Q1: How do I get my Google reCAPTCHA Site and Secret Keys?

A1: Getting your keys is very easy

Go to the Google reCAPTCHA Admin Console.

Register a new site, enter your website’s domain name.

For the reCAPTCHA type, select reCAPTCHA v3. (You can also choose v2 if you are using the PRO version).

After accepting the terms and clicking “Submit,” Google will give you a Site Key and a Secret Key.

Copy these two keys and paste them into the respective fields on the plugin’s settings page, then save.

Q2: What’s the difference between reCAPTCHA v2 and v3? Which one should I use?

A2: The main difference is the user experience:

• reCAPTCHA v3 (Available in Free Version): This is the “invisible” reCAPTCHA. It works in the background, analyzing user behavior to give them a score between 0.0 (bot) and 1.0 (human). It does not require users to check a box or solve a puzzle, providing the best user experience.
• reCAPTCHA v2 (PRO Feature): This is the “I’m not a robot” checkbox. It requires the user to actively check the box before submitting the form. It may sometimes show image puzzles in suspicious cases.

Our Recommendation: In general, we recommend using v3 to avoid interrupting your users. However, if you want explicit confirmation from a user on a specific form, v2 may be more suitable.

Q3: How do I safely upgrade from the Free version to PRO? Will I lose my settings?

A3: This is the most critical step to ensure your site does not crash. Please follow these steps in order:

1. In your WordPress Admin Panel, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Find the current ThinkCaptcha (free) plugin and click “Deactivate”.
3. After it’s deactivated, the “Delete” link will appear. Click “Delete” to completely remove the free version.
4. Now, upload the thinkcaptcha-pro.zip file you purchased by going to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, and then activate it.

No, you will not lose your settings. The PRO version will automatically recognize and use your existing API keys and settings from the database.

Q4: I activated the plugin, but the reCAPTCHA is not appearing on my forms. What should I do?

A4: There are a few common reasons for this issue. Please follow this checklist:

JavaScript Errors: Check your browser’s “Developer Tools” (F12) console for any JavaScript errors coming from other plugins. An error can prevent our script from running correctly.

API Keys: Ensure your Site Key and Secret Key are correctly entered in the settings page.

Form Selection: Make sure the toggle for the form you want to protect (e.g., Login Form) is enabled in the settings.

Cache: If you use a caching plugin (like WP Rocket, Litespeed Cache, etc.), clear all caches. Also, clear your browser’s cache or perform a “Hard Refresh” by pressing Ctrl + Shift + R (or Cmd + Shift + R on Mac).

Q5: I’m a PRO user and I know there’s a new update, but it’s not showing in my WordPress dashboard. How can I update?

A5: This is caused by WordPress caching update data for up to 12 hours. To see the update immediately:

1. In your Admin Panel, go to Dashboard > Updates.
2. Click the “Check again” link.

This will force WordPress to clear its cache and check for new updates from all plugins. Shortly after, the update notification will appear in your dashboard.