If you use WordPress for your website, you have access to the admin dashboard of your website.
It’s where you can make changes to settings and set up your site to look the way you want.
However, the dashboard is usually accessed through a default login page such as www.example.com/wp-login.php; you may want to change this URL, as other users can gain access to it.
In light of that, we’ll show you how to change your login URL on WordPress-powered websites.
Why Does It Matter?
If you’re here, you might be wondering what is the point of changing your login URL?
After all, you’re the only one who needs to access it.
The answer to that is simply additional security.
If your login URL is easily guessed, such as leaving it at its default values, other people can easily go to that page.
Once there, they can try and access your admin dashboard simply by trying to guess your password.
Since the username is usually the same and doesn’t change, passwords can be attempted multiple times and each attempt will slow down regular access to your website.
Changing your login URL is thus a simple way to enhance the security and responsiveness of your WordPress site.
How to Change Login URL
The short and simple answer is to use widely available plugins.
The two that are the simplest and most effective are iThemes Security and WPS Hide Login.
These should make it simple to change your login URL to a page of your choice and add enhanced security to your WordPress site.
WPS Hide Login
Since its inception, WPS Hide Login has become the standard for changing login URLs.
You can install it simply from the link or going to your WordPress dashboard and looking for Plugins there.
Once installed, you can simply input the new slug for your login URL address.
You can find this option under Settings > WPS Hide Login.
This plugin also blocks people from accessing the default admin page slugs unless they’re connected.
In other words, you can use the default slug only if you’re already logged in to your WordPress dashboard.
This makes it harder for people to guess whether you’re using WordPress for your service.
Additionally, WPS can make users redirect to another page while attempting to access your admin or login pages.
If you want to just show a 404 error to dissuade them, this is an option for you.
We advise you to come up with a slug that you can easily remember but which other people can’t guess.
After all, the entire point of using this is for you to have better security and control.
If you’re working in a team, just inform everyone of the new login page slug.
If you disable this plugin, the slugs will revert to defaults immediately and any protection and safeguards would be immediately gone.
iThemes Security
iThemes Security, previously known as Better WP Security, has grown from a simple plugin to an entire service that will do everything you need but perhaps don’t know about.
Its security systems include many additional options beyond changing your login URL.
Before you install a plugin of this complexity, however, you are advised to make a complete backup of your website, just in case.
There are several services available to back up your websites and any of them will do.
Changing Login URLs Without a Plugin
If you don’t want to use a plugin to do your work for you, the simple answer is: Please use a plugin.
Trying to go directly to the WordPress core files to change them from there is not recommended for anyone but the savviest techies in the field.
Sometimes it is just simpler to use third-party software for your needs, even if it comes with a small risk.
The amount of damage you can do by trying to do this yourself is certainly not worth it.
Other Benefits
The most common benefits of changing your login URL have to do with security.
However, there are a few hidden bonuses.
For example, the increased security makes it harder for bots to find your WordPress login page.
If you’ve ever experienced the error “429 – Too Many Requests,” this is one of the best ways to fix it.
The additional requests usually come from bots trying to log into your admin dashboard.
If they can’t find the correct login page, they can’t request to begin with.
If you still encounter this error after changing your URL, consider renaming it again to something more obscure.
Another neat bonus is that your users will see that you have completely customized your website, adding a flair of professionalism and making you look like a pro.
Change Is Good
If you’ve read this article and downloaded one of the plugins, you are now able to easily change your login URL to suit you and your team’s needs.
This is another step towards improving your website’s security.
Plus, you’ll agree that it just looks better.
