What is disabled lesson progression in LearnDash?

Some learners wish to skip lessons they already understand or jump ahead to topics of interest. However, this approach can disrupt structured courses and cause students to miss key concepts in the learning sequence.

When lessons are locked in order, it ensures each step is completed, but it may also limit flexibility for more advanced learners.

To give a balance between structure and freedom, LearnDash offers a feature called Disable Lesson Progression. Activating these features allows students to move through lessons in any order without completing the previous ones.

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Understanding Lesson Progression in LearnDash

LearnDash presents two main options for course navigation:

Linear Progression: Students must complete lessons in the sequence set by the instructor. Each lesson becomes available only after the previous one is marked as complete.
Free Form (Disable Lesson Progression): Students can access any lesson at any time, without following a specific order.

By default, LearnDash utilizes linear progression. However, turning off lesson progression switches the course to free-form navigation.

Advantages of Disabling Lesson Progression

Disabling lesson progression can offer several advantages:

Flexibility: Learners can select the order in which they engage with the content, aligning with their unique learning preferences.
Efficiency: Advanced learners can skip content they are already familiar with, focusing on new or difficult topics.
Accessibility: Students can return to specific lessons as necessary, without needing to navigate through the entire course structure.

How It Works

When you enable Disable Lesson Progression in the course or lesson settings:

Students are no longer required to click “Mark Complete” before proceeding.
Lessons and topics become instantly accessible, regardless of previous completion.
You can manage this globally for the entire course or selectively for specific lessons.

This provides instructors with greater flexibility to shape different learning paths depending on course goals.

Best Use Cases

This feature is very effective in non-linear learning environments. Common examples include:

Standalone Tutorials – Students require only specific skills, allowing them to jump directly to that lesson.
Reference Courses – Topics work independently and don’t rely on earlier content.
Bonus Content – Extra lesson or materials that aren’t mandatory for course completion.
Open Learning Paths – Learners select what’s relevant to them without being locked in sequence.

It’s usually helpful for experienced learners who already understand the basics and prefer to proceed further..

Read this: How Does LearnDash Work?

How to Disable Lesson Progression in LearnDash

To disable lesson progression for a course:

Go to the LearnDash LMS > Courses in your WordPress dashboard.
Select the course you want to edit.
Click on the Settings tab.
In the Course Navigation Settings section, choose Free Form.

This adjustment allows students to access lessons in any order.

Additional Tip

If you use this feature, clearly communicate the structure to your learners. Let them know which lessons are optional or can be taken in any order. This avoids confusion and helps them get the most out of your course.

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