Your WordPress website has its own user accounts, separate from your social media and email logins. This guide shows you how to see who currently has access to your website, add a new user, and remove someone who no longer needs access.
Overview of the process
- Log in and go to Users
- Click Add User
- Fill in their details and choose a role
- Click Add New User
Step 1: Log in and go to Users
After logging in to your website dashboard, go to Users in the left menu. The list of current users and their roles appears. To add someone new, click Add User in the Users menu (or the Add New User button at the top of the list).
Step 2: Fill in their details and choose a role
Set a username and email address for the new user. The other fields are optional. A password can be generated for you or entered manually. Tick Send User Notification so an email about the account goes to the new user when it is created. That email sometimes lands in the junk folder, so let them know to check there. Then select a role from the dropdown.
Please note that usernames cannot be changed after creation, so double check the spelling. Click Add New User at the bottom to create the account.
User roles
The role controls what the person can do on your website. Administrator has full access to everything on the site, including plugins, themes, and other users, so only give Administrator access to people you trust. Editor can manage and publish all content. Author can write and publish their own posts. Contributor can write posts but not publish them. Subscriber can only manage their own profile.
Removing a user
Go to Users, hover over the person in the list, and click Delete. WordPress will ask what to do with any content they own. Choose to attribute it to another user (usually you) rather than deleting it, so their pages and posts stay on your site.
Quick tips
- Give each person their own login rather than sharing one account, so you can remove access cleanly later
- Use the lowest role that lets the person do their job
- Review the Users list from time to time and remove anyone who no longer needs access
- When removing a user, attribute their content to another user so nothing disappears from your site