WooCommerce Memberships: hook map

Use this when building or reviewing an integration that needs to react to WooCommerce Memberships events. This is a curated decision map, not an exhaustive dump of every hook call in the plugin.

Misconception this skill corrects

"Memberships are just posts/meta, so query wc_user_membership posts and update _member_plan_id or post_status directly."

User memberships are stored as custom posts, but the plugin has object wrappers, status hooks, access rules, order-grant metadata, REST/webhook behavior, profile-field storage, and Subscriptions integration. Prefer public functions and WC_Memberships_User_Membership methods unless the task explicitly requires low-level inspection.

When to use this skill

Trigger when ANY of the following is true:

• The user asks for WooCommerce Memberships actions/filters, lifecycle hooks, status hooks, purchase grant hooks, profile fields, REST API hooks, webhooks, member directory, members area, or Subscriptions-linked memberships.
• Code contains wc_memberships_, WC_Memberships_User_Membership, WC_Memberships_Membership_Plan, wc_user_membership, wcm-active, _member_plan_id, _wc_memberships_access_granted, or woocommerce-memberships.
• You need to decide whether to hook at membership creation, post save, status transition, access grant, profile field save, API response shaping, or frontend members-area rendering.

Workflow

1. Identify the layer first: user membership lifecycle, purchase/free-signup grant, access/restriction, discount, profile fields, REST/webhook, members area, CSV/admin, or Subscriptions integration.
2. Prefer public functions and objects over raw WP_Query, wp_update_post(), or direct post meta writes.
3. For status strings, know the boundary: WP post statuses use wcm- prefix, but object methods and lifecycle hooks commonly use unprefixed statuses such as active, paused, cancelled, expired, free_trial, delayed.
4. Before implementing, inspect the installed plugin line with:

rg -n "hook_name|function_name" wp-content/plugins/woocommerce-memberships/src wp-content/plugins/woocommerce-memberships/templates

Storage facts agents must not guess

Memberships registers two CPTs: wc_membership_plan for plans and wc_user_membership for user memberships. A user membership's plan ID is post_parent, and its member/user ID is post_author; the installed plugin does not use _member_plan_id as the plan relation.

Core plan meta keys are _access_method, _access_length, _access_start_date, _access_end_date, _product_ids, _members_area_sections, and _email_content.

Core user membership meta keys are _start_date, _end_date, _cancelled_date, _paused_date, _paused_intervals, _product_id, _order_id, _previous_owners, _renewal_login_token, and _locked.

Membership rules are stored in the wc_memberships_rules option. Rule type values are content_restriction, product_restriction, and purchasing_discount.

When WooCommerce Subscriptions links a membership, the wc_user_membership post gets _subscription_id; subscription-linked memberships may also use _has_installment_plan and _free_trial_end_date.

Public API first

Need	API	Notes
Get one membership	wc_memberships_get_user_membership( $id, $plan = null )	Returns WC_Memberships_User_Membership or false. Subscriptions integration may return the subscription-aware subclass.
Get memberships for user/query	wc_memberships_get_user_memberships( $user_id, $args )	Prefer over hand-written membership WP_Query unless doing admin/reporting internals.
Get active memberships	wc_memberships_get_user_active_memberships( $user_id, $args )	Uses Memberships status semantics.
Check plan membership	wc_memberships_is_user_member( $user_id, $plan )	General membership check.
Check active membership	wc_memberships_is_user_active_member( $user, $plan )	Use for "currently active member" business rules.
Create membership	wc_memberships_create_user_membership( $args, $action = 'create' )	Lets Memberships run grant/renew/update logic.
Get plan(s)	wc_memberships_get_membership_plan(), wc_memberships_get_membership_plans()	Avoid reading plan post meta directly.
Check access	`wc_memberships_user_can( $user_id, 'view'	'purchase', $target, $when = '' )`

