Understanding WordPress User Roles and Permissions

When building a WordPress website with multiple team members, assigning user roles ensures your site’s security. Think of it like in a physical workplace – not everyone should be granted access to all areas. Similarly, assigning roles on your WordPress admin dashboard gives each user the right level of access to do their job.

What are the Default WordPress User Roles?

Essentially, there are five WordPress default user roles. Activating a WordPress multisite will unlock an additional super admin role. Here’s how each differs from the other:

Subscriber: This role allows users to view published posts and manage their profile section.
Contributor: Users with this role can add and edit their own content, but it requires approval before publishing.
Author: Authors can create, edit, and publish their own posts, as well as upload media.
Editor: Editors have high-level access to manage website content, including approving comments and editing pages.
Administrator: Administrators have complete control over every aspect of the website, including managing users and changing critical configurations.

Plugin-Related User Roles

In addition to the default roles, certain plugins may introduce additional user roles. For example:

WooCommerce: Roles like Customer and Shop Manager are added to manage an online store.
Easy Digital Downloads: Roles like Shop Vendor, Shop Worker, Shop Accountant, and Shop Manager are added to manage a digital product store.
Yoast SEO: Roles like SEO Editor and SEO Manager are added to manage SEO configurations.
Slice WP: The Affiliate role is added to manage an affiliate marketing program.

How to Assign or Change User Roles

Assigning user roles in WordPress is simple. Here’s how:

Log in to your WordPress Dashboard and navigate to Users → Add New Users.
Fill out the required fields with the user’s details and assign the preferred role.
Click Add New User to finish.

If you want to change the role of an existing user, navigate to Users and click Edit under the user profile you want to change. Select a new user role from the drop-down menu and click Update User.

How to Edit User Roles and Permissions

If you need more detailed permissions, you can modify the default user roles with a plugin. Here’s how:

Install and activate the Members WordPress plugin.
From your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Members → Roles.
Hover over the role you want to tweak and click Edit.
Check the Grant or Deny boxes to add or restrict capabilities as needed.
Click Update to save the changes.

How to Create Custom WordPress User Roles

You can also create custom user roles using the Members plugin. Here’s how:

Go to Members → Add New Role.
Enter the new role’s name and select the desired permissions.
Click Add Role to finish.

Conclusion

Assigning roles to multiple users on your WordPress site lets you restrict access, delegate tasks effectively, and help ensure your site remains secure. In addition to the default roles, you can also create custom roles using plugins. Understanding user roles and managing them properly is essential for a smooth and secure WordPress website.

WordPress User Roles FAQ

What are the levels of users in WordPress?

By default, WordPress has five pre-defined user roles: subscriber, contributor, author, editor, and administrator. If you’re running a WordPress multisite network, there will be an additional super admin role.

Can a WordPress user have multiple roles?

WordPress default settings allow users to have only one role at a time. You can assign multiple roles by activating a WordPress user role editor plugin like Members or PublishPress Capabilities.

How do I give access to another user in WordPress?

Note that only administrators can grant WordPress user access. If you are one, go to User → Add New Users from the WordPress admin dashboard. Fill in the username and email, select a user role, and then hit the Add New User button to finish.

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Understanding WordPress User Roles and How to Assign Them