WordPress: the complete client guide
Everything you need to know about managing your WordPress website, from logging in to keeping it secure.
WordPress is the software your website runs on. It stores your pages, images, and settings, and it gives you a private control panel, the dashboard, where you can change them yourself.
Who this section is for: business owners and their teams who have just been told "your site is WordPress" and have never used it before. Nothing here assumes technical knowledge. Every guide covers one task, in order, with the exact words you'll see on screen.
If you only read three things
- How to log in to WordPress: the entry point to everything else.
- A tour of the WordPress dashboard: orient yourself in 5 minutes.
- How to edit a page: the single most common task.
Two things that may sit on top of WordPress
WordPress on its own gives you pages, posts, and media. Many sites add Elementor: a drag-and-drop editor for designing pages, and WooCommerce: an online store. Both are add-ons that live inside this same dashboard. Not sure what you have? See Which platform is your website built on?
Start here: the basics
What is WordPress?
A plain-English explanation of what WordPress is and how it works.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
Two very different products share the same name. Learn which one you have.
How to log in to WordPress
Step-by-step guide to accessing your WordPress dashboard.
How to find your WordPress login URL
Can't find the login page? Here's how to locate it.
How to reset your WordPress password
Locked out? Reset your password quickly.
A tour of the WordPress dashboard
Learn what every section of the WordPress dashboard does.
The WordPress admin bar explained
That bar across the top of your screen. Here's what it does.
WordPress terms, explained simply
A plain-English glossary of WordPress words and phrases.
The block editor
Getting started with the block editor
How to use the modern drag-and-drop editor to write and design pages.
Classic editor vs block editor
Not sure which editor you have? This guide explains both.
Working with blocks
Add, move, and configure content blocks.
The most useful blocks, explained
The handful of blocks that cover almost everything you'll write.
Reusable blocks & patterns
Build something once and reuse it across your site.
Pages & posts
Pages vs posts: what's the difference?
Two types of content with very different purposes.
How to edit a page
Open any page and make changes with confidence.
How to create a new page
Add a brand-new page to your site.
How to duplicate a page
Copy an existing page instead of starting from scratch.
How to add and edit links
Link to another page, an email address, or an outside website.
How to add images to a page or post
Place an image inside your content and size it properly.
How to embed a video
Put a YouTube or Vimeo video on any page.
Drafts, previews, and publishing
Save work privately and preview before you publish.
How to schedule a post or page
Set a future date and time for content to go live automatically.
Undo mistakes with revisions
Restore an earlier saved version of a page or post.
Deleting & restoring pages and posts
Send something to the trash, and get it back if you need to.
Blog posts, categories & SEO basics
How to write & publish a blog post
Write, format, and publish a post from start to finish.
Using categories & tags
Group your posts so readers can find related ones.
Post excerpts explained
The short summary your theme can show in blog listings, and SEO plugins can use for search results.
Setting featured images
The main image that represents a post, and where it can appear.
Editing SEO titles & descriptions
The title and blurb Google may show for your page.
Permalinks & URL structure
How WordPress creates web addresses for your pages.
Media & images
The media library explained
Where all your uploaded files live and how to find them.
How to upload images and files
Add images, PDFs, and other files to your site.
Image sizes, cropping & alt text
Make images display correctly and accessibly.
How to replace an image everywhere
Update an image across the whole site in one step.
Keeping your media library tidy
Stay organized so you can find files months from now.
Menus & appearance
How to edit your navigation menu
Add, remove, and reorder items in your site's menu.
Editing your footer & widget areas
Update the content in your site's footer.
Changing your logo, site title & favicon
Update the images and name that represent your brand.
WordPress themes explained
What a theme is and how it controls your site's look.
Using the WordPress site editor
Edit site-wide areas like the header in newer block themes.
Users & roles
WordPress user roles explained
Who can do what on your site: a plain-English guide.
How to add a new user
Give a team member or our team access to your site.
How to change someone's role
Give a person more, or fewer, permissions.
How to remove a user safely
Safely remove someone's access when they no longer need it.
Managing your own profile
Update your name, email, and password.
Plugins & settings
What are plugins?
Plugins add features to WordPress. Here's how they work.
How to install a plugin
Add a new feature to your site, from the directory or a file.
How to update plugins safely
Keep plugins current without breaking your site.
Deactivating vs deleting plugins
Turn a plugin off temporarily, or remove it for good.
WordPress general settings explained
The core settings that control your site's name, timezone, and more.
Setting your homepage
Choose which page visitors see first.
Forms & comments
Working with contact forms
How forms work, where submissions go, and why email goes missing.
Working with Fluent Forms
Finding entries, changing notifications, and integrations.
Comments & discussion settings
Decide whether visitors can comment, and how those comments appear.
Dealing with spam comments
Keep junk comments off your site.
Updates & security
WordPress updates explained
What gets updated and why it matters.
Why updates matter
The real reason you should never ignore updates.
What to do before a big update
A short checklist to follow before a major update.
How WordPress backups work
Your safety net if something goes wrong.
WordPress security basics
Simple steps to keep your site safe.
Turning on two-factor login
Add a second layer of protection to your account.
Troubleshooting
Help, I can't log in
Common login problems and how to fix them.
My changes aren't showing up
Why edits sometimes don't appear, and how to fix it.
My layout broke after an update
What to do when a page looks wrong after an update.
Fixing the "white screen" error
A blank white page is a common WordPress error. Here's what to do.
My WordPress site is down
Steps to take when your WordPress site stops loading.
Giving us access & getting help
Give us WordPress admin access
Add us as an Administrator so we can help inside your site.
Giving us access, explained
Every other account we might need, and how to share it safely.
Troubleshooting: start here
Problems that aren't specific to WordPress start here.
How to report a problem with your site
What to send us so we can fix it on the first try.
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