# Moderating group members

URL: https://wpusermanager.com/article/251-moderating-group-members/
Last updated: 2026-10-07

When someone asks to join a **private** group, they're added as pending. They aren't a member until a group moderator or admin approves them. (Public groups don't need approval. Hidden groups can't be joined by asking: people are added or invited.)

Group roles
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- **Admin:** can edit the group, remove members, export the member list, invite people to hidden groups, and approve or reject requests.
- **Moderator:** can approve or reject requests.
- **Member:** a member of the group.

When someone asks to join
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The group's moderators and admins are emailed. Edit that email under **Users > Emails > New Group pending member**; the `{group_approval_url}` tag links to the group's Moderation tab.

Approving or rejecting on the group page
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Moderators and admins see a **Moderation** tab on the group page (nobody else does). It lists everyone waiting, with **Approve** and **Reject** links.

![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/helpscout.net/docs/assets/5d6cea4404286350aeeb5235/images/6ac634135d694b44a06b9ce9/08-moderation-tab-655a9f5f.png)

The person is emailed either way. Edit those emails under **Users > Emails > Group membership approved** and **Group membership rejected**.

Moderators can only approve or reject members of groups they moderate.

Approving or rejecting in the dashboard
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Site admins can do the same when editing the group under **User Groups**: pending members in the **Members** box have **Approve** and **Reject** links. See [Managing group members](https://wpusermanager.com/article/346-managing-group-members/).

![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/helpscout.net/docs/assets/5d6cea4404286350aeeb5235/images/6ac634005d694b44a06b9ce4/05-members-box-232e34ba.png)

For developers
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The `wpum_group_admin_email_pending_member` filter turns off the email to moderators (return `false`).