So once your domain and host are talking to each other (click here to read How to Change your Nameservers), you should be able to type your domain in your browser address bar and your site will come up! I realize it's generic, but we'll change that soon enough. First we've got to tweak some settings.
(If you are using your domain on an existing blog elsewhere, pull up your site by using the temporary URL you received in one of your welcome emails from your host.)
The first thing I do is change the default user from "admin" to something else. This is an important step because hackers have been known to utilize admin accounts to break into blogs. So, getting rid of the admin user is just good practice.
Can't see the video above? Click here.
Video Notes:
1. Login to your WordPress Dashboard
You can get to the login screen a few ways:
- Type yourdomain.com/wp-login.php into your browser's address bar.
- From your site's homepage (yourdomain.com or temporary URL), look for "Meta" in the right sidebar. Click "Login" to get to the login screen. (If you're using your temporary URL and you're having trouble, check this article. Thanks to Shelly for the tip!)
Once you're at the login screen, login as "admin" and use the password you were emailed when you first installed WordPress (or the password you specified when you installed WordPress).
2. Create a new user
- Once you're logged in, you will be at your Dashboard. In the left column, click on "Users" and then "Add New User" underneath. Fill in the appropriate information to add a new user.
- Make sure you set "Role" to "Administrator." (This is important!!)
- Click "Add User."
3. Delete your "Admin" user
- Once your new user has been added, log out of your Dashboard completely (hover over your name in the top right of your screen until you see the option to log out).
- Then go back to Step 1 above and login again, but this time as the new user you just created.
- Once in, go to "Users" (again, in the left column).
- Hover over the "Admin" in the list and you'll see the option to delete that user account. Click "Delete."
- You will be asked on the next page if you want to delete all posts and links. Assuming your blog is brand new, you can delete since you have not written any posts yet. WARNING: If your blog is not new and you have already posted, DO NOT DELETE. If you do, you will delete all existing posts. Instead, choose the second option "Attribute all posts and links" and select the new user in the dropdown menu.
- Done!
Other posts in this series
- How to Start a Blog or Website: Intro & FAQ
- How to Start a Blog or Website: Cheat Sheet
- How to Find (or Refind) Your Passion
- How to Decide What to Blog About: What Works for Readers?
- How to Decide What to Blog About: What Works for You?
- Understand Branding: 4 Tips
- Understand Keywords: Increase the Odds of Getting Found
- Writing Great Content: 3 Tips
- How to Write a Killer About Page
- 12 Blog Organization Tips
- How to Choose a Domain Name: 12 Tips
- How to Register a Domain Name
- How to Set Up Hosting and WordPress
- How to Change Your Nameservers
- How to Add a New User in WordPress
- How to Optimize Your WordPress Settings
- How to Install a Plugin
- My Favorite Plugins
- How to Get & Optimize a Feedburner Feed
- How to Choose a WordPress Theme
- How to Install a WordPress Theme
- Elegant Themes for WordPress
- How to Install Google Analytics
- How to Use WordPress: Tips & Tricks
- How to Start a Blog or Website: 10 Tips for New Bloggers
Thank you! I had no idea how to do this! I am loving your blog and am sure to read it everyday! I am in the process of starting a new blog and it just happened to coincide with the start of your blog tips!
Awesome! Glad it's helpful.
Amy,
I like your blog's design! Thanks for all of the helping posts!
What if you're already using WP? Should you still delete the admin after adding yourself as a user?
Yes, as long as you have set up a new user and set its role to "Administrator" you can add and delete users at any time.
If I delete the admin account what will happen to all the posts I already have up from posting under that account?
You'll have to attribute all those posts to the new user. I cover that in the video at about 3:20.
I did this and it worked fine. However, now my photo does not show up on my replies to comments and I can't remember how to fix that. Help!
Make sure the email address in your new user account matches the email in your Gravatar account (here's my tutorial about getting your picture to show up with comments if it's helpful).
I have the same question, too – if I have all of the other posts (a couple thousand) using my other acct, will that affect it or cause any problems?
Make sure you attribute all your existing posts to the new user account. I cover that in the video at about 3:20.
