A step-by-step guide to adding the Unlock block to your UniLink page so you can hide content behind a password or a required action — and reveal it only to the right audience.
- The Unlock block wraps any content — links, video, files, images, text — and hides it behind either a password or a required action (Instagram follow, story share, email subscribe, or micro-payment).
- The email subscribe gate is the only action gate that is verifiable — UniLink collects the email before revealing content; the social follow gates rely on the honor system.
- The most common mistake is using a high-value content gate (exclusive download, paid resource) with an unverifiable social action gate — if the content is truly valuable, use a password or an email gate instead.
- A clear locked-state message and a visible locked image are not optional details — visitors who cannot tell what they are unlocking will not bother trying.
Most link-in-bio pages are fully public — every visitor sees everything. That works well for a general audience, but it is a liability the moment you want to offer something exclusive. A download for paying customers should not be visible to everyone. A private booking link should not be accessible to strangers. A gated lead magnet that anyone can reach without giving their email is not a lead magnet at all — it is just a free download. The Unlock block fixes this by letting you wrap any content on your page in a gate that only opens when the visitor meets your condition. It turns your public page into a layered space where different visitors get different access depending on what they do.
What the Unlock block does
The Unlock block is a content wrapper. On its own it displays nothing — its job is to sit around other content and hide it until a visitor satisfies a condition you define. From the visitor's perspective, they see a locked panel with a message explaining what they need to do and optionally an image hinting at what is inside. Once they meet the condition — entering a password, completing an action — the panel opens and the gated content appears in its place. The transition is immediate and happens client-side; there is no page reload.
The block supports two gate types. The password gate is straightforward: you set a password in the block settings, and visitors must type it correctly to unlock. This mode is best for content you want to share only with specific people — event attendees, paying customers, private community members — where you control who knows the password through a separate channel (email, DM, receipt). The action gate is different: it does not ask for a password but requires the visitor to complete one of four actions before content is revealed — follow you on Instagram, share to their Instagram story, subscribe to your email list, or pay a small amount. The action gate is lower friction for the visitor and can grow your audience or revenue as a side effect of accessing the content.
Understanding what can go inside an Unlock block is important before you start building. You can place virtually any block type inside the wrapper: a link button pointing to a gated download, an embedded video, an image gallery, a contact block, a block of rich text, or a coupon code. You can also nest multiple blocks inside a single Unlock gate if you want to reveal a section of your page rather than a single item. What you cannot do is nest one Unlock block inside another — the wrapper logic does not stack. Keep each gate to a clearly defined chunk of content with a single access condition.
Before you start
- Decide what content to gate: Identify the specific content that benefits from restricted access — a download link, a private video, a coupon code, a booking link. Content that is genuinely valuable to a specific subset of your audience is a good candidate. Content that benefits everyone who visits your page should not be gated.
- Choose the right gate type: If the content is high-value (paid or exclusive), use a password gate — you control who gets the password. If you want to grow your email list, use the email subscribe gate — it is verifiable. If you want social engagement from a casual audience, the Instagram gates work, but understand they are unverified. If the content has a clear monetary value and your audience expects micro-transactions, the payment gate is appropriate.
- Prepare the content blocks first: Build the blocks you intend to hide before adding the Unlock wrapper. It is easier to configure a link block or video block correctly while it is visible than to debug it after it has been gated. Once everything works in the open, you add the Unlock wrapper around it.
- Write your locked-state message: Draft the text visitors see before unlocking. This message needs to tell them exactly what they are getting and what they need to do to get it. Vague messages ("Enter password to access exclusive content") underperform compared to specific ones ("Enter your VIP access code to download the full template pack — 47 ready-to-use designs").
How to add the Unlock block to your page
- Open your page in the Dashboard: Log in to UniLink, go to My Pages, and click Edit on the page where you want to add gated content.
- Add a new block: Click + Add Block in the editor. In the block picker, find Unlock in the Content or Marketing section and select it. The block appears as an empty wrapper with configuration fields.
- Choose your gate type: In the Unlock block settings, select either Password or Action as the unlock type. This choice determines what settings appear next.
- Configure the gate: For a password gate, enter the password in the password field — choose something your target audience can receive privately but that a random visitor would not guess. For an action gate, choose the action type from the dropdown: Follow on Instagram, Share to Story, Subscribe to Email, or Pay. Each action type may have additional fields (your Instagram handle for the follow gate, the email list integration for the subscribe gate, the payment amount for the pay gate).
- Set your locked-state message: Enter the message visitors see before unlocking. Be specific — name what is inside and what they need to do. This is your only chance to motivate them to complete the action.
- Add a locked-state image (optional but recommended): Upload an image that hints at what is inside — a blurred preview, a thumbnail, a product mockup. Visual content in the locked state significantly improves unlock rates compared to a text-only gate.
