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How to Edit URLs in WordPress: Easy Steps for Beginners

Posted on by William Zheng

Ever tried to change a link on your WordPress site, only to wonder, “How exactly do I edit this URL?” You’re not alone—making sure your web addresses are clear and accurate is key for both visitors and search engines.

Getting this right can boost your site’s professionalism and help users find what they need. In this article, we’ll walk you through simple steps for editing WordPress URLs, plus tips to avoid common pitfalls.

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How to Edit URLs in WordPress: The Complete Guide

Editing the URL of your WordPress site, pages, or posts is a vital skill for both site organization and search engine optimization (SEO). Whether you want your URLs to look cleaner, reflect updated content, or make the site more accessible, changing URLs in WordPress is straightforward once you understand the process.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about editing URLs in WordPress—from site addresses (domain settings) to individual page or post links—while giving you practical tips and answering common questions.

What Does Editing a WordPress URL Mean?

A WordPress URL is simply the web address that people type into their browser to visit your site, a specific post, or a page. Editing a URL can mean:


How to Change a WordPress Page's URL (Works for Posts Too) - edit url wordpress

  • Changing your site’s primary domain (for example, moving from example.wordpress.com to www.example.com)
  • Altering the structure of your website’s URLs (for SEO or branding)
  • Editing the “permalink” of an individual post or page (for readability or content updates)

Let’s look at how to make these changes and why you’d want to.

Why Would You Want to Change a WordPress URL?

There are several common reasons to edit your site’s URL or specific page/post links:

  • Rebranding your business or blog
  • Switching to a new domain name
  • Moving from a free WordPress subdomain to a custom domain
  • Changing permalink structure for SEO
  • Making URLs shorter and easier to remember
  • Correcting typos in URLs
  • Restructuring your website’s content

Understanding why you’re making a change helps you plan for any potential site downtime or SEO impact. Now, let’s dive into how you can edit your URLs step by step.

How to Change Your WordPress Site URL


How to Change the WordPress URL - Bluehost - edit url wordpress

There are several ways to change your WordPress site URL. The right method depends on your setup (for example, whether you use WordPress.com or a self-hosted WordPress.org site), your access level, and your technical comfort.

1. Change Site URL from Your WordPress Dashboard

This is the easiest method for most users.

Steps:

  1. Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Go to Settings > General.
  3. Locate the fields:
  4. WordPress Address (URL)
  5. Site Address (URL)
  6. Update these fields with your new domain or URL.
  7. Scroll down and click Save Changes.

Tip: If you’re moving from http:// to https://, make sure your SSL certificate is active first.

2. Edit URL Using wp-config.php

Use this method if you can’t access the dashboard (maybe due to an error after a move).

Steps:

  1. Connect to your site via FTP or your hosting control panel’s File Manager.
  2. Locate the wp-config.php file in your root directory.
  3. Add these lines, replacing the URLs with your new address:
    php
    define('WP_HOME', 'https://yournewdomain.com');
    define('WP_SITEURL', 'https://yournewdomain.com');
  4. Save the file and refresh your website.

Note: Settings in wp-config.php override your dashboard settings.

3. Change URL Directly in the Database


How to Change Your WordPress URL (4 Easy Methods) - Kinsta - edit url wordpress

This is a more advanced technique, usually reserved for migrations.

Steps:

  1. Access phpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel.
  2. Go to your WordPress database.
  3. Open the wp_options table.
  4. Locate the rows called siteurl and home.
  5. Edit the URL values with your new address.
  6. Save your changes.

Warning: Always back up your database before making edits.

4. Use a WordPress Plugin

Some plugins simplify the URL change process and handle redirects for you.

Popular Choices:
– Velvet Blues Update URLs
– Better Search Replace

Using a plugin:

  1. Install and activate the plugin.
  2. Follow the plugin’s on-screen instructions to change URLs.


How to change the URL of a WordPress site (5 methods) - WPMarmite - edit url wordpress

Benefit: Plugins update all internal links and image paths, preventing broken links.

How to Edit the URL (Slug) of a WordPress Post or Page

Each post or page in WordPress has its own URL “slug”—the part that appears after your main domain.

Editing a Post or Page URL from the Editor

Steps:

  1. Go to Posts or Pages in your WordPress admin.
  2. Hover over the content you want to edit and click Edit.
  3. In the content editor (Block or Classic):
  4. Block (Gutenberg) Editor: Click the URL slug at the top under the title.
  5. Classic Editor: Locate the permalink just below the title.
  6. Type your desired slug—make it short, descriptive, and use hyphens (-) between words.
  7. Click OK or Update/Publish to save your changes.

