WordPress is a popular content management system that powers millions of websites around the world.
When getting started with WordPress, you need to know how to access your website’s admin dashboard. This is where you can create, edit, and manage your website’s content, settings, and design.
To do this, you need to know your WordPress login URL. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of finding your WordPress login URL.
Why Finding Your WordPress Login URL Matters
The WordPress login URL is your gateway to the backend of your website. It’s where you can make changes to your site’s design, add new posts or pages, install plugins, and manage various aspects of your site. Without access to the admin dashboard, you won’t be able to control your website effectively.
Default WordPress Login URL
By default, the WordPress login URL follows a simple structure. The URL format is usually:
https://yourwebsite.com/wp-adminhttps://yourwebsite.com/wp-login.phpIn both cases, replace “yourwebsite.com” with your actual domain name. Simply enter either of these URLs in your web browser’s address bar to reach the admin dashboard of your WordPress website.
If your website is “www.example.com,” your login URL would be “www.example.com/wp-login.php.”
If you have WordPress installed in a subdirectory, such as “www.example.com/blog,” the login URL would be “www.example.com/blog/wp-login.php.”
This method is universal and usually works for all WordPress installations.
Custom WordPress Login URL
For improved security, website owners/developers often change the default login URL to something unique. It helps protect the WordPress website from automated brute-force attacks that target the standard login URLs. If your website has a custom login URL, you would need to know what that custom URL is.
In many cases, WordPress websites have a custom admin login URL to enhance security. This custom URL is often set during the installation process or via a security plugin.
Finding Custom WordPress Login URL Set via .htaccess File
- Log in to your hosting account or cPanel.
- Navigate to the File Manager or FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client.
- Locate your website’s root directory, which is often named “public_html” or “www.”
- Inside this directory, look for a file named “.htaccess.” This file controls various aspects of your website’s functionality, including the login URL.
- Right-click on the “.htaccess” file and select “Edit” or “View” to open it.
- Scroll through the file to find any lines of code related to custom login URLs. They often look like this:
RewriteRule ^login$ /wp-login.php [NC,L] - The above line of code, for example, redirects the “example.com/login” URL to the standard login page.
- If you find such code, take note of the custom URL. It will be in place of “/login” in the example above.
Finding Custom WordPress Login URL
If you’re not sure whether your website has a custom login URL or if you have changed it yourself and forgotten what it is, there are a few other ways to find it.
- Check the Functions.php File: If you have access to your website’s files via FTP or a file manager, you can look for your custom login URL in the “functions.php” file of your active theme. Look for a line of code that resembles:
function custom_login_url() { return 'http://yourcustomurl.com'; }. - Check Your Email: Check the admin email associated with your WordPress site. WordPress often sends login information to this email address when you first set up your website. Look in your inbox or spam folder for an email from WordPress, which should contain a link to your login page.
- Check Your Web Hosting Control Panel: Some web hosting providers include the login URL in their control panel. Log in to your hosting account and look for the WordPress management section.
- Check plugins installed in your WordPress site via File Manager or FTP or web hosting control panel. Some website owners customize their login URL using security plugins like “iThemes Security” or “WPS Hide Login.” Refer to your plugin settings (via the MySQL database in your web hosting) to locate your custom login URL.
Whether you use the default login URL or have customized it for security reasons, it’s important that you have access to your site’s backend where you can make manage your website. Remember to keep your login credentials secure, and if you ever forget your password, WordPress provides easy ways to reset it.