Appearance
Guest View
The Guest View function allows administrators to preview their site exactly as a logged-out visitor would see it. This is essential for testing visibility settings, logged-out user experience, and content restrictions.
Overview
Browse your site as a guest without logging out. Your session is temporarily suspended while you view the site as an anonymous visitor. Exit guest view at any time to return to your admin account.
Key Features
- One-click switch to guest view
- Floating exit button for easy return
- Admin bar integration
- Elementor widget available
- Customizable button colors and position
- Session preservation (you’re never actually logged out)
Setup Instructions
Step 1: Enable the Function
- Navigate to Voxel Toolkit → Functions in your WordPress admin
- Find Guest View in the list
- Toggle the switch to enable the function
- Click Save Changes
Step 2: Customize Appearance (Optional)
Configure the exit button’s appearance:
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Button Position | Corner placement of exit button | Bottom Right |
| Background Color | Button background color | #ff4444 (Red) |
| Text Color | Button text color | #ffffff (White) |
How to Use
Enter Guest View
There are multiple ways to enter guest view:
From Admin Bar
- While viewing your site’s frontend (logged in)
- Click View as Guest in the admin bar
- The page reloads showing the guest view
Using Elementor Widget
- Add the “Guest View” widget to any page
- Configure button text and styling
- Widget automatically shows for authorized users only
Exit Guest View
- Look for the floating “Exit Guest View” button (default: bottom right corner)
- Click the button
- Your admin session is restored immediately
How It Works
The function uses secure cookies to temporarily suspend your session:
- When entering guest view, your user ID is stored in an encrypted cookie
- WordPress authentication cookies are temporarily suspended
- The site renders as if you were a logged-out visitor
- When exiting, cookies are restored and you’re logged back in
Security Note
You are never actually logged out. Your session is preserved and can only be restored from the same browser. The stored user ID is encrypted for security.
Use Cases
Testing Content Visibility
Verify that member-only content is properly hidden from guests.
Login/Register Flow Testing
Test your login and registration pages as a new visitor would experience them.
SEO and Public Appearance
See exactly what search engines and public visitors see on your site.
Client Demonstrations
Show clients what their site looks like to public visitors without logging out.
Elementor Widget
An Elementor widget is included for placing a guest view toggle button anywhere on your site.
Widget Options
- Button Text: Customize the toggle button text
- Button Alignment: Left, center, or right alignment
- Styling: Full control over colors, padding, and typography
Troubleshooting
Exit Button Not Appearing
- Ensure you’re in guest view mode (check for the guest view cookie)
- Check that the button isn’t hidden behind other elements (z-index issues)
- Verify the function is enabled in settings
- Clear browser cache
Can’t Exit Guest View
- Clear all cookies for the site
- Navigate directly to /wp-admin/ to log in normally
- Try a different browser or incognito mode
Admin Bar Still Visible
The admin bar should be hidden in guest view. If it still appears:
- Check for caching plugins that might be serving a cached version
- Verify guest view is actually active (check cookies)