Overview
If your site uses BuddyBoss alongside LearnDash, Uncanny Groups can keep the two systems in sync — so adding or removing users in a LearnDash group automatically updates the corresponding BuddyBoss social group, without any manual duplication.
Prerequisites
The following must all be in place before sync will work:
- Uncanny Groups for LearnDash v3.9 or later installed and active
- BuddyBoss Platform installed and active
- LearnDash installed and active
- Two specific settings enabled in BuddyBoss (see below)
Required BuddyBoss Settings
These settings are in BuddyBoss, not in Uncanny Groups. Both must be enabled:
- Go to BuddyBoss > Integrations > LearnDash.
- Enable LearnDash Group Sync.
- Enable Auto Create Social Group.
- Save your changes.
If either setting is disabled, group sync will not function — no error will be shown, actions simply will not carry over to BuddyBoss.
What Gets Synced
Once the prerequisites are met, the following actions in Uncanny Groups automatically sync to BuddyBoss:
| Action in Uncanny Groups / LearnDash | Result in BuddyBoss |
|---|---|
| New LearnDash group created via the plugin | A matching BuddyBoss social group is created automatically |
| User added as a student via the Group Management page (single, bulk, or CSV import) | User added to the BuddyBoss group as a Member |
| User added as a Group Leader via the Group Management page | User added to the BuddyBoss group as an Organizer |
| User removed from a group via the Group Management page | User removed from the corresponding BuddyBoss group |
| Administrator modifies group membership via the LearnDash edit group interface | Changes sync to the associated BuddyBoss group |
User Role Mapping
Uncanny Groups maps LearnDash roles to BuddyBoss roles as follows:
- Students in the LearnDash group → Members in the BuddyBoss group
- Group Leaders in the LearnDash group → Organizers in the BuddyBoss group
This means Group Leaders retain elevated access in the BuddyBoss social group, consistent with their LearnDash role.
What Does Not Sync
To set accurate expectations:
- Changes made directly inside BuddyBoss (e.g., adding a user to a BuddyBoss group manually) do not sync back to the LearnDash group. Sync is one-directional: LearnDash/Uncanny Groups → BuddyBoss.
- Course progress, quiz results, and LearnDash activity are not affected by group sync — this feature covers group membership only.
Troubleshooting
If users are not appearing in BuddyBoss groups after being added in Uncanny Groups:
- Confirm both required BuddyBoss settings (LearnDash Group Sync and Auto Create Social Group) are enabled under BuddyBoss > Integrations > LearnDash.
- Confirm the LearnDash group was created after those settings were enabled. Groups created before the settings were turned on may not have a corresponding BuddyBoss group — try creating a new test group to verify.
- Check that the user addition was made via the Group Management page or the LearnDash edit group interface, not through another enrollment method that bypasses the sync hooks.