# Expiry Dates for User Accounts

> Lets administrators set an expiry date on any account; after that date the user is logged out and can no longer log in, which suits trial or temporary access.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Memberships](https://wpide.com/library/category/memberships/)
- Tags: users, expiry, access
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/account-expiry-date/

## Code

```php
add_action( 'edit_user_profile', function ( $user ) {
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_user', $user->ID ) ) {
        return;
    }

    wp_nonce_field( 'wpide_expiry_' . $user->ID, 'wpide_expiry_nonce' );
    printf(
        '<h2>Access</h2><table class="form-table" role="presentation"><tr><th scope="row"><label for="wpide-expires">Account expires on</label></th><td><input type="date" id="wpide-expires" name="wpide_expires" value="%s"><p class="description">Leave empty for no expiry.</p></td></tr></table>',
        esc_attr( get_user_meta( $user->ID, 'wpide_expires', true ) )
    );
} );

add_action( 'edit_user_profile_update', function ( $user_id ) {
    if ( ! isset( $_POST['wpide_expiry_nonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( sanitize_key( $_POST['wpide_expiry_nonce'] ), 'wpide_expiry_' . $user_id ) || ! current_user_can( 'edit_user', $user_id ) ) {
        return;
    }

    $date = isset( $_POST['wpide_expires'] ) ? sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['wpide_expires'] ) ) : '';

    if ( preg_match( '/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/', $date ) ) {
        update_user_meta( $user_id, 'wpide_expires', $date );
    } else {
        delete_user_meta( $user_id, 'wpide_expires' );
    }
} );

$wpide_is_expired = function ( $user_id ) {
    $date = get_user_meta( $user_id, 'wpide_expires', true );

    return $date && wp_date( 'Y-m-d' ) > $date;
};

add_filter( 'authenticate', function ( $user ) use ( $wpide_is_expired ) {
    if ( $user instanceof WP_User && $wpide_is_expired( $user->ID ) ) {
        return new WP_Error( 'wpide_expired', '<strong>Error:</strong> Your access has expired. Please contact us to renew it.' );
    }

    return $user;
}, 60 );

// Log out people who are already signed in when their date passes.
add_action( 'init', function () use ( $wpide_is_expired ) {
    $user_id = get_current_user_id();

    if ( $user_id && ! user_can( $user_id, 'manage_options' ) && $wpide_is_expired( $user_id ) ) {
        wp_logout();
    }
} );

add_filter( 'manage_users_columns', function ( $columns ) {
    $columns['wpide_expires'] = 'Expires';

    return $columns;
} );

add_filter( 'manage_users_custom_column', function ( $output, $column, $user_id ) use ( $wpide_is_expired ) {
    if ( 'wpide_expires' !== $column ) {
        return $output;
    }

    $date = get_user_meta( $user_id, 'wpide_expires', true );

    if ( ! $date ) {
        return '&mdash;';
    }

    return $wpide_is_expired( $user_id ) ? '<span style="color:#b32d2e">Expired ' . esc_html( $date ) . '</span>' : esc_html( $date );
}, 10, 3 );
```

## Notes

Leave the date empty for accounts that never expire. Dates use the site's time zone.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Expiry Dates for User Accounts" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/