How to add a new WordPress admin user

This guide explains how to create a new user account on your WordPress site, choose the right role, and understand what each role can do.

When to add a new user

Add a WordPress user when someone else needs access to your site content. Common examples include a staff member who writes blog posts, a web developer who needs to install plugins, or a business partner who needs to update pages.

Never share your own login details. Always create a separate account for each person.

Step 1: Open the Users screen

Step 2: Fill in the required fields

You need to provide the following:

Username — This cannot be changed later, so choose something sensible like a first name or email prefix.
Email — WordPress uses this to send login instructions to the new user. Make sure it is correct.
Role — This controls what the user can and cannot do on your site.

The password field is optional. If you leave it blank, WordPress will generate a strong password and include it in the email to the new user.

Step 3: Choose the right role

WordPress has five built-in roles. Pick the one that matches what this person actually needs to do:

Administrator — Full access to everything, including installing plugins, changing themes, and managing other users. Only assign this to someone who genuinely needs it, such as a developer.
Editor — Can create, edit, publish, and delete any post or page on the site, including content written by other users. A good choice for a content manager.
Author — Can write and publish their own posts, but cannot edit anyone else's content.
Contributor — Can write draft posts, but cannot publish them. An editor or administrator must review and publish on their behalf.
Subscriber — Can only read content and manage their own profile. Useful for membership sites.

For most small business websites, Editor is the right choice for staff members who manage content. Reserve Administrator for people who need to change settings or install plugins.

Step 4: Save and notify

Click Add New User. WordPress sends an email to the address you entered with a link to set their password and log in.

If the person does not receive the email, ask them to check their spam folder. You can also click Edit on their user profile and manually set a password for them.

A note on Web60 portal credentials

Your Web60 portal account controls hosting, billing, DNS, and server-level settings. It is completely separate from your WordPress login. Never give someone your Web60 portal credentials to let them edit your website. Always create a WordPress user for them instead.

FAQ

Q: Can I change a user's role after creating them?

A: Yes. Go to Users in the WordPress Dashboard, click on the user you want to change, and select a new role from the Role dropdown. Click Update User to save.

Q: What is the difference between a WordPress user and a Web60 portal user?

A: A WordPress user logs in to your WordPress Dashboard to manage your site content. A Web60 portal user logs in to the Web60 portal to manage hosting settings, billing, and DNS. They are separate accounts with separate login pages. Never share your Web60 portal credentials with someone who only needs to edit content.

Q: What happens if I delete a WordPress user?

A: WordPress will ask you what to do with their content. You can assign all their posts and pages to another user, or delete the content entirely. The user will no longer be able to log in.