Hi Amy! Thanks so much for your great site! It has been so helpful to me as I am working on transferring my blog from Blogger to self-hosted WP.
I am trying to create a new user on my new WP blog, but it is telling me that my email is already registered. I tried changing the e-mail of the admin, but it still gives me the error message. Is there a way to add an already existing WP account to my new blog as an Administrator? Or would it be okay if I just went ahead and changed the user name of admin to something else, and changed the password, or would that still possibly cause problems with hackers?
Thanks for your help!
I changed my nameservers a few min. ago and when I type in my new blog address, it looks like this: http://bonniesheartandhome.com/ (there is a girl and to her left are a bunch of medical words in a column. Am I correct that it will change once Go Daddy and Bluehost connect and then I'll see my boring blue blog? LOL
Thanks, Amy!!
Yes, it can take a while for changes to take effect. If it doesn't resolve within a few hours (24 hours for sure), I'd call your host and see what happened.
Hi, Amy!!
My question is similar to Emily's up above:
I got a bit ahead of you when I registered my WordPress a few days ago. LOL
Before reading this entry, I had already changed the info to my name, e-mail addy and role as administrator. However it still reads Admin as the username in blue letters.
Today, I was trying to follow your steps to get rid of the username admin. I set up a new user but when I did it said that the e-mail address was already registered.
Since it won't allow me to register a new user with the same e-mail what do I do? I have another e-mail linked to the e-mail I used. Should I give it a try?
Thanks!
Bonnie
Yes, you have to use a different email address. You can always change it back once the other account is deleted though.
Just got through step 10 tonight. Thank you so much for your blog! It's been a huge help to me – I am in waters over my head and feel like you are my flotation device ;o) Thank You! I look forward to continuing my journey with you.
Perfect! Thank you.
SWEET! Thank you for the service you're providing here. You're a Godsend! (I still miss blogger but its getting easier with every "trick" I learn.
And I think you'll find it'll keep getting better and better!
I changed the servers following your directions. I type in gardeningwithangels.com and gardeningwithangels.com/wp-login.php I stil get the godaddy.com page coming up. What did I do wrong or should I wait a little longer before trying again. It is changed as far as servers on my godaddy.com account.
Please help!!!!
It comes up for me! It does take a while sometimes.
This is FANTASTIC!!!! Your blog is making this a piece of cake. I feel so smart and confident having the steps laid out before me. I'm having a blast. =)
Btw…. you and your lovely viewers are the first to have access to my new blog!
http://www.ladyoftheword.com ***now it is still in construction phase but it is up & improving by the minute.*** Thanks to my awesome new friend AMY!!!!
also I got the gravatar but its not showing up on your site. any ideas on how I can fix this? thanks so much!!!
I'm seein' it. Are you not seeing it?
Congrats, Karen!
Thanks! I see it now =) I had to reset the rating … LOL
Hi Amy..
I just changed and deleted my admin as suggested above. In my user page my gravatar is showing but it does not show up when I comment on my own posts. The email address is correct and gravatar.com has the correct one so I don't know what happened. Any suggestions?
Sorry to bug you again. I think I figured it out. All of my post coments under the old admin user have a generic picture. Going forward with the new user name, it has my little Simply Sandwich box. As long as it is right from now on, that is okay. Thanks for all of your great info Amy!
Hi, Amy. I am learning so much! And I'm currently working on switching from Blogger to WordPress. Anyway, you are beyond better than I can ever be…but you have a slight grammar error at the beginning of this post . The "you're" should be "your". Grammar teacher in me notices these things
I'm happy to edit for you 
Thank you Carrie! Fixed it.
I'm trying to do this, but it's not working. I get a message that says I can invite the new "user" to wordpress. It is telling me that I need to add someone who already has a wordpress account. What am I doing wrong?
Are you using WordPress.com?
to Bonnie Kline::
when you create the new user, make sure as Amy says to put the role as "Administrator" the e-mail at this point just has to be different from the one you signed up with Word Press with. Then after you go in and delete the Admin account while using the new username and password you can change the e-mail that is assocciated with it. I wanted the e-mail to match the site also, i had the same concerns and then figured it out. And thank you AMY ssooooooo much. My wife used this site to get her site up and running and she is doing fantastic, thanks to all of your helpful hintss and tips. Hers is http://frugalmomoftwo.com
Thanks again
Jaxgman
sophisticatedrednek.com
Thanks for jumping in, Jaxgman! Your wife's site looks great — glad I was able to help a bit in her process.
