordPress.org or get in touch via the WPMake contact page. We typically respond within 1–2 business days.