Best Practice: Only use lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens for clean, SEO-friendly URLs.

Changing Your Permalink Structure (Global URL Format)

WordPress lets you select how all your post URLs are structured.

To change the permalink structure:

  1. Go to Settings > Permalinks in your dashboard.
  2. Choose from options like:
  3. Plain (?p=123)
  4. Day and name (/2024/06/24/sample-post/)
  5. Post name (/sample-post/)
  6. Custom structure
  7. Recommended: Select Post name for short, SEO-friendly URLs.
  8. Click Save Changes.

Tip: Changing permalinks on a live site can break links. Always back up your site first.

What Happens After Changing a WordPress URL?

Changing URLs can have ripple effects:

  • Broken links: Old URLs may not work unless you set up redirects.
  • SEO impact: Google might take time to re-index new URLs. Temporary ranking drops are possible.
  • Images/files: Internal references might break; use plugins to update image URLs.

Setting Up Redirects After Changing URLs

To avoid losing visitors or search engine rankings, you must set up redirects from old URLs to new ones.

How to set up redirects:

  • Use a plugin like Redirection or Yoast SEO to create 301 (permanent) redirects.
  • Your hosting provider may let you create redirects in the hosting control panel.
  • For major changes, consider updating your .htaccess file (for Apache servers).

Redirect Tips:

  • Always choose a 301 redirect when permanently moving content.
  • Test your redirects to ensure they work.

Tips, Advice, and Best Practices

  • Backup first: Always back up your site before making any major URL changes.
  • Plan your structure: Think about your permalink structure and slugs before publishing content.
  • Update internal links: Use a plugin or manual checks to update links in your content, menus, and widgets.
  • Notify users: If your site moves to a new domain, let your audience know.
  • Update Google Search Console: Add and verify the new site URL in Google Search Console to maintain search indexing.

Cost Considerations

Changing most URLs on WordPress is free. However, you may encounter costs in these areas:

  • Buying a new domain: Registering a custom domain usually involves an annual fee.
  • SSL certificate: Needed for URLs starting with HTTPS; many hosts provide these for free, but some charge.
  • Premium Plugins: While many plugins for managing redirects or updating URLs are free, advanced features might cost extra.

Note: There are no shipping costs, as editing URLs is a digital process.

Potential Challenges and How to Tackle Them

  • Site downtime: Incorrect URL changes can make your site inaccessible. Always double-check before saving edits and keep backup access via FTP or hosting panel.
  • SEO drops: Rapid, careless changes in URLs may lower rankings. Use 301 redirects and notify Google of the change.
  • Broken images/links: Use a plugin to bulk update URLs throughout posts and media.
  • Themes and plugins: Some hard-coded URLs in themes or plugins may not automatically update. Inspect and adjust as needed if you run into issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I change my WordPress site’s main URL without breaking my site?

Yes, you can safely change your main site URL if you follow recommended steps, such as setting up proper redirects, updating internal links, and notifying search engines. Always back up your website before making changes.

How do I edit the URL of a specific post or page in WordPress?

Open the post or page editor, find the permalink or slug field under the title, and type your new URL slug. Save or update the post/page to apply the change.

Will changing URLs affect my SEO?

Changing URLs can impact SEO if not done properly. To minimize risks:
– Use descriptive, keyword-rich slugs
– Set up 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones
– Update your sitemap and notify search engines

What if I can’t access my WordPress dashboard to change the URL?

You can change the site URL via your hosting control panel by:
– Editing the wp-config.php file
– Updating the site URL directly in the WordPress database with phpMyAdmin

Be extra careful and always back up before making changes.

Do I need a plugin to change URLs on WordPress?

No, most URL changes can be done without a plugin. However, plugins make bulk updates, redirect management, and search-and-replace tasks much easier, especially on large or complex sites.

Conclusion

Editing URLs in WordPress is a straightforward process that gives you greater control over your site’s branding, organization, and SEO. Whether you’re adjusting your site’s main address, changing individual page slugs, or overhauling your permalink structure, taking care and following best practices will help avoid common pitfalls.

Plan changes carefully, always back up your site, and utilize plugins or hosting tools where appropriate. With attention to detail, you’ll keep your visitors—and search engines—happy when you update your WordPress URLs.

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