Setting Up WordPress Multisite

This article explains how to set up WordPress Multisite on your Web60 hosting account to manage multiple websites from one dashboard.

What is WordPress Multisite

WordPress Multisite lets you run multiple WordPress websites from a single installation. You can manage all your sites from one admin area. This is useful if you run several business websites or want to create separate sites for different locations or services.

Before You Start

Back up your website before making any changes. You can create a manual backup through your Web60 dashboard.

WordPress Multisite works best on a fresh WordPress installation. If you have an existing site with content, the setup process is more complex.

Step 1: Access Your WordPress Files

1. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Go to Tools → Site Health → Info
3. Note down your WordPress version - you need version 3.0 or higher for Multisite

Step 2: Edit Your wp-config.php File

1. Contact Web60 support to help you edit your wp-config.php file
2. Ask them to add this line above the "That's all, stop editing" comment: define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);
3. Wait for confirmation that the change is complete

Step 3: Enable the Network Setup

1. Go back to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Look for "Tools" in the left menu
3. You should now see "Network Setup" as an option
4. Click on "Network Setup"

Step 4: Configure Your Network

1. Choose between subdomains or subdirectories:
   • Subdomains: site1.yourdomain.com, site2.yourdomain.com
   • Subdirectories: yourdomain.com/site1, yourdomain.com/site2
2. Enter a title for your network
3. Confirm your admin email address
4. Click "Install"

Step 5: Complete the Setup

WordPress will show you code that needs to be added to your website files. Contact Web60 support with this code - they will add it to your wp-config.php and .htaccess files for you.

Step 6: Log Back In

Once Web60 support confirms the files are updated:

1. Log out of WordPress completely
2. Log back in using your usual details
3. You should now see "My Sites" in the admin bar
4. Click "Network Admin" to manage your multisite network

Adding New Sites

1. Go to "My Sites" → "Network Admin" → "Sites"
2. Click "Add New"
3. Fill in the site address, title, and admin email
4. Click "Add Site"

If you're still stuck with setting up WordPress Multisite, contact Web60 support for hands-on help with your specific setup.

FAQ

Q: Can I convert my existing WordPress site to Multisite?

A: Yes, but it's complex and may affect your current content and plugins. It's easier to set up Multisite on a fresh WordPress installation.

Q: Will my existing plugins work with Multisite?

A: Most plugins work with Multisite, but some may need special configuration. Test your important plugins after enabling Multisite.

Q: Can I use different themes on each site in my network?

A: Yes, you can install multiple themes and let each site choose which one to use, or restrict theme choices from the Network Admin area.

Q: What's the difference between subdomain and subdirectory setup?

A: Subdomains create separate URLs like blog.yoursite.com, while subdirectories create URLs like yoursite.com/blog. Choose based on how you want to organize your sites.

Q: Can I have different domain names for sites in my network?

A: Yes, but this requires additional setup called "domain mapping" which Web60 support can help you configure.

Q: How do I delete a site from my Multisite network?

A: Go to Network Admin → Sites, hover over the site you want to remove, and click "Delete". This permanently removes all content from that site.

Q: Do all sites in my network share the same plugins?

A: Plugins are installed network-wide, but you can choose which sites can use which plugins from the Network Admin area.