Action Hook since 1.5.1

wp_login

Fires after a user has successfully logged in

Description

wp_login fires only on a successful authentication — pair it with wp_login_failed to cover both outcomes.

When it runs

Right after credentials are validated, before the redirect to wp-admin or the requested page.

Signature

do_action( 'wp_login', string $user_login, WP_User $user );

Parameters

$user_login string — Username of the user who logged in.
$user WP_User — WP_User object of the logged-in user.

Examples

Basic

add_action( 'wp_login', function( $user_login, $user ) {
    update_user_meta( $user->ID, 'last_login', current_time( 'mysql' ) );
}, 10, 2 );

Record a last-login timestamp for every user.

Common Use Cases

Track last login time
Redirect users by role after login
Log login events for security auditing
Trigger welcome logic on first login

Common mistakes

Assuming wp_login also covers failed attempts — use the separate wp_login_failed hook for that

Related hooks

Alternative user_register
Works with login_url

FAQ

Does wp_login fire for REST API or application password logins?

No — it fires only for the standard wp_signon() cookie-based login flow, not REST authentication.

Source: wp-includes/user.php

Group wizard

One session: this hook, then each related_hooks entry. Walk it and tell us what to change.

wp_login → user_register → login_url

functions.php — wp_login

functions.php

<?php
/**
 * Practice: hook into wp_login
 */
add_action( 'wp_login', function( $user_login, $user ) {
	// Write your callback here.

} );

Group tour

wp_login · Hook 1 of 3 · Step 1 of 6

Meet wp_login

Fires after a user has successfully logged in

wp_login fires only on a successful authentication — pair it with wp_login_failed to cover both outcomes.

type actionphase initsince 1.5.1source wp-includes/user.php

do_action( 'wp_login', string $user_login, WP_User $user );

add_action( 'wp_login', function( $user_login, $user ) {
    update_user_meta( $user->ID, 'last_login', current_time( 'mysql' ) );
}, 10, 2 );

PHP wp_login · Hook 1 of 3 · Step 1 of 6

Practice the wp_login WordPress action hook in our interactive sandbox — a VS Code-style editor with a step-by-step wp_login tutorial, add_action exercises, and instant feedback. No local WordPress install required.