User membership lifecycle hooks

Need	Hook	Type	Args	Use
Alter new membership post data	wc_memberships_new_membership_data	filter	array $data, array $args	Set initial status/date/title before insert/update. Keep status prefixed if assigning post_status.
Membership created by product/API/CLI create flow	wc_memberships_user_membership_created	action	WC_Memberships_Membership_Plan $plan, array $args	Attach external IDs or provision once. Args include user_id, user_membership_id, is_update.
Membership saved through save_post	wc_memberships_user_membership_saved	action	WC_Memberships_Membership_Plan $plan, array $args	Catch admin/manual/import saves. May fire in broader situations than creation.
Status catalog	wc_memberships_user_membership_statuses	filter	array $statuses	Add labels/statuses. Keys normally use wcm- prefix.
Statuses granting access	wc_memberships_active_access_membership_statuses	filter	string[] $statuses	Controls access semantics; do not assume only active grants access.
Renewal-eligible statuses	wc_memberships_valid_membership_statuses_for_renewal	filter	string[] $statuses	Change when a membership can be renewed.
Cancel-eligible statuses	wc_memberships_valid_membership_statuses_for_cancel	filter	string[] $statuses	Change when members can cancel.
Any status transition	wc_memberships_user_membership_status_changed	action	WC_Memberships_User_Membership $membership, string $old, string $new	Best generic lifecycle sync hook. $old and $new are unprefixed.
Membership activated	wc_memberships_user_membership_activated	action	$membership, bool $was_paused, string $previous_status	Resume/provision after activation.
Membership paused	wc_memberships_user_membership_paused	action	$membership	Suspend access in external systems.
Membership cancelled	wc_memberships_user_membership_cancelled	action	$membership	Cancel external entitlements.
Gate automatic expiry	wc_memberships_expire_user_membership	filter	bool $expire, $membership	Block/allow scheduled expiration.
Membership expired	wc_memberships_user_membership_expired	action	int $user_membership_id	Runs after expiry; load object if needed.
Can member cancel	wc_memberships_user_membership_can_be_cancelled	filter	bool $can, $membership	UI/business rule for cancellation.
Cancel URL	wc_memberships_get_cancel_membership_url	filter	string $url, $membership	Route cancellation to custom flow.
Can renew	wc_memberships_user_membership_can_be_renewed	filter	bool $can, $membership	UI/business rule for renewal.
Renewal product	wc_memberships_user_membership_get_product_for_renewal	filter	$product, array $products, $membership	Choose renewal product when several grant access.
Renew URL	wc_memberships_get_renew_membership_url	filter	string $url, $membership	Route renewal to custom flow.
Can transfer	wc_memberships_user_membership_can_be_transferred	filter	bool $can, $membership, int $from_user_id, int $to_user_id	Gate ownership transfer.
Transfer error	wc_memberships_user_membership_can_be_transferred_error	filter	WP_Error $error, $membership, $from_user_id, $to_user_id	Customize transfer failure.
Transferred	wc_memberships_user_membership_transferred	action	$membership, WP_User $new_owner, WP_User $previous_owner	Sync owner change.
Deleted	wc_memberships_user_membership_deleted	action	WC_Memberships_User_Membership $membership	Clean external state before Memberships removes related data.

Purchase and free-signup grants

Need	Hook	Type	Args	Use
Choose order item product that grants access	wc_memberships_access_granting_purchased_product_id	filter	`int	int[] $product_ids, int[] $candidate_ids, WC_Memberships_Membership_Plan $plan`
Access granted from purchase	wc_memberships_grant_membership_access_from_purchase	action	WC_Memberships_Membership_Plan $plan, array $args	Runs after plan grants access from an order. Args include user, order, product, membership.
Free membership granted on signup	wc_memberships_grant_free_membership_access_from_sign_up	action	WC_Memberships_Membership_Plan $plan, array $args	Add onboarding/profile data for free signup plans.
Force checkout registration	wc_memberships_force_checkout_registration	filter	bool $force, array $plans	Force account creation when cart grants membership access. Avoid disabling if granting products are in cart.
Thank-you membership links	woocommerce_memberships_thank_you_message	filter	string $message, int $order_id, array $memberships	Customize order thank-you/email membership links.

Profile fields

Need	Hook	Type	Use
Field type compatibility	wc_memberships_profile_fields_compatible_types	filter	Extend/limit field type support.
Visibility options	wc_memberships_profile_fields_visibility_options	filter	Add visibility choices.
Plan-specific visibility	wc_memberships_profile_fields_membership_plan_visibility_options	filter	Change visibility choices for a plan/access method.
Read profile fields	wc_memberships_get_profile_fields	filter	Adjust loaded Profile_Field objects for a user.
Validate definition	wc_memberships_profile_field_definition_validation	filter	Validate admin field definition data.
Validate value	wc_memberships_profile_field_validation	filter	Validate submitted member value.
Before/after signup fields	wc_memberships_before_signup_profile_fields, wc_memberships_after_signup_profile_fields	action	Surround registration profile fields.
Before/after product fields	wc_memberships_before_product_profile_fields, wc_memberships_after_product_profile_fields	action	Surround product-page profile fields.
Process product field submission	wc_memberships_should_process_product_profile_fields_submission	filter	Disable product-page profile field collection for a product.
My Account profile endpoint	wc_memberships_profile_fields_area_endpoint	filter	Change endpoint slug/query var.
Profile field CRUD	wc_memberships_create_profile_field, wc_memberships_update_profile_field, wc_memberships_delete_profile_field	action	Observe user field storage changes.
Definition CRUD	wc_memberships_create_profile_field_definition, wc_memberships_update_profile_field_definition, wc_memberships_delete_profile_field_definition	action	Observe field definition changes.

