how to change WordPress post author

Understanding the Post Author Function in WordPress

WordPress enables users to manage and display authorship of posts, which is crucial in multi-author blogs. Each post in WordPress is assigned an author based on the user profile under which it was created. Changing the post author might be necessary for various reasons such as content updates, author departure, or correcting assignments in a multi-author setting.

Step-by-Step Guide to Change a WordPress Post Author

Accessing the WordPress Admin Dashboard

To start changing a post’s author, you must first log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. This interface is where most of your site’s management tasks occur.

Navigating to Posts

• Click on ‘Posts’ in the left-hand menu to open the posts screen where all your website’s articles are listed.
• Here, you can filter or directly search for the post whose author you want to change.

Quick Edit Method

1. Find the Post: Once in the posts screen, locate the post by scrolling through the list or using the search function.
2. Use Quick Edit: Hover your mouse over the post title; several options will appear underneath, click on ‘Quick Edit’.
3. Change the Author: In the Quick Edit settings, you’ll see a drop-down menu labeled ‘Author’. You can select a different author from the list.
4. Save Changes: Click ‘Update’ to save the changes. This completes the author change process for that specific post.

Edit Post Screen Method

1. Open the Post: Click on the title of the post or the ‘Edit’ option beneath it.
2. Locate the Author Box: In the post edit screen, find the ‘Author’ box usually on the right-hand side under the ‘Document’ tab settings. If you don’t see this box, you might need to enable it from the screen options.
3. Change the Author: Use the dropdown in the Author box to select a new author.
4. Update the Post: Click the ‘Update’ button to apply the changes.

Enabling the Author Box

If you do not see the Author dropdown, it is likely disabled in the Screen Options.

• Click on ‘Screen Options’ at the top right of the screen.
• Check the box labeled ‘Author’. The Author dropdown should now appear in the Document tab on the post edit screen.

Bulk Changing Post Authors

For those who need to change the authors of multiple posts:

1. Go to the Posts Screen: Navigate to the posts page in your dashboard.
2. Select Posts: Check the boxes next to the posts you want to change.
3. Choose Edit: From the ‘Bulk Actions’ dropdown, select ‘Edit’ and then apply. This opens a bulk edit area.
4. Change the Author: Find the Author dropdown in the bulk edit area and select the new author.
5. Update Posts: Click the ‘Update’ button to apply the author change to all selected posts.

Role Management in Changing Post Author

Ensure that the user roles in your WordPress site allow changing post authors:

• Administrator and Editor roles typically have the permissions to change post authors.
• Authors and Contributors usually cannot alter authorship unless their roles are customized through plugins or code modifications.

Utilizing Plugins for Enhanced Control

Several plugins can enhance your control over post authorship in WordPress:

• Edit Author Slug: Allows customization of author permalinks, adding a layer of personalization and distinction.
• Co-Authors Plus: Enables the assignment of multiple authors to posts, useful for collaboration.
• PublishPress Authors: Offers a sophisticated management system for multi-author setups, including guest authors without WordPress accounts.

Verifying Changes and SEO Considerations

After changing a post’s author, it’s important to view the post to ensure that the author name is displaying correctly. Additionally, consider the SEO implications of changing authors. The author’s byline can influence content credibility and authority, factors that search engines may use for ranking.

Change authorship judiciously, as frequent switches can confuse readers and disrupt SEO efforts. Prioritizing stability and consistency in authorship or using clear announcements or updates about author changes can mitigate potential negative impacts.