- Set your success message: Enter the text that appears immediately after the visitor successfully unlocks. This confirms to them that the unlock worked and sets expectations for what they are about to see ("You're in — here's your download link" or "Welcome, member").
- Add content inside the Unlock wrapper: Click Add Content inside the block to add blocks that will be hidden behind the gate. Add your link block, video embed, image gallery, or whatever content you are gating. You can add multiple blocks inside a single wrapper.
- Save and publish: Click Save, then Publish. After publishing, test the gate yourself — visit your page, attempt to view the gated content, verify the locked state looks correct, complete the unlock condition, and confirm the success message and content appear as expected.
Key settings explained
| Setting | What it controls | Best practice |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock type | Whether the gate requires a password or an action to open | Use password for high-value or paid content where you control distribution; use action gates for audience-growth plays where lower friction is acceptable |
| Password | The exact string the visitor must type to unlock (password mode only) | Use something memorable but not guessable — avoid "1234" or your brand name; deliver the password to your audience through a channel only they have access to (receipt email, DM, membership area) |
| Action type | The specific action required (Follow on Instagram, Share to Story, Subscribe to Email, Pay) in action mode | Match the action to what you actually want — email subscribe if you want leads, Instagram follow if you want social growth, payment if the content has clear monetary value |
| Locked-state message | The text shown to visitors in the locked state, explaining what is inside and what they need to do | Be specific about both the content ("download the full Notion CRM template") and the action ("enter the code from your order confirmation email") — vague messages get ignored |
| Locked-state image | An optional image displayed in the locked panel to hint at what is inside | Use a blurred preview or a thumbnail of the gated content — visual context dramatically increases the perceived value of what is behind the gate |
| Success message | Text shown immediately after a successful unlock | Always fill this in — without it, visitors who unlock successfully may not realize the content has appeared, especially if it loads just below the fold |
| Gated content blocks | The blocks nested inside the Unlock wrapper that are hidden until the gate is passed | Keep the gated section tightly scoped — one clear deliverable per gate; avoid wrapping your entire page in a single Unlock block as it creates friction for all visitors regardless of intent |
How to build an effective content gate that actually converts
The Unlock block is only as effective as the value proposition behind it. Before thinking about which gate type to use, ask whether the content you are gating is genuinely worth the friction. A free checklist gated behind an email subscribe can convert at 40–60% if it solves a real problem your audience has. A generic "exclusive tips" document gated behind the same action might convert at 5%. The gate is not the problem in the second case — the content is. Audit the content first, then build the gate around it.
Your locked-state message is doing sales work. Most visitors will read it, make a split-second judgment about whether the content is worth the action, and either engage or scroll past. The message needs to communicate three things clearly: what the content is, who it is for, and exactly what action is required. "Enter your VIP password to access the private client portal" is a complete locked-state message. "Enter password for exclusive content" is not — it tells the visitor nothing about whether the content is relevant to them. Write the locked-state message last, after you have defined the content, and treat it like a headline — the most important single line of copy on the block.
For password-gated content, the distribution channel for the password is as important as the gate itself. The password needs to reach the right people through a channel you control. Common approaches: include the password in a purchase receipt email ("Your order confirmation includes your download password"); share it in a private Slack or Discord community; announce it in a members-only email newsletter. If the password leaks into a public forum — a Reddit thread, a public post, a screenshot — the gate is effectively broken. Design your password distribution with leakage in mind. Rotating passwords regularly (monthly or per campaign) limits the damage when this inevitably happens.
Placement on your page affects unlock rates significantly. If the Unlock block is visible without scrolling — in the first screen the visitor sees — it will get more engagement than a gate buried below several other blocks. This is especially true for action gates where impulse and momentum drive completion. For password gates, placement is slightly less critical because the visitor already has the password from a prior interaction and is intentionally looking for the gate. Regardless of gate type, make sure the locked-state image is high-contrast and compelling enough to stop scrolling — it is functioning as a visual CTA.
