# Paid Memberships Pro: Move Expired Members to a Free Level

> When a paid membership expires, the member is moved to your free level instead of losing membership entirely, so they keep basic access and stay on your list.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Memberships](https://wpide.com/library/category/memberships/)
- Tags: pmpro, expiry, levels
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/pmpro-downgrade-to-free-on-expiry/

## Code

```php
if ( ! function_exists( 'pmpro_changeMembershipLevel' ) ) {
    return;
}

// ID of the free level.
$wpide_pmpro_free_level = 1;

add_action( 'pmpro_membership_post_membership_expiry', function ( $user_id, $level_id ) use ( $wpide_pmpro_free_level ) {
    if ( (int) $level_id === (int) $wpide_pmpro_free_level || ! pmpro_getLevel( $wpide_pmpro_free_level ) ) {
        return;
    }

    if ( ! pmpro_hasMembershipLevel( null, $user_id ) ) {
        pmpro_changeMembershipLevel( (int) $wpide_pmpro_free_level, (int) $user_id );
    }
}, 10, 2 );
```

## Notes

Set $wpide_pmpro_free_level to the ID of a free level that already exists.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Paid Memberships Pro: Move Expired Members to a Free Level" 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/