Secure Your Site: Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your WordPress Login URL

Securing your WordPress login URL is an easy way to improve website security. By default, WordPress uses the well-known path “/wp-admin” for login, making it an easy target for hackers. Modifying this URL to something unique can reduce unauthorized login attempts and secure your website from common attacks. In this guide, you’ll learn how to change your WordPress Login URL using the WPS Hide Login plugin to protect your WordPress site and maintain better online safety.

Step-by-Step Guide to Change WordPress Login URL

Let’s begin our step-by-step guide. We’ll keep everything simple so it’s easy to follow. Whether you’re doing this for the first time or you’ve done it before, this guide will take you through each step clearly and easily. Let’s get started and make everything simple for you!

How to Change Your WordPress Login URL for Improved Security

In this guide, you’ll learn how to change your WordPress Login URL for added security. The default login path, /wp-admin, is widely known and can be a common target for unauthorized access attempts. To start, access your WordPress dashboard by typing in your current login URL; then, it will make you sign in by providing a username and a password, and then you will click the Login button. This first step is necessary and will help when you want to change the site settings. By setting a custom URL, you reduce security risks and keep your website more protected from potential attacks.

How to Add a New Plugin in WordPress

Alternatively, add a new plugin to your WordPress site:

1. Start by going to your dashboard.
2. Now, go to the left side of the page, find the Plugins menu, and click on the button shown when you hover with the cursor over the Plugins section.
3. Click on this to access the plugin library, where you can browse and install new plugins to improve your website’s functionality.

How to Search and Install a Plugin in WordPress

To search and install a plugin in WordPress, go to the Add Plugins page and use the search bar to find the plugin you need. For example, type “hide” to find WPS Hide Login. When you see it in the list, click the Install Now button. You can easily spot this plugin because it has over 1 million active installations and a strong positive rating. This process lets you quickly add valuable features to your website without technical problems.

How to Activate a Plugin in WordPress

After you install a plugin in WordPress, the Install Now button will automatically change to Activate. To enable the plugin’s full features, click on the Activate button. This step is crucial to accessing all the plugin functions and customization options. Activating plugins in WordPress is quick and easy, helping you improve your site’s capabilities.

How to Access Plugin Settings in WordPress

To customize a plugin setting in WordPress:

1. Head to the Plugins section in your dashboard.
2. Locate the plugin you installed and activated—in this case, WPS Hide Login. Under the plugin name, you will see a Settings link.
3. Click on Settings to open the configuration options.

This step is vital for making specific adjustments to the plugin features and ensuring it works according to your preferences.

How to Change Login and Redirect URL in WPS Hide Login Plugin

To change the login URL using the WPS Hide Login plugin, scroll down to the bottom of the page in your WordPress settings. Here, you’ll find two key options: Login and Redirect URL. Enter your desired custom login path in the Login URL field, replacing the default /wp-admin with something unique like /wp-login. This helps in securing your site. Below, in the Redirection URL field, Specify where to redirect users if they attempt to access the old /wp-admin page—setting it to a 404 page works best. Once done, click Save Changes to finalize your new login settings.

How to Test Your New WordPress Login URL in Incognito Mode

After setting your custom login URL, it’s time to test it. Open an incognito window in your browser and, instead of typing /wp-admin, type in your new custom login path (e.g., /login). This step makes sure that your new URL is working properly. As you can see in the example, the login page appears as expected, confirming the change was successful. Testing in an incognito window prevents cached sessions from affecting the result, helping you verify your new login path accurately.

How to Redirect Unauthorized Access Attempts to a 404 Error Page in WordPress

When someone tries to access your old WordPress login URL, such as/wp-admin or /wp-login, they should be redirected to a 404 error page that says, “This page doesn’t seem to exist.” This setup helps protect your website by preventing unauthorized access attempts to default login paths. The 404 error message informs users that the page they’re looking for is unavailable, which is precisely what we aim to achieve for better security.

Conclusion:

Changing your WordPress Login URL is a crucial step towards improving website security. Following the methods outlined in this guide and testing your new URL in an incognito window, you can successfully secure your site from unauthorized access attempts. This approach reduces risks and adds a layer of protection to your WordPress website. Implement this simple change today to keep your login page secure and avoid potential security threats.

Improve Your Website Security and Performance with these Important Guides:

Additionally, explore our in-depth tutorials on the JetPack Plugin and WordFence Security to boost your website performance and security further. Click on the links to discover these detailed guides and take your WordPress experience to the next level.

About Author

This article was written by Haider Aftab Abbasi. If you’re looking for more insightful content or professional collaborations, feel free to connect with Haider on LinkedIn using the provided link.