*** Group names, roles, member type names and URLs below have been made generic since the group is private ***

BuddyPress 10.6.0 Group settings:

Group: My Secret Group
Privacy: Hidden (have tried Public and Private)
Who can invite others to this group? Group Admins Only (have tried all others)
Group Forum setting ENABLED

BuddyPress Member Types Pro 1.5.0:

Member Type Name: Secret Member

Plural Label: Secret Members
Singular Label: Secret Member

Enable Directory? NO

Directory Slug: Blank

On First Login, Redirect to: mydomain/groups/my-secret-group

On Login, Redirect to: mydomain/groups/my-secret-group

On Account activation, Redirect to: mydomain/groups/my-secret-group

Set default landing tab for user profile: NO

Default profile tab slug: Blank

The user will be assigned the associated role(s) when their member type is updated. Secret Member Role

Select Group: My Secret Group

Sync groups to member type. ENABLED (have tried disabled – members of this group will never be a member of the other group(s) we have).

Procedure:

1. Associate Secret Member Role (same as WP Subscriber role but used to limit access to specific areas if the site) to ‘Secret Member’ member type in WP Admin > Settings > Member Types
2. Create Member Type as settings above.
3. Create user (either manually or via WP All Import – no public, self registration) with a WP user role of Secret Member Role.
4. Select user in WP Admin > Users and assign a Member Type (from the drop-down menu above user list) of Secret Member (since for whatever reason, getting the Secret Member Role doesn’t automatically give the user the Secret Member member type).
5. Check My Secret Group. No new members have been added.

It may be easier for you to look at it. I can set up a staging copy and grant you access to it.

Thank you!