Last Updated On : Mar 14, 2022.

WordPress Multisite – Everything You Know About It With Simple Guide

WordPress Multisite is a feature that allows the hosting account holders to share the themes and plugins with various WordPress sites. It is generally build to create and manage a network of multiple websites just from a single WordPress dashboard. It also makes the WordPress websites changing and updating tasks so much simpler and easier. Despite creating and having access to a network, you can add/limit other users to create their own sites inside your network. However, creating a WordPress Multisite network is quite essential specifically when you decide to run separate websites from one dashboard. In this post, we will walk you through the proper WordPress Multisite installation and setup guide. Thus, continue reading from top to toe carefully.

 

What Is WordPress Multisite?

A WordPress multisite is an advanced feature available since version WordPress 3.0. Using the feature, you can create multiple WordPress websites and run them on the same WordPress installation server.

Earlier the feature was known as WordPress multi-user or WPMU. It allows you to control the entire network as a Super Admin. Hence, you can install new WordPress themes and plugins, use them on other websites, and customize them.

 

The Topmost Benefits Of Using WordPress Multisite

Some of the advantages you can gain when using WordPress Multisite are listed beneath:

• Being a network administrator, having the ability to effortlessly manage multiple WordPress websites from a single dashboard.
• Each specific site on the network has its own admins. The site admins have their own power to manage their sites in a better way.
• You can get a facility to install plugins/themes frequently and activate them for multiple sites with one download.
• Furthermore, a Multisite Network enables you to manage updates with ease.
• Both the Super Admin and the Website Admin have the ability to control the content.
• Can install the same plugins for every site that you launch.

 

The Requirements Before Installing WordPress Multisite

Before you attempt to install WordPress Multisite, ensure that:

• WordPress is already installed in your Windows System.
• The “Pretty Permalinks” are activated. It clearly means that the URLs you used for your site are not looking like “http://example.com/?p=2345.” The URL should be looking like http://example.com/my-page.
• All plugins are not activated.
• You have a backup of your WordPress installation.
• Must have FTP access to your WordPress installation.

 

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Ways To Activate The Multisite Feature In The WordPress Website

The suitable instructive guidelines for the same are mentioned underneath. Have a look:

• First and forecast, you have to securely set up an FTP connection to your WordPress website.
• Next, you need to open the “wp-config.php” file which is situated in the main directory of your WordPress.
• And then add the line.
• define(‘WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true);
• Just above the line:/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */
• Now, save the file wp-config.php.

Finally, the WordPress Multisite feature has been enabled in your WordPress. But it is not the ending point as there is a network installation process as well. So, let’s continue reading!

 

Steps To Install The WordPress Network

Go through the instructions provided below to know the right procedures for installing your network in WordPress:

• First, refresh the page in your browser and then log in to your WordPress website.
• Now, go to the “Tools” menu, and from the left sidebar select the “Network Setup” tab. Under this section, configure your WordPress Multisite.
• Decide whether you want to use Subdomains for the sites in your network or want to install them in subfolders. Note: You cannot change this setting later on.
• Once you have decided, enter the specified name for your network in the “Network Title” field. To do so, you find this option in the “Network Details” section.
• Afterward, enter the site admin’s e-mail address.
• And then, finally, tap on the “Install” button to start installing your network.

 

How To Add Some Required Code to wp-config.php and .htaccess

After WordPress Network installation, WordPress will show you some code that is required to be added. So, here is how you add the code to your wp-config.php and .htaccess file:

 

First, set up an FTP connection to your website.

Next, you have to add the first code snippet to your wp-config.php file above the line:

/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */

 

The snippet looks like this, but adapted to your own site:

•  define(‘MULTISITE’, true);
•  define(‘SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL’, true);
• define(‘DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE’, ‘My Website’);
• define(‘PATH_CURRENT_SITE’, ‘/’);
• define(‘SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE’, 1);
• define(‘BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE’, 1);

 

Now, once you added the first code, let’s add the second code snippet to the .htaccess file. Also, try replacing the other WordPress rules.

• RewriteEngine On
•  RewriteBase /
•  RewriteRule ^index\.php$ – [L]
• # add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
• RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?wp-admin$ $1wp-admin/ [R=301,L]
• RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
• RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} –d
•  RewriteRule ^ – [L]
•  RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $2 [L]
• RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(.*\.php)$ $2 [L]
•  RewriteRule. index.php [L]

In the end, save both the files.

After seriously changing your wp-config.php and .htaccess files, log in to your WordPress admin account. Now, what you notice is the new menu named “Network Admin” in the top-left corner of the Multisite sites’ window. It is always displayed so enter the admin area of the network whenever you want. Do not think on which site you are of your WordPress Multisite Network.

 

Instant Ways To Add A New Website To The Network

Adding a single website in WordPress Multisite doesn’t really make any sense. You will have the ability to add as many websites as you want in your WordPress multisite. Thus, to add a new site, you need to go through the following steps:

• First, navigate to My Sites > Network Admin > Sites.
• And then, click the “Add New” tab.
• Enter the website address into the “Site Address” field. The domain is already given; so you only have to add the subdirectory.
• After that, enter the title of your website into the “Site Title” field.
• Now, from the “Site Language” drop-down menu, select your preferred language for your new website.
• Now, enter the admin e-mail address into the “Admin Email” field. This email address must be different from the one for the whole network. If there is no user with this e-mail yet, create a new user for this site to continue.
• Afterward, press the “Add Site” button. Your new site will be created and is going to be displayed in My Sites > Network Admin > Sites.
• However, to let other users know about your current admin, add them as a user with an admin role to your site.

 

Ways To Install Plugins And Themes In WordPress Multisite

Installing or uninstalling plugins or themes in a WordPress Multisite Network can only be done by the super admin. The site admins within the network can only enable or disable them. Well, the site admins can only activate and deactivate plugins if the super admin checked the “Enable administration menus” box. In the network administration window, go to the “Settings” tab and then select the “Network Settings”. In this section, you will find such a box which you have to make it enable.

• You can find the “Plugins Administration” for the whole network under Network Admin → Plugins.
• And will find the “Themes Administration” under Network Admin → Themes.

Point To Remember: The admin can activate and deactivate plugins, but he has not the authority to install or uninstall them.

 

Why It Is Required To Use WordPress Multisite

There are many factors for which you want to use WordPress Multisite:

• All sites available in the Multisite Network share the same WordPress core files, themes, and plugins. This means updates will only be happened at one time, rather than logging into several individual sites separately.
• Easy and smooth managing of Subdomains of your main domain in one central dashboard.

 

When To Not Use WordPress Multisite

There are so many reasons for which you can choose to not use a WordPress Multisite. Do not use a multisite If:

• You are not sure whether a Multisite would be a good fit for your desired requirements. When you have confusion even a little bit, just stay on a single site.
• You manage several distinct sites which do not use the same theme, plugins, or design scheme.
• Managing a single WordPress website.
• Each of your sites has a strong level of customization.
• Each of your sites uses the same themes but with the addition of dissimilar custom functions.
• When you have not added the Multisite add-on to your Growth or Scale plan.

That’s it! With the aforementioned info, you can gain effective technical knowledge and idea about WordPress Multisite. This probably helps you to whether or not, how, and when to use this Multisite for your WordPress website.

 

For Further Help, Avail 24/7 Online WordPress Support

In case you are having any doubts or need additional help and WordPress Support, call us immediately. We are extremely talented and well-experienced techies present round the clock at the toll-free helpline number. We are active only to assist you at a reasonable cost in an effective manner.

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