Make WordPress User Name the Email Address

Question

Is it possible to make WordPress user name the Email Address?

So unername could be hidden or not required and is replaced with email address.

I know there are plugins that can allow users to use their email as the log in, but they still have to enter the username when they register. I want to try and do away with the username.

Answer 1

I know this thread is over a year old now, but I just tested creating an account where the username is an email address and it works. In theory, you could create a front-end signup form that saves the email variable to both the username and email fields in the database.

WordPress allows usernames with some special characters, so this is a completely valid way to sign people up: http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/sanitize_user

Answer 2

Yes it is possible. Even you can configure WordPress to Login, Register and Retrieve Password using Email only.

You can put the code below in your theme's functions.php file.

Step-1: Remove Username textfield

add_action('login_head', function(){
?>
    <style>
        #registerform > p:first-child{
            display:none;
        }
    </style>

    <script type="text/javascript" src="<?php echo site_url('/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js'); ?>"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        jQuery(document).ready(function($){
            $('#registerform > p:first-child').css('display', 'none');
        });
    </script>
<?php
});

Step-2: Remove Username error

//Remove error for username, only show error for email only.
add_filter('registration_errors', function($wp_error, $sanitized_user_login, $user_email){
    if(isset($wp_error->errors['empty_username'])){
        unset($wp_error->errors['empty_username']);
    }

    if(isset($wp_error->errors['username_exists'])){
        unset($wp_error->errors['username_exists']);
    }
    return $wp_error;
}, 10, 3);

Step-3: Manipulate Background Registration Functionality.

add_action('login_form_register', function(){
    if(isset($_POST['user_login']) && isset($_POST['user_email']) && !empty($_POST['user_email'])){
        $_POST['user_login'] = $_POST['user_email'];
    }
});

There is also a plugin to achieve this functionality.

Plugin: https://wordpress.org/plugins/smart-wp-login/