Manage users on your WordPress website
Definitions
WordPress users are people who have accounts on your WordPress website with different roles and permissions for access and management.
Before you start
✅ WordPress has 5 user types with different roles and permissions. Knowing them helps you manage access levels securely.
- Administrator: Has full and complete access to all the administrative features
- Editor: Can publish and manage posts including the posts of other users
- Author: Can publish and manage their own posts
- Contributor: Can write and manage their own posts but cannot publish them
- Subscriber: Can only manage their profile and read content
ℹ️ When you install WordPress, the default user is an Administrator. Administrators can manage other users by adding, deleting, or editing their permissions and credentials.
❌ Do not share your WordPress login details publicly and make sure other users do not either.
Step by step
Edit a user
You can use the steps below to edit an existing WordPress user.
1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Click on Users
3. Find the user and hover over it
4. Click on Edit
5. Review the user settings and apply your required edits
6. Once the updates are completed, click on the Update Profile button at the bottom
Add a user
You can use the steps below to add a new WordPress user.
1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Click on Users
3. Select Add New User
4. Fill in a Username (required)
5. Fill in an Email (required)
6. The first name, last name, and website fields are optional but can be filled out
7. Note down the auto-generated password on a secure note
8. Keep the Send User Notification box checked off (unless you do not want to send an email)
9. Assign a role based on the permission level you’d like the new user to have
Below is an example of the Add New User page filled out. Once completed, click the Add New User button.
Delete a user
You can use the steps below to delete an existing WordPress user.
1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Click on Users
3. Find the user and hover over it
4. Click the Delete button
5. If prompted and required, assign the user data to another user
6. Click the Confirm Deletion button
