WP Ghost does not have a built-in license transfer system, but you can still pass your license on when you sell a website. The workaround is simple: change the email address on your WP Ghost account to the new owner’s email, and they inherit the active subscription, license, and all connected sites. For full control they will want their own account eventually, but for a clean handover at the moment of sale, updating the email on the existing account does the job.
The Typical Scenario
You are selling a website (or flipping a portfolio of client sites) and WP Ghost Premium is installed. The new owner wants their security to keep working on day one, not have to buy a fresh license, install the plugin from scratch, and reconfigure everything. That is the question this FAQ answers: how does the license travel with the site?
Option 1: Transfer the Entire Account by Changing the Email
This is the recommended approach when you are selling your only website or your entire business. Log into your WP Ghost Dashboard at account.hidemywpghost.com, update the email address on the account to the buyer’s email, and hand them the new login credentials. Everything moves with the account: the active subscription, all connected sites, license keys, payment history, and the Paddle billing setup. From that point on, the buyer manages the account and you step away.
One thing to keep in mind: the email change transfers the whole account, not just one license. If you have multiple sites on the same account and you are only selling one of them, this is not the right option.
Option 2: Disconnect the Site and Let the Buyer Use Their Own License
Use this option when you are selling a single site out of a portfolio, or when the buyer already has their own WP Ghost account. The process takes about two minutes:
- Log into your WP Ghost Dashboard and go to Connected Websites.
- Find the site you are selling and click Delete to remove the license from that site. This frees up the slot on your account.
- The buyer installs WP Ghost on the site, enters their own Activation Token from their account, and the plugin reconnects under their license.
Full walkthrough in the disconnect a website and activate on a new website tutorials. Note that when you disconnect the site, its paths revert to WordPress defaults until the buyer reactivates WP Ghost with their own license, so coordinate the timing with them to avoid a security gap.
Which Option Should You Use?
| Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Selling your only website | Change account email to buyer |
| Selling your whole business or agency | Change account email to buyer |
| Selling one site from a portfolio | Disconnect and let buyer activate their own |
| Buyer already owns a WP Ghost license | Disconnect and let buyer activate their own |
| Client handoff where you keep billing control | Keep the account, give them temporary access |
What Happens to the Subscription Billing
WP Ghost subscriptions renew annually through Paddle. If you change the account email to the new owner, the next renewal will charge whichever payment method is on file, so the buyer should update the payment details in their Paddle subscription settings before the next billing cycle. The update payment details guide walks through that step.
If you prefer to cancel the subscription before the sale and let the buyer start fresh, the plugin keeps working on the site for the remainder of the paid period and continues functioning after expiration at the last version installed. It just stops receiving updates and support. See the cancel subscription guide for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my WP Ghost license to someone else?
Not through a built-in license transfer system, but yes in practice. If you are transferring the whole business, change the account email to the buyer’s address and they inherit everything. If you are selling just one site, disconnect it from your dashboard and let the buyer activate with their own license.
How do I change the email on my WP Ghost account?
Log into your WP Ghost Dashboard at account.hidemywpghost.com, open your profile settings, and update the email address. The new email becomes the login identity for the account, so share it with the buyer along with the password (and have them change the password right after).
Will my license still work on the site after I change the email?
Yes. Connected websites are tied to the account, not the email address. Changing the email updates the login credentials and billing contact, but the license and all connected sites stay active without interruption.
What if I need to move just one site to a different account?
Disconnect the site from your WP Ghost Dashboard, which removes the license from that site and frees a slot on your account. The new owner then installs WP Ghost on their end, enters their own Activation Token, and the site connects to their account with their license.
Does the site lose its WP Ghost settings during a transfer?
No, if you transfer via email change. All configurations, custom paths, firewall rules, and 2FA setups remain intact because the plugin stays connected to the same account.
If you disconnect the site and reconnect under a different account, the site reverts to WordPress default paths during the gap. Use the backup and restore feature to save your WP Ghost configuration first, then reload it on the new account to get the same setup back in place quickly.
Can I get a refund instead of transferring the license?
If you are within 30 days of your initial purchase, yes. WP Ghost offers a full refund within 30 calendar days of purchase, and renewal refunds within 24 hours of the renewal payment. See the payment refund policy for details.
Does WP Ghost modify WordPress core files?
No. WP Ghost uses server-level rewrite rules and WordPress filters. No core files are modified. Deactivating WP Ghost during or after a license transfer restores every original path instantly, which makes ownership handovers clean and reversible.