# Discourse Captcha

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-captcha/291383
**Category:** Plugin
**Tags:** official, included-in-core, captcha
**Created:** [November 8, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-captcha/291383 "2024-11-08T02:16:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![Discourse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/discourse/32/148734_2.png) [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-captcha/291383/1 "2024-11-08T02:16:13Z")

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| :discourse: | **Summary** | **Discourse Captcha** adds CAPTCHA challenge support to the local sign-up form, with support for multiple providers including hCaptcha and reCAPTCHA. |
| 📖 | **Install guide** | **This plugin is bundled with Discourse core**. There is no need to install it separately. |

> [@](#):
>
> :discourse: As this is an #official plugin maintained by the Discourse team, #Support, #Contribute > Bug, #Contribute > UX, and #Contribute > Feature requests can be made in the respective categories here on Meta, tagged with the appropriate plugin tag. Click a link below to get one started. 👍
> 
> [❓ **Support**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=6&tags=captcha "Ask for support on configuring and using Discourse Captcha") [🐛 **Bug**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=1&tags=captcha "A bug report means something is broken, preventing normal/typical use of the plugin") [👀 **UX**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=9&tags=captcha "Discussion about the user interface of Discourse Captcha, and how features are presented") [💡 **Feature**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=2&tags=captcha "Discussion about how existing Discourse Captcha features can be improved or enhanced, and how proposed new features could work")

> :discourse2: Hosted by us? This plugin is available on our Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans. [https://www.discourse.org/plugins/captcha](https://www.discourse.org/plugins/captcha)

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## **Supported providers**

The plugin supports the following CAPTCHA providers:

- **hCaptcha** — a privacy-focused CAPTCHA service with a free tier of up to one million requests per month.
- **reCAPTCHA** — Google’s CAPTCHA service.

Both providers require a **site key** and a **secret key** , which you obtain from the provider’s dashboard and enter into the plugin settings.

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## **Configuration**

> 🗒 The `enable_local_logins` site setting must be active. The plugin will not work if local logins are disabled.

### **hCaptcha**

1. Visit [hcaptcha.com](https://www.hcaptcha.com/) and create an account. Choose the plan that suits your site’s traffic. A **Sitekey** and **Account Secret** are generated during setup.

2. In your Discourse admin panel, go to **Admin → Plugins → Installed → Captcha Settings** , or search for `captcha` in site settings.

3. Set `discourse_captcha_provider` to `hcaptcha`.

4. Copy the **Sitekey** into the `hcaptcha_site_key` setting and the **Account Secret** into the `hcaptcha_secret_key` setting.

5. Enable the plugin via the `discourse_captcha_enabled` setting.

### **reCAPTCHA**

1. Visit [google.com/recaptcha](https://www.google.com/recaptcha) and sign in with a Google account. Register a new site to receive a **Site Key** and **Secret Key**.

2. In your Discourse admin panel, go to **Admin → Plugins → Installed → Captcha Settings** , or search for `captcha` in site settings.

3. Set `discourse_captcha_provider` to `recaptcha`.

4. Copy the **Site Key** into the `recaptcha_site_key` setting and the **Secret Key** into the `recaptcha_secret_key` setting.

5. Enable the plugin via the `discourse_captcha_enabled` setting.

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## **Upgrading from Discourse hCaptcha**

This plugin replaces the previous _Discourse hCaptcha_ plugin. If you were already using hCaptcha, your configuration is preserved automatically — you don’t need to re-enter your keys.

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> Last edited by @Juan_David_Martínez 2026-07-21T22:22:58Z
> 
> > **Check document**
> >
> > Perform check on document:

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-captcha/291383)._