REST API and webhooks

Area	Hooks	Use
User membership write request	wc_memberships_rest_api_create_user_membership_request, wc_memberships_rest_api_update_user_membership_request, wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_set_data	Validate/shape REST create/update before save.
User membership response	wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_data, wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_links, wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_schema, wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_endpoint_args, wc_memberships_rest_api_user_memberships_collection_params	Add fields, links, schema, endpoint args, or collection params.
Membership plan response	wc_memberships_rest_api_membership_plan_data, wc_memberships_rest_api_membership_plan_schema, wc_memberships_rest_api_membership_plans_collection_params	Extend plan REST output.
Excluded meta	wc_memberships_rest_api_{$object_name}_excluded_meta_keys	Hide internal meta keys in REST.
Webhook topics	wc_memberships_user_membership_webhook_topic_hooks	Map webhook topics to actions.
User membership webhook events	wc_memberships_webhook_user_membership_created, updated, transferred, deleted	Webhook topic source events; usually observe, not replace.
Plan webhook events	wc_memberships_webhook_membership_plan_created, updated, deleted, restored	Webhook topic source events for plans.

Members area, directory, CSV, admin

Area	Hooks	Use
Members area wrapper	wc_memberships_before_members_area, wc_memberships_after_members_area	Add UI around a members-area section.
My memberships table	wc_memberships_my_memberships_column_names, wc_memberships_my_memberships_column_{$column_id}, wc_memberships_my_memberships_no_memberships_text	Add or render columns in My Account.
Members area navigation/details	wc_memberships_members_area_navigation_items, wc_memberships_members_area_my_membership_details, wc_memberships_members_area_{$section}_actions, wc_memberships_members_area_{$section}_title	Customize member dashboard structure.
Section tables	wc_memberships_members_area_my_membership_content_column_names, products_column_names, discounts_column_names, notes_column_names plus matching ..._column_{$column_id} actions	Add columns to content/product/discount/note sections.
Active discount display	wc_memberships_members_area_show_only_active_discounts	Include inactive/future discounts in member area.
Member directory	wc_memberships_member_directory_settings, wc_memberships_member_directory_listing_plans, wc_memberships_member_directory_included_members, wc_memberships_member_directory_before_member_card, after_member_card	Shape directory query and cards.
CSV import/export	wc_memberships_csv_import_user_memberships_data, wc_memberships_csv_import_user_membership, wc_memberships_csv_export_user_memberships_headers, wc_memberships_csv_export_user_memberships_row, wc_memberships_csv_export_user_memberships_{$column_name}_column, wc_memberships_csv_export_user_memberships_query_args	Add columns/data to Memberships import/export.
Admin capabilities	woocommerce_memberships_can_import_export, woocommerce_memberships_can_manage_profile_fields, wc_memberships_admin_screen_ids, wc_memberships_admin_tabs	Integrate admin pages/caps carefully.

Woo Subscriptions integration

If WooCommerce Subscriptions is active, Memberships may use subscription-aware membership objects and lifecycle rules.

Need	Hook	Type	Use
Membership linked to subscription	wc_memberships_user_membership_linked_to_subscription	action	Sync external relation. Args include membership object, new subscription ID, old subscription ID.
Membership unlinked from subscription	wc_memberships_user_membership_unlinked_from_subscription	action	Remove external relation.
Cancel membership when linked subscription cancels	wc_memberships_cancel_subscription_linked_membership	filter	Return false only when your integration deliberately keeps access after subscription cancellation.
Subscription affects access start	wc_memberships_access_from_time	filter	Subscriptions integration uses this for trial-aware drip access.
REST subscription data	wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_data, wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_schema, wc_memberships_rest_api_user_membership_set_data	Subscriptions integration extends these with subscription fields.

Common mistakes

// WRONG: skips Memberships creation/update hooks and object semantics.
wp_insert_post( array(
    'post_type'   => 'wc_user_membership',
    'post_status' => 'wcm-active',
) );

// RIGHT: let Memberships create/renew/update the user membership.
$membership = wc_memberships_create_user_membership( array(
    'user_id' => $user_id,
    'plan_id' => $plan_id,
) );

// WRONG: status meta/post writes bypass object methods and can miss side effects.
wp_update_post( array( 'ID' => $membership_id, 'post_status' => 'wcm-cancelled' ) );

// RIGHT: use the object API; pass unprefixed status.
$membership = wc_memberships_get_user_membership( $membership_id );
if ( $membership instanceof WC_Memberships_User_Membership ) {
    $membership->update_status( 'cancelled', 'Cancelled by external CRM.' );
}

// WRONG: raw "active" check misses Memberships access semantics and delayed/free-trial cases.
$is_member = 'wcm-active' === get_post_status( $membership_id );

// RIGHT: use public checks for business rules.
if ( wc_memberships_is_user_active_member( $user_id, $plan_id ) ) {
    myplugin_enable_feature( $user_id );
}

Cross-references

• Use wcm-data-model-subscriptions-link for exact CPT names, meta keys, rule storage, profile-field storage, and Memberships-Subscriptions relation details.
• Use wcm-access-discounts for access checks, restriction/drip hooks, member discounts, and price-adjustment recursion safety.
• Use wcs-subscription-hooks or wcs-renewal-scheduler when the membership is tied to WooCommerce Subscriptions renewal/payment flow.