Troubleshooting common issues
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor enters correct password but unlock fails | Extra space in the password field, case mismatch, or the page was not republished after the password was changed | Open the block editor, copy the exact password to clipboard, delete the field, paste it back in to remove invisible characters, save, and republish; test with an incognito browser tab |
| Content appears visible to all visitors (gate not working) | Block saved but page not published, or content blocks were added outside the Unlock wrapper instead of inside it | Check that the content blocks are nested inside the Unlock wrapper in the editor — they should be indented under it; click Publish Page to push the live version |
| Instagram follow gate sends visitor to Instagram but content never unlocks | Visitor did not return to the page after visiting Instagram, or browser blocked the redirect back | This is expected behavior — the Instagram gates rely on the visitor returning manually; add a note in the locked-state message: "Tap follow on Instagram, then return to this page and tap Confirm" |
| Email subscribe gate collects email but visitor gets an error | Email integration (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, etc.) is not connected or the list ID is incorrect | Go to UniLink Settings → Integrations and verify your email provider is connected; re-enter the list ID in the Unlock block settings and retest with a new email address |
| Locked-state image is not showing | Image file too large, unsupported format, or upload failed silently | Use a JPEG or PNG under 2 MB; re-upload through the block editor media picker and confirm the thumbnail appears before saving |
| Success message does not appear after unlock | Success message field left blank, or gated content loaded above the viewport and pushed the success banner out of view | Add a success message in the block settings; also scroll up after unlocking to check if the banner appeared above the current scroll position |
| Unlock block shows correctly in editor preview but not on live page | Page not published after saving changes | Click Publish Page in the Dashboard editor — saves only update the draft; visitors see the last published version until you explicitly publish |
Best fit for
- Creators selling digital products who want to deliver download links exclusively to paying customers via a password sent with the receipt
- Influencers running brand collaboration campaigns where a follow-gated coupon or bonus content is part of the deal
- Course creators or coaches who want to gate a free lead magnet (checklist, template, mini-guide) behind an email subscribe to build their list
- Event organizers sharing private links (Zoom room, venue details, exclusive schedule) only with registered attendees via a password
- Membership community owners who want a public page that surfaces one gated section exclusively for members without building a separate members portal
Not the right tool if
- You need to gate an entire site or multiple pages — the Unlock block gates a section within a single page; for multi-page access control, you need a membership platform
- You need verifiable social proof for high-value content — the Instagram follow and story share gates cannot confirm the action actually happened; use a password or payment gate instead
- You want automated password rotation tied to a subscription system — UniLink passwords are static; for time-based or subscriber-specific passwords, you need a dedicated membership tool
- You are gating content so restrictive it should never be on a public page at all — a password-gated download is still hosted at a publicly accessible URL once unlocked; for truly sensitive files, use a proper secure file storage service
Frequently asked questions
Can I put any block type inside the Unlock wrapper?
Almost any block type works inside an Unlock wrapper — link buttons, video embeds, image blocks, text blocks, coupon blocks, contact blocks, and more. The main exception is nesting one Unlock block inside another; the gate logic does not stack. If you want to reveal a multi-block section, add all the blocks inside a single Unlock wrapper rather than trying to layer multiple gates.
How secure is the password gate — can someone bypass it?
The password gate prevents casual access effectively, but it is not cryptographic-grade security. The gate logic runs in the browser — a determined technical user could inspect the page source and find the gated content. For most use cases (exclusive coupons, member downloads, event links), this level of security is completely sufficient. If you are distributing genuinely sensitive information — legal documents, private medical content, confidential business data — a link-in-bio tool is not the right delivery mechanism regardless of gating.
Does the email subscribe gate add the subscriber to my email list automatically?
Yes, when the email subscribe gate is configured with a connected email provider (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or others supported by UniLink integrations), the email address is added to your specified list before the content is revealed. This is the one action gate with real verification — UniLink captures the email, confirms the address has been submitted, and then shows the content. Check your UniLink Settings → Integrations to confirm your email provider is connected and the correct list is selected in the block settings.
What happens if a visitor unlocks the content, closes the browser, and comes back — do they have to unlock again?
By default, the unlock state is stored in the browser session. If the visitor closes the browser entirely and returns later, they will see the locked state again and need to re-enter the password or complete the action. This is intentional for password and payment gates — it prevents one person from unlocking and sharing a direct link. For action gates where repeat friction is a problem, consider whether the content you are gating should be behind a gate at all on return visits.
Can I use the Unlock block to collect emails and then show a download link — without connecting a third-party email platform?
Yes. UniLink has a built-in CRM that captures subscriber emails from the email subscribe gate even without a third-party integration. The email addresses are stored in your UniLink CRM under the contacts section. You can export them or view them directly in the Dashboard. Third-party integrations (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, etc.) are optional — they sync the collected emails to your external list automatically, which is useful if you already manage a list outside UniLink.
- The Unlock block wraps any content section and hides it behind a password or a required action — it is a content wrapper, not a standalone block, and works best when the gated content has clear, specific value.
- The email subscribe gate is the only verifiable action gate — Instagram follow and story share gates rely on the honor system and should only be used for low-stakes content.
- Your locked-state message is doing active sales work — name exactly what is inside and what the visitor needs to do; vague messages kill unlock rates.
- Password distribution is as important as the password itself — deliver it through a private channel (receipt email, DM, membership area) and rotate it if leakage is a concern.
- Test every gate yourself after publishing — visit your live page in an incognito tab, attempt to access the gated content, complete the unlock condition, and verify the success state before sending any audience to the page.
Ready to gate your exclusive content? Create your free UniLink page and add an Unlock block to turn any section of your page into members-only territory — no coding, no separate portal required.