Hello Again AMY<
Jaxgman here, you might remember i asked the questions about the wierd happenings of my "WIDGETS" page?. Well as it turns out I am not alone, I checked youtube and found a guy who had the same issue, ( not able to drag and drop in widgets on word press) But once again you saved me!!!, when i went in and created a new user with administrative permissions of course, The new user can In Fact use the widget page like it used to be. YEAAAHHHHHH!! so just wanted to help anyone who might be experiancing the same issue. If there is a setting that we could change to fix it would be better??
Thanks again Jaxgman
sophisticatedrednek.com
I would have quit by now (and I've only just started) if I hadn't had your directions/tutorials for constant reference. I'm learning so much. Thank you.
Do i have to wait to do this step after the nameserver part has been done?
As long as you can login to your Dashboard you're good.
Accompolished. Thank you so much.
Jean
Hi,
I had also made the poor choice to join wordpress prior to doing these steps, and I've now changed the email address in the prior account, however, after 12 hours I'm still receiving a notice that there is already a blog with my email address. Any idea of how long this could take?
Thanks!! Megan
I think I'd call your host and see if they can help you straighten it out.
Help! I cannot add a new user. I get the following error message:Only lowercase letters (a-z) and numbers are allowed. I cannot get videos to post either, in html or visual. The only item that shows is the embed. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Sometimes logging out and back it resets things. Otherwise, here's what I do when I encounter errors or warnings.
Thanks Amy. Will give it a go.
I am trying to create an addon site through Bluehost. But now I'm stuck. I type in by url/wp-login.php. I get the login screen and type my information, but then get an error message and it doesn't open my Dashboard. I am using WordPress for my original blog (BoysterousAdventures.com) and plan to use it for this as well (HeartsDesireByJess.com). Maybe I didn't set up WordPress right concerning the new site. Sorry for the rambling, just can't figure out what I'm missing. Thanks for any input!!!
Hmmm…hard to say from here. I'd call Bluehost and get them to walk you through it. They're very helpful!
Hi AMy,
I took the plunge today and started on the journey. I registered my domain at Go Daddy and then hosted with Bluehost. Now I am waiting for the server to come up (just now changed the nameservers). I have already installed Word Press. My question is, will I have to link word press too or it will come up as my web site by default as I installed it from Bluehost?
If you installed it in your root directory (domain.com) it should come up automatically. If it doesn't, call Bluehost and they should be able to help you.
I'm not sure there are words adequate to express my gratitude for your tutorial. The thought of untangling this ball of yarn has kept me away for far too long!!
Many, many thanks~
Glad it was helpful, Jeanie! Thanks for stopping by.
When at first you don't succeed go back over all the info! I was having difficulty with the first optimization on my WordPress settings, the email address issue. So I went through all the related posts, found my answer, and got the task completed….whew!
Hi Amy-
I was told to use Square space because of how easy the latest version 6 is that just launched. Now I am thinking of moving over to WordPress due to all the tutorials on line regarding "how to grow a blog" only talk about WordPress. I have just spent so much time and $ having my designer build it in Squarespace. I will be paying a $20 (plus $10 for him to upkeep it and make changes) a month for hosting and blog. What do you pay with WP? Can I transfer my blog over easily if I needed to? Can I customize it and make changes if I learned how? Do I have to learn HTML coding to do this? please reply with your thoughts/advice. Thank you kindly
Amy,
My husband and I blog together. We are both set up as Admin users, but for some reason our restrictions are not the same. For instance, I can not change who is the Author of the post (this shows up as a drop-down menu for my husband), nor can I change the paragraph style to a predetermined H5. It's very strange. Do you have any idea why this might be happening?
Hi Amy thanks so much for the info it will surely come in handy.
