How to Change WordPress Author Permalink Structure Easily

Every WordPress website automatically creates author archive pages, but the default /author/ URL may not always match your brand or website structure. Many bloggers, news sites, and multi-author websites prefer cleaner author URLs such as /writer/, /team/, or /contributors/ to create a more professional look and improve user experience. The good news is that WordPress allows you to customize the author permalink structure with a plugin or a small code change.

In this guide, you'll learn how to change the WordPress author permalink structure safely, update your URLs without losing SEO value, and set up proper redirects so visitors and search engines can find your author pages without any issues.

https://example.com/author/john/

While this works well, many website owners prefer a custom author permalink such as:

https://example.com/team/john/
https://example.com/writer/john/
https://example.com/authors/john/

Changing the author permalink can improve branding, make URLs more meaningful, and provide a better user experience.

In this guide, you'll learn multiple ways to change the WordPress author permalink structure without breaking your website.

Why Change the WordPress Author URL?

Changing the default /author/ base offers several benefits.

• Creates cleaner and more professional URLs
• Matches your website branding
• Improves user navigation
• Makes author pages easier to understand
• Helps organize content for multi-author blogs
• Can reduce automated author enumeration attempts (although it is not a complete security solution)

Default WordPress Author URL

A standard WordPress author archive looks like:

https://example.com/author/admin/

Here:

• author is the author base.
• admin is the author's username or slug.

Many site owners want to replace author with something more suitable.

Examples:

/writer/john/
/team/john/
/staff/john/
/editor/john/
/contributors/john/

Method 1: Change Author Permalink Using a Plugin (Recommended)

This is the easiest option because it requires no coding.

Popular permalink plugins allow you to change the author base in just a few clicks.

Steps

1. Install an author permalink plugin.
2. Activate it.
3. Open its settings page.
4. Enter your preferred author base.
5. Save the changes.
6. Visit Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes to refresh rewrite rules.

Your new URL may become:

https://example.com/writer/john/

Method 2: Change Author Base with Code

Developers can change the author base programmatically.

Example:

function custom_author_base() {
 global $wp_rewrite;
 $wp_rewrite->author_base = 'writer';
}
add_action('init', 'custom_author_base');

After adding the code:

1. Go to Settings → Permalinks
2. Click Save Changes

This refreshes WordPress rewrite rules.

Method 3: Use SEO Plugins That Support Author Archives

Some SEO plugins let you manage author archive settings.

While they usually don't change the permalink structure directly, they help optimize author archive pages for search engines.

You can:

• Enable or disable author archives
• Customize SEO titles
• Add meta descriptions
• Improve indexing

What Happens After Changing Author URLs?

Once you change the author permalink:

Old:

example.com/author/john/

New:

example.com/writer/john/

Search engines may already have indexed the old URLs.

To preserve SEO:

• Set up 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones.
• Update internal links if necessary.
• Submit your sitemap again in Google Search Console.

Best Author URL Examples

Good author permalink structures include:

/writer/john/
/team/john/
/authors/john/
/editor/john/
/staff/john/
/contributors/john/

Choose one that matches your website.

SEO Tips for Author Pages

Changing the permalink alone won't improve rankings.

To maximize SEO:

• Write a detailed author bio.
• Add a profile photo.
• Include social media links.
• Display recent posts.
• Use structured headings.
• Optimize the author page title.
• Add a meta description.
• Link to important articles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common problems:

• Forgetting to refresh permalinks.
• Not creating 301 redirects.
• Using spaces or special characters.
• Frequently changing the author base.
• Ignoring broken links after the update.

Does Changing the Author Permalink Affect SEO?

Changing the author permalink itself does not directly improve rankings.

However, if done correctly with proper 301 redirects, your SEO value is preserved while giving you cleaner and more branded URLs.

Poorly changing URLs without redirects can lead to:

• Broken links
• Lost traffic
• Temporary ranking drops

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the WordPress author URL without a plugin?

Yes. You can change the author base by adding a small PHP snippet to your theme or a custom plugin, then refresh the permalink settings.

Will changing the author permalink break existing links?

It can if you don't create 301 redirects. Redirect old author URLs to the new ones to avoid broken links.

Is changing the author permalink good for SEO?

It doesn't directly boost rankings, but cleaner URLs improve usability and branding. Proper redirects help preserve existing SEO value.

Can I remove the /author/ base completely?

It's possible with custom rewrite rules or specialized plugins, but removing the base entirely can create URL conflicts. Using a custom base like /writer/ or /team/ is generally safer.

Do I need to resubmit my sitemap after changing author URLs?

Yes. After updating the permalink structure and redirects, submit your updated sitemap in Google Search Console to help search engines discover the new URLs.

Final Thoughts

Changing the WordPress author permalink structure is a simple way to make your website look more professional and consistent with your brand. Whether you use a plugin or a small code snippet, remember to refresh your permalink settings and set up 301 redirects to protect your SEO.

If your site has multiple authors, a custom author URL structure such as /writers/, /team/, or /contributors/ can also make navigation easier for visitors and create a more polished appearance.