You’ve started your WordPress journey and it’s time to start building your website. There is no website idea too big or small that cannot be achieved. Building your website begins with the fundamentals and that initial step is learning how to login to WordPress and navigating your admin dashboard.
There are multiple ways to log into your WordPress account. The most common two ways are through your web hosting dashboard (cpanel) or by logging into your WordPress site directly.
Determining Your login URL
The default URL to your WordPress login is the same URL you would use to visit your site but with “/wp-admin,” added to the end of it.
For example, if you visit your WordPress website at www.example.com. You would go to www.example.com/wp-admin to access the login screen.
Pro Tip: This method works with default WordPress installations. It will not work if the login methods have been changed from the default setup. For example, if a WordPress security plugin has customized the login URL or the wp-admin folder has been moved.
How to Get to Your Login Page & Logging In
Go to your login URL: “www.yoursiteurl.com/wp-admin.”
Enter your WordPress username and password.
Click “Log in,” Note: If you are already logged in, you will be taken to the dashboard directly, without asking for a username and password.
Forget your password? Don’t get locked out with too many login attempts. Click on “Lost Password” and follow the instructions for a password reset.
You now have access to your WordPress admin dashboard where you can manage your WordPress site.
Using Your Admin Dashboard
Your WordPress admin dashboard will look something like this:
If you’re a new user, the “Welcome to WordPress,” message will appear in the dashboard’s top position with helpful links to get you started.
Besides this header section, you’ll notice that the WordPress dashboard includes a left-hand navigation menu with links to submenus:
“At a Glance:” This provides stats on your WordPress site content and the current version. You can view how many posts and comments you have on your site along with how much hourly traffic your site is receiving.
“Activity:” A section that highlights your most recent posts, comments, and other activities. You can view recently published content and manage incoming comments from visitors on your site.
“Quick Draft:” A form where you can submit new post ideas quickly. When you’re creating new content on-the-go, this section is fast, convenient, and saves your drafts so you can publish at a later date.
“WordPress News:” A column containing updates from the WordPress team. This is a great resource to stay updated with community events like WordCamps or meetups with local WordPress users.
Depending on the plugins you’ve installed, your dashboard landing page may contain plugin-specific updates or other customized sections. This is the general layout of the WordPress admin dashboard, and is the hub for everything you’ll create for your site.
Congrats, you’re now logged in and it’s time to get familiar with the WordPress components that will help you continue building your site.
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