Are you dealing with removing an author’s name in WordPress? then you are at the right place. So, as we all know that WordPress automatically shows the author’s name and date after a post has been published by the Author. Well, It is the most beneficial feature such as Post Type in WordPress. But there are various instances where you want to remove and change the author name from WordPress posts and this is done just to avoid a bad impression. Find out how to create categories in posts.
However, By default, WordPress posts do not have a choice to publish articles without an author. As an article published must have been authored. Therefore with this comprehensive 2023 guide, we have created multiple ways how to hide or remove the author name from WordPress posts. Now let’s dive in and make sure to follow every step as it is very important.
Why Should You Remove Author Name
Instantly, In order to avoid a bad impression, which may be from some factors like post outdated, author disqualified, etc.
As we all know that in general, WordPress themes allocate the custom post type which is the post date and author name by default. And there are some places where you have the desire to customize it. Need to WordPress Theme customization?
As it is important to have an outstanding post, and in order to avoid outdated posts. One gets gripped by the desire of removing. It is often good for you to remove the old dated WordPress posts, But, only if you don’t regularly update them. Find out how to automatically update the WordPress plugins to avoid getting outdated.
With the motivation to learn how to create a WordPress post. After, the learning motivation to reach the goals you may be in a look for certain methods which is why We at WP Global Support are here.
In past, there are many methods to there are various ways to Hide/Remove an Author’s name from WordPress posts. Therefore, our team has selected multiple methods. Here you will find the best methods for your easy convenience.
Now, let us find the methods as your last stop to remove the author’s name.
Methods To Remove And Change Author Name From WordPress Post
Method 1: Remove the Author Name from WordPress Posts via a Plugin
Since many of you are pretty into a learning mode, we have provided the easiest way which is recommended for most of you. But there is a catch – it cannot work properly with all WordPress themes.
The very first thing is to install and activate the Show Hide Author plugin. For more details, see our guide on How to install a plugin in WordPress.
After activated the plugin navigates to Plugins » Show/Hide Author page for configuring plugin settings.
After this step is done! This WordPress plugin conceals the author’s name automatically for the posts. If you think it is important to provide the author’s name for a particular post type. Then, you need to complete this step by selecting the required specific posts on the screen.
Just below the post types, you can also add custom URLs which are also termed permalinks where you want to hide the author name. To know more about permalinks.
In most cases, this plugin can hide the author’s name which is in most cases. But before it shows the author name, your WordPress theme may still display the before text and author name. For example, ‘by Albert Thomas’ would now just show ‘by’.
Thereafter, if you would like to hide this ‘by’ line, then use your mouse to navigate over the Autor text and select the particular words before the author’s name. With this, you will be able to completely hide the text.
Next, press the right-click and choose to inspect the tool from the browser menu. Find more about the inspect tool.
In this inspect tool, find the div class including your author byline.
Just copy the CSS class that is used here and paste it into the plugin settings under Advanced options.
Now, click on the Save Changes button to update and store saved settings.
Method 2: Remove the Author Name from WordPress Posts Manually
Now, let’s move to the second option. In this method, you need to edit the WordPress theme files.
Note: Before making any changes please make sure to create a backup of your theme or child theme. If something goes wrong, then this will help you easily turn back changes.
Usually, WordPress themes use various variations of code to show the author’s name. Now find the code that is superintended for showing the author’s name in your theme files and delete it. Find out how to Import & Export WordPress themes.
As it is hard to find the code in WordPress, here you can find out the most general locations of the codes which are provided in single.php, archive.php, index.php, and content.php files. These files have various codes which run and perform the program with individual specifications.
In most cases, you will be unable to locate the code that outputs the author’s name. Rather you will see a template tag that is defined in the functions.php file or template-tags.php file.
