What Is the Redirect After Logout feature?
By default, after a user logs out of WordPress, they are redirected to the page they were on. This can be confusing and may leave them on a page that requires authentication. The Redirect After Logout feature sends them to the login page instead, providing a clear logout confirmation.
Why You Need It
The default behavior after logout can be confusing:
- Stale content: The user may see a page that requires authentication, leading to a confusing “access denied” experience
- No confirmation: The user may not be sure the logout was successful
- Security: If the user is on a shared computer, they may forget to close the browser
Redirecting to the login page provides a clear logout confirmation and forces the user to re-authenticate if they want to continue.
How to Redirect After Logout in WordPress
Step 1: Navigate to Settings
Click into the Classic Monks plugin settings in your WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Go to the WooCommerce Tab
Click on the WooCommerce menu, then click the Redirection subtab.
Step 3: Enable Redirect After Logout
Toggle on Redirect after logout.
Step 4: Save Changes
Click Save Changes.
Step 5: Test
Log in as a user. Click “Log out”. You should be redirected to the login page.
Configuration Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Redirect after logout | Master toggle. | Off |
The redirect destination is the login page. To customize it, use the plugin settings.
What Gets Affected
- The logout process: users are redirected to the login page after logout
- The customer experience: clear logout confirmation
- The security: forces re-authentication if the user wants to continue
What Does NOT Get Affected
- The actual logout process: the user is still logged out
- The login page: not affected (the redirect goes TO it)
- The WordPress session: the user’s session is destroyed as usual
- The WordPress cookies: cleared as usual
Advanced Options (Developers)
This feature registers 1 WordPress hook in woocommerce-functions.php:
Actions:
wp_logoutcallscm_redirect_after_logout_action()(Redirects to login page after logout)
// Hooked in woocommerce-functions.php
add_action( 'wp_logout', 'cm_redirect_after_logout_action' );The feature modifies WooCommerce behavior by registering or removing hooks. Disabling it reverses those changes.
Common Use Cases
Shared computer environments
Stores used in libraries, internet cafes, or shared offices benefit from forcing re-authentication after logout.
Security-focused stores
For stores handling sensitive data (financial, medical), forcing re-authentication after logout is a security best practice.
Compliance requirements
Some regulations require that logout forces re-authentication. This feature helps with compliance.
Troubleshooting
The redirect is not happening
Cause: The toggle is off, or the user is being logged out via a non-standard mechanism (e.g., a custom logout link).
Fix: Verify the toggle is on. Try the standard WordPress logout link.
The redirect goes to the wrong page
Cause: The default destination is the login page, but the login page may be at a different URL than expected.
Fix: Configure in the plugin settings to set a custom destination.
AJAX logouts are being broken
Cause: The redirect applies to all logouts, including AJAX logouts.
Fix: Configure in the plugin settings to exclude AJAX requests. AJAX logouts handle their own response.
The redirect creates a redirect loop
Cause: The destination page has its own redirect that points back to the logout link.
Fix: Check the destination page for any redirect rules. The destination should not redirect under normal conditions.