Hi Amy! I haven't made this change because after reading the comments I'm a teeny bit nervous. Someone mentioned that their gravatar doesn't show up now with comments and you suggested making sure the email addresses are the same for their Gravatar accounts and WP user account. Here's my question: currently my gravatar shows up, however, my email address that is registered with gravatar is doreen@househoneys.com BUT my email for my user account is my personal email. Any thoughts? Thank you!!
Hi Doreen, I think I would just add all email addresses you use to your Gravatar account and then it sounds like you should be covered, regardless of what email address you use?
I don't even have an option to "add users". I can only invite them but when I do that, I can't personally edit what their author bio says, etc.
Hi Brandie,
The reason you don't have that option is because you are on WordPress.com (as opposed to a self-hosted WordPress site). I explain the difference here.
Amy-
I followed all the directions regarding domain, server, and hosting. I just installed WordPress but when I try to log in as the admin there are no options for me to do so. I entered the address properly through your tutorial but WordPress does not open or provide a log in option for me. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I am using Go Daddy and Host Gator.
Thanks
Hi Amber, I'm not sure I'm following. Is it that you can't login when you go here? If you specified a name and password when you installed WordPress, the admin login was overridden. So, you'll have to use the name and password you specified during installation. Check your welcome email from HostGator for the login info.
Dear Amy, I have followed your very simple and explicit instructions on "changing a user name" on WordPress. When I click "add user", I get an error message saying "this email is already registered-please choose another". I am extremely frustrated. Can you help me or can you find a way to contact WordPress? Thank you for all you do!
Do you have a second email address? My suggestion is to use a second email address to set up the second user (you can grab one from Gmail easy enough). Once the first user is deleted you could edit the profile of the new user and switch the email address to your preferred one. Hope that helps!
Thank you, Amy, for responding to my dilemma. I set up a second e-mail address on Google as you suggested; however, when I attempt to delete "admin" as a user on WordPress (which is the user name associated with my original email), that option is not available. Could you please advise me? I regret pestering you but as is probably obvious to you by now is that I am not a computer savvy person so any help you can give me with my problem will be greatly appreciated.
Sorry for wasting your time, Amy. The "admin" user name has inexplicably disappeared and I am now able to use my original user name. Thank you, again, so much.
No worries, glad it worked out!
Hi Amy–
You have been so helpful!!
I added a new user to my WP site, and made them administrator. However, there is no option for me to "attribute" anything to them. I have only made changes to my layout and changed background colors, link colors, header words, etc. No posts. I am using Prose theme. If I delete my generic "admin" will all my changes disappear??
Thanks so much
Paula
OK!! I finally figured out that I could not delete the admin person I was logged in as. Duh.
I got it figured out. If I just work an extra 45 minutes or so, I usually can find the answer–LOL.
Paula
I followed the steps during installation of wordpress to set up a user name and password instead of using admin. Therefore, when I log on and go to users, I see my user name account and it has been assigned the role of administrator.
So I don't need to do the above steps. Correct?
Right.
Hi Amy
I have a great domain name / concept, and am getting ready to sign up with Bluehost and install WordPress. Just trying to get my ducks in a row first before "starting".
I've undertood all of your perfectly explained details up to and past this point. But I'm not understanding the 'purpose' of this particular "Add A New Username" post. Sorry I'm not understanding this, but "WHY" do I have to "Add a new user to wordpress"?
You are a fantastic teacher, very talented at explaining things perfrectly.
Thank you!
Hi Laura,
This step is only for those who have registered their domains at one place (like GoDaddy) and purchased hosting at another (like Bluehost). But if you registered your domain at the same time as purchasing hosting (that is, from the same company) you can skip this step.
Thanks for taking the time to reply Amy!
Thanks so much for this great tutorial Amy. I have to admit I felt sick to my stomach pushing the delete button on the first account. I had a horrible G+ accident once hitting a delete button on photos in the wrong album. I am now gun shy to ever hit delete on anything. Thanks for walking me through this.
Amy,
great blog and great tutorial. With all the recent hack attacks on WordPress sites, one of the most important things anyone can do, and one of the simplest, is to just make sure that they do NOT use "admin" as the login username! As you said in your video, that's the first username hackers try when attempting to break into your WordPress site. Nicely done video, as well.
Take Care,
Jupiter Jim
So true. I completely agree. (More about the recent attacks here too.)