What Is the Uncanny Toolkit?
The Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash is a free, modular plugin that adds the features course creators reach for most — a branded login experience, course navigation, certificate displays, admin shortcuts, and more. Instead of installing a separate plugin or pasting code snippets for each need, you enable self-contained modules from one settings screen and configure only what you use.
Common goals the Toolkit solves include replacing the default WordPress login page, helping learners navigate and resume courses, showing students their certificates, and giving administrators tools to manage and troubleshoot their site.
How the Toolkit Works
The basic flow is the same for every module:
- Install and activate the Toolkit from the WordPress plugin directory.
- Enable a module under Uncanny Toolkit > Modules — every module ships turned off, so you opt in to exactly what you need.
- Configure it under Uncanny Toolkit > Settings, then add any blocks or shortcodes to your pages.
Because each module is independent, you can start with one and add more over time. We recommend enabling only the modules you actively use.
Choose Your Workflow
Use the guide below to jump straight to the modules that match what you’re trying to do.
I want a branded login experience
Replace the generic wp-login.php page with login, forgot-password, and reset-password forms that live on your own pages and match your theme.
Start here:
- Front End Login — Branded login forms, modal login, reCAPTCHA, and two-factor authentication
- Log In/Log Out Links — Add login/logout/register links to menus
- Log In/Log Out Redirects — Send users to the right page after sign-in
- Menu Item Visibility — Show different menu items to logged-in vs logged-out visitors
I want to improve course navigation and completion
Help learners orient themselves, pick up where they left off, and move through content smoothly.
Start here:
- Breadcrumb Links — Course → lesson → topic breadcrumbs
- Resume Button — Return learners to their last spot
- Quiz Completion Advances to Next Step — Auto-advance after a quiz
- Hide Admin Bar — A cleaner, distraction-free front end for students
I want to show learners their certificates
Make earned certificates easy to find and download.
Start here:
- Show Certificates — Make certificates available to learners (enable this first)
- Certificate Widget — Display certificates in a widget area or with a shortcode
I want to control who sees what
Gate content and menu items based on whether a visitor is logged in or enrolled.
Start here:
- Show or Hide Content — Conditionally display content with shortcodes
- Not Enrolled Redirect — Send non-enrolled visitors to a sales page
- Menu Item Visibility — Show/hide menu items by login status
I want admin tools for managing and testing my site
Troubleshoot learner issues and work safely on a staging site.
Start here:
- User Switching — See the site exactly as a specific learner, then switch back
- Groups in User Profiles — View a user’s group memberships from their profile
- Disable Emails — Block all outgoing email on a staging or test site
First-Time Setup Checklist
- Install and activate the Toolkit. See Install the Uncanny Toolkit.
- Confirm requirements — LearnDash active, PHP 7.4+, LearnDash 4.2+, WordPress 5.8+.
- Enable your first module under Uncanny Toolkit > Modules based on the workflow above.
- Configure it under Uncanny Toolkit > Settings and add any required block or shortcode to a page.
- Test it on the front end in an incognito window (especially login and redirect features, which behave differently for logged-in users).
Free vs. Pro
The free Toolkit covers the essentials. If you need advanced features — course timers, group registration and management, bulk CSV reporting, certificate emailing, and more — see Uncanny Toolkit Free vs. Toolkit Pro and Uncanny Toolkit Pro.
Related Articles
- Introduction to the Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash — Full module directory
- Install the Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash — Installation and setup
- Uncanny Toolkit – Quick Reference — Every shortcode in one place