Say Goodbye to /wordpress/: A Step-by-Step Guide to Removing It from Your Website

Key Takeaways

  • Learn how to remove “/wordpress/” from your website’s URL, enhancing its professionalism and user experience.
  • Choose from three methods to remove “/wordpress/”, depending on whether your site is new or has existing content, and whether you want to keep WordPress files in a subdirectory or move them to the root.
  • Understand the potential SEO implications of changing your site’s URL and the importance of redirecting old URLs to the new ones to avoid ranking loss.

Imagine your sleek, professional website marred by the unsightly “/wordpress/” in its URL. It’s like a glaring neon sign that screams, “I’m just a novice website, folks!” Fear not, for in this comprehensive guide, we’ll equip you with the know-how to banish “/wordpress/” from your URL, leaving your site looking polished and sophisticated.

Method 1: Starting Fresh for Blank Sites

If your site is a blank canvas, rejoice! This method is a piece of cake. Simply delete the WordPress folder from the “/wordpress/” subdirectory, download WordPress, and install it in the root directory. Voila! Your site is now free from the “/wordpress/” shackles.

Method 2: Preserving Content on Existing Sites

For sites with precious content, this method is your savior. Log into your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings > General, and remove “/wordpress/” from the Site Address field. Copy the index.php and .htaccess files from the “/wordpress/” subdirectory to the root directory. Then, edit the index.php file to include this magical line: require(dirname(_FILE_).”/wordpress/wp-blog-header.php”);. Finally, reset the permalink structure to banish “/wordpress/” from your links.

Method 3: Moving to the Root Directory

If you’re ready for a more advanced maneuver, this method will relocate your WordPress files to the root directory. Install the Duplicator plugin, create a site package, upload it to the root directory, create a database, run the installer script, and follow the steps. Don’t forget to set up redirects from the subdirectory to the root directory to avoid broken links.

Bonus: Tips and Tricks

Consider the method that aligns best with your site’s needs. Method 2 removes “/wordpress/” from URLs but keeps WordPress files in the subdirectory. Method 3 removes “/wordpress/” from all links and moves WordPress files to the root directory. Remember, changing your site’s URL can affect SEO, so redirect old URLs to the new ones to maintain your search engine ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why should I remove “/wordpress/” from my URL?

It can appear unprofessional and confuse users, giving the impression that your site is still under construction.

Can I remove “/wordpress/” without losing my content?

Yes, using Method 2 or Method 3, you can preserve your content while removing “/wordpress/” from your URL.

What are the potential risks of changing my site’s URL?

It can impact SEO if you don’t redirect old URLs to the new ones. Additionally, some plugins and themes may not work properly after the URL change.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *