WordPress is a popular platform for creating websites, blogs, or online stores that are open to the world. But in some cases, you might want to make your WordPress site private. Whether you’re working on a new site and aren’t ready to launch, creating a private blog, or making an internal company website, WordPress gives you several options.
Why Consider Making a WordPress Site Private?
There are numerous reasons why you might want to turn your WordPress site private. If your site is under construction and you’re not ready to share it with the world, you can set it to private. A private setting is also useful if you’re creating a portfolio, family blog, or any site that you only want specific people to access.
How to Make a Single Post or Page Private
You can make a specific post or page private while keeping the rest of your site public.
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In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Posts or Pages and select the one you want to make private.
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In the Publish meta box on the right, click on the Edit link next to Visibility.
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Select Private and then OK.
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Update your post or page.
This post or page will now be visible only to website administrators and editors.
How To Make Your Entire WordPress Site Private
If you want your whole site to be private, WordPress has a built-in option.
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Go to Settings and then Reading in your WordPress dashboard.
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Scroll down to Site Visibility.
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Select I would like my site to be private, visible only to users I choose.
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Click Save Changes.
Using ‘My Private Site’ Plugin
If you want more options, consider using a plugin like My Private Site. This plugin forces visitors to log in to view your site and gives you more control over who can access it.
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Install and activate the ‘My Private Site’ plugin.
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Go to Settings and then Private Site in your WordPress dashboard.
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Customize your settings and Save Changes.
Using ‘Password Protected’ Plugin
You can also use a plugin like Password Protected to make your entire WordPress site private. This plugin allows you to set a password that visitors must enter to view your site.
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Install and activate the ‘Password Protected’ plugin.
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Go to Settings and then Password Protected in your WordPress dashboard.
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Customize your settings and Save Changes.
Choosing the Best Method
Consider your needs when choosing how to make your WordPress site private. If you’re only hiding a post or page, use the built-in settings. If you want to hide your entire site, you can use the built-in options or choose a plugin that gives you more customized control.
Common Questions About Making WordPress Site Private
“Can I make a WordPress.com site private?”
Yes, you can make a WordPress.com website private under My Sites > Manage > Settings > General > Privacy > Site Visibility.
“Can I allow certain people to view my private WordPress site?”
Yes, some plugins let you give specific viewers access. You can create a WordPress account for each person or set a password using the ‘Password Protected’ plugin.
Making your WordPress site private is a useful tool that gives you control over who views your content. Whether you’re still setting up your site, want to share private content, or need to set up an intranet, WordPress makes it easy.