Keep the country database current

WPLocation Free 1.1.0 does not bundle a country database. It reads a current, licensed GeoLite2 Country MMDB stored on your server. The same source powers Pro. Store the file outside the public web root so visitors cannot download it directly.

Two supported setup paths

• Use an existing file: choose a readable private MMDB you maintain and are licensed to use under WPLocation → Settings.
• Use your MaxMind account: save your own account ID and license key, then explicitly download GeoLite2 Country to a writable private directory. The plugin does not send visitor IPs to MaxMind for local lookups.

The MaxMind setup guide walks through the account and download path. DB-IP is not part of the current Free or Pro release; its historical preview guide is labeled separately.

Turn on automatic checks only after setup

Automatic MaxMind updates are opt in. Once you have a working source and valid credentials, enable them in Settings. WordPress schedules checks through WP-Cron, which requires site traffic or a configured server cron. The updater validates a downloaded file before selecting it and retains the last working file if an update fails.

Review health and failures

1. Open WPLocation → Diagnostics to see source type, build date, last update result and next scheduled check.
2. Use the private IP test to confirm that the selected file returns a country.
3. If an update fails, check account entitlement, credentials, server egress, directory permissions and the Activity Log. The existing source should remain selected.
4. After a successful update or source switch, purge external page and CDN caches and retest a targeted URL.

A stale or unavailable database can hide actively restricted content. Do not put the file back inside the plugin directory; WordPress replacement can remove it. Review your provider’s licensing, update and deletion terms for retained copies.