If you’re a WordPress user, you may have realized that your username is publicly displayed on your website. This can be a security concern, as it makes it easier for hackers to target your account. Additionally, you may simply want to change your username for personal or branding reasons. Whatever the reason may be, changing your username in WordPress is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of changing your username in WordPress, including the steps to take before and after the change.
Why Change Your Username?
Before we dive into the steps of changing your username, let’s first discuss why you may want to do so.
Security Concerns
As mentioned earlier, having your username publicly displayed on your website can make it easier for hackers to target your account. If your username is something simple and easy to guess, it can make it even easier for them to gain access to your account. Changing your username to something more complex can help improve the security of your account.
Personal or Branding Reasons
You may simply want to change your username for personal or branding reasons. Perhaps you’ve changed your name or your brand name and want your username to reflect that. Or maybe you just want a username that better represents you or your brand. Whatever the reason may be, changing your username can help you achieve this.
Steps to Change Your Username
Now that we’ve discussed the reasons for changing your username, let’s dive into the steps to actually do so.
Step 1: Create a New User
Before you can change your username, you’ll need to create a new user with the desired username. This will ensure that you don’t lose access to your account during the process.
To create a new user, log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to “Users” > “Add New”. Fill in the required information, including the new username, and make sure to assign the “Administrator” role to the new user. Once you’ve filled in all the necessary information, click on “Add New User”.
Step 2: Log Out and Log In with the New User
Once you’ve created the new user, log out of your current account and log in with the new user’s credentials. This will ensure that you have full access to your account during the username change process.
Step 3: Delete the Old User
Now that you’re logged in with the new user, you can delete the old user account. Go to “Users” > “All Users” and hover over the old user’s account. Click on “Delete” and confirm the action. This will delete the old user account, but don’t worry, all of your content and settings will remain intact.
Step 4: Change the Display Name
Now that the old user account is deleted, you can change the display name of the new user to your desired username. Go to “Users” > “Your Profile” and scroll down to the “Name” section. Change the “Display name publicly as” option to your desired username and click on “Update Profile”.
Step 5: Log Out and Log In with the New Username
Finally, log out of your account and log back in with the new username. This will ensure that all changes have been successfully applied and that you have full access to your account with the new username.
Additional Tips for Changing Your Username
While the above steps are the main process for changing your username, there are a few additional tips to keep in mind to ensure a smooth transition.
Update Your Login URL
By default, the login URL for WordPress is “yoursite.com/wp-admin”. This is a well-known URL and can make it easier for hackers to target your account. To improve the security of your account, consider changing your login URL to something more unique. This can be done through a plugin or by manually editing your site’s files.
Update Your Display Name for Past Posts
If you’ve been using your old username for a while, you may have past posts that display your old username as the author. To update this, you can use a plugin or manually edit each post to change the author to your new username.
Update Your Gravatar
Your Gravatar is the image that appears next to your username when you comment on other WordPress sites. If you have a Gravatar set up with your old username, you may want to update it to reflect your new username. This can be done through the Gravatar website.
Conclusion
Changing your username in WordPress is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily change your username for security or personal reasons. Just remember to create a new user, log out and log in with the new user, delete the old user, change the display name, and log back in with the new username. With these steps, you can successfully change your username and continue using WordPress with your new identity.