For example, function twenty-seventeen is used by the Twenty Seventeen theme that is posted_on to show the author name and post date/time. However, this function is defined in the template-tags file.
| function twentyseventeen_posted_on() {
// Get the author name. $byline = sprintf( _x( ‘by %s’, ‘post author’, ‘twentyseventeen’ ), ‘<span class=”author vcard”><a class=”url fn n” href=”‘ . esc_url( get_author_posts_url( get_the_author_meta( ‘ID’ ) ) ) . ‘”>’ . get_the_author() . ‘</a></span>’ ); // Finally, let’s write all of this to the page. echo ‘<span class=”posted-on”>’ . twentyseventeen_time_link() . ‘</span><span class=”byline”> ‘ . $byline . ‘</span>’; // WPCS: XSS OK. } |
Now, remove the code that outputs the author’s name. Just see the below given example:
| function twentyseventeen_posted_on() {
// Finally, let’s write all of this to the page. echo ‘<span class=”posted-on”>’ . twentyseventeen_time_link() . ‘</span><span class=”byline”> ‘ . $byline . ‘</span>’; // WPCS: XSS OK. } |
Please Don’t forget to save your changes and upload the files back to your website.
At last, save your changes and upload the files back to your website.
Method 3: Creating a Generic Author Name for Publishing WordPress Posts
This method is very unique in terms of an author name for both past and future posts. By creating a Generic Author name also known as the original author name. As this method does not allow you to delete the author’s name, but it can be used as a workaround.
Usually, you will create a generic author name and use it for your all past and future articles. Just change the author’s name before publishing each & every post.
This method is inevitable which means that If you do this and want to go back then edit each post and assign it to the original author manually.
Firstly in your WordPress Site navigate yourself to add a new author and give it a generic username like shown below.
Let’s get this moving!
The very first thing is that you need to have to add a new author to your WordPress site and give it a generic username which can be like ‘tutorial team’.
Thereafter, you need to visit Users » All Users page and click on the ‘Edit’ link below of the username that you have just added.
Now, Scroll down to the ‘Nickname’ option on the user’s profile screen and enter the name you want it to be shown as a display. (for example Editorial Team).
Next, click on the drop-down menu which can be found next to the ‘Display name publicly as’ option and choose the nickname you just entered.
Also, you can add a generic bio and even create a gravatar for that user account.
Now you have to navigate to Posts » All Posts page and tap on the screen options menu at the top. Enter the digit 999 for a number of items to be shown on the page.
After, this will permit you to edit and change the author name instantly for a large number of posts. Go to the posts and select all the posts by using the checkbox and select the edit menu after this find the ‘bulk actions’ under the drop-down menu.
After this click on the ‘Apply’ button to continue.
Now, WordPress will show you the bulk editing options. Change the author to the generic author name that you added earlier and then click on the update button.
Now, WordPress will update all selected posts and change the author name. We remind you that this process may take some time relying on how fast your WordPress hosting is and recommend you remove the unwanted widgets in your WordPress.
If you have more than 999 posts, then go to page 2 and repeat the same process.
That’s All!
How To Change The Author of a Post in WordPress
Sometimes you may be required to show another author, not the person who has added the post in WordPress.
Therefore, you don’t have to copy and paste the whole WordPress post with a user account. Also, you cannot change your WordPress username, but the name you use for a post or page can be changed.
Before Changing the Author of a Post
If you want to display your name in a post, which is written by another author, then make sure that the author exists on your WordPress website.
However, you can manage and see all the users on your site. For this, you have to log in to your WordPress administrator account and then click the users’ page from the dashboard.
You need to follow some steps shown below:
First, you have to edit the post or page, where you want author’s name to be changed in WordPress.
In the post-edit screen, navigate toward the top right corner and click on the screen options menu of the screen.
Now you can see a dropdown menu with different types of options. where you just need to check and mark the ‘Author’ option box.
Next, scroll down on the post edit screen that is below the post editor. Here, you will see the author box.
Click on the drop-down menu and choose another author that you want.
Click on the save draft or update button to save your changes.
Now you have successfully changed the author name of a post.
Changing Author for Multiple Posts in WordPress
Follow the below steps to change the author for multiple posts:
Although, it is very easy to change the author by editing a post. If you want to change the author name for multiple posts. It takes more time to edit a post and change the author.
However, we have an easy way to do this. You can change the author name of multiple posts in an easy way.
For this, go to the post menu from your WordPress admin bar. Also, you have the list of your all posts.
By default, WordPress shows only 20 posts per page. If you want to show more posts then click the screen options and change the number of posts per page that you want to show.
Now, you have to choose the post where you want to change the author. When you have selected the post, then choose ‘edit’ from the ‘bulk actions’ drop-down menu, and after that click on the ‘apply button’.
Now, WordPress will display your bulk edit