> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.hosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Adding CAPTCHA protection to a WordPress site

> Secure your WordPress site and reduce spam with CAPTCHA protection. Learn how to add CAPTCHAs here.

This article describes how to add CAPTCHA protection to a [WordPress](https://hosting.com/hosting/platforms/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress-hosting/) site using the Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) plugin. CAPTCHAs help protect your site from spamming by bots and other malicious actors.

<Note>
  For general information about what CAPTCHAs are and what they do, please see [this article](/docs/adding-captcha-protection-to-your-web-site).
</Note>

## Adding CAPTCHA protection

To add CAPTCHA protection to a WordPress site using the Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) plugin, follow these steps:

1. Log in to WordPress as the administrator.

2. Under **Dashboard**, click **Plugins**, and then click **Add New**.

3. In the **Search** text box, type `google captcha`.

4. Click **Search Plugins**.

5. Locate the **Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA)** plugin, and then click **Install Now**.

6. After WordPress finishes installing the plugin, under **Dashboard**, click **Plugins**, and then click **Installed Plugins**.

7. Locate the **Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA)** plugin, and then click **Activate**.

8. Click **Settings**.

9. You must create a public and private key to use Google Captcha. To do this, click the registration link under **Authentication**, and then follow the instructions.

10. After you receive your keys from Google, type the public key into the **Public Key** text box, and type the private key into the **Private Key** text box.

11. Under **Options**, select the settings that you want, and then click **Save Changes**.

12. CAPTCHAs are now activated for your site. To test this, go to your WordPress site's front page, and then click the comment link for a post. WordPress displays a CAPTCHA in the submission form.

## More information

For more information about the Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) plugin, please visit [http://wordpress.org/plugins/google-captcha](http://wordpress.org/plugins/google-captcha).

## Related articles

* [WordPress](/docs/wordpress1)

* [WordPress security](/docs/wordpress-security)