How to Set Up the Main Settings in WordPress

What is the Settings menu?

WordPress is a tool for building websites. The dashboard is its admin area. On the left side of the dashboard is the Settings menu. It controls how your whole site behaves. Spend a few minutes here when your site is new.

Open the settings

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click Settings on the left.
3. Choose a page from the list below.

General

1. Type your Site Title. This is the name of your site.
2. Type a Tagline. This is a short line about your site.
3. Check the Administration Email Address. WordPress sends important notes here.
4. Set your Timezone, so posts show the right time.
5. Pick a date and time format.
6. Click Save Changes.

Writing

Here you choose the default category and format for new posts. A category is a topic group for posts. Most people can leave these as they are.

Reading

• Your homepage displays lets you choose between latest posts or a fixed page.
• Blog pages show at most sets how many posts show per page.
• Search engine visibility has a box to ask search engines not to list the site. Keep it off for a live site.

Discussion

This controls comments. Decide if people can comment, and if you must approve each one first. Approving comments helps stop spam, which is unwanted junk messages.

Media

Here you set the sizes WordPress makes for uploaded pictures. The defaults are fine to start.

Permalinks

A permalink is the web address of one post or page. Choose a clear format, such as Post name.

Privacy

Pick or create a privacy policy page. Many places require one.

Quick recap

• The Settings menu controls your whole site.
• Start with General: title, tagline, timezone.
• Check Reading, Discussion and Permalinks next.
• Save changes on every page.