---
title: Default and Locked Visibility Statuses
description: "The [PublishPress Statuses](https://publishpress.com/links/statuses) plugin allows you to choose default visibility statuses for new posts. The default visibility statuses in WordPress are \"Published\" and \"Private\" but it's possible to add more using the [PublishPress Statuses](https://publishpress.com/links/statuses) plugin. It also is possible to…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/how-to-lock-visibility-statuses/"
updated: "2026-02-19"
category: PublishPress Statuses / Visibility Statuses
---

# Default and Locked Visibility Statuses

The [PublishPress Statuses](https://publishpress.com/links/statuses) plugin allows you to choose default visibility statuses for new posts. The default visibility statuses in WordPress are "Published" and "Private" but it's possible to add more using the [PublishPress Statuses](https://publishpress.com/links/statuses) plugin.

It also is possible to lock those statuses so new posts are forced to have these statuses.

- Go to Statuses > Settings in your WordPress admin menu.
- The default visibility will be set to "Published" which is the normal approach in WordPress.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lock-statuses-1024x268.png)

- You can choose another default visibility status from the dropdown as in this screenshot below. When you publish new posts, they will all default to the status you choose here.

![Choose a new default status](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/change-visibility-status-1024x287.png)

- You can also check the “Lock” box which means that users will not be able to change the visibility.

![Locked statuses](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/locked-status-1024x212.png)

Here's what happens when a status is locked. We'll use the example of posts locked to the "Published" status.

- Test as a user who is not an Administrator. Users in the Administrator role are exempt from this lock.
- Create a new post. Click “Publish” when your post is ready. You can see in the screenshot below that the post is moving to the "Published" status.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/new-post-published-1024x404.png)

- After you have published your post, come back to the editing screen.
- The “Status & Visibility” box will be visible but it will not be possible to change the status.

![Status & Visibility box ](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/locked-status-dropdown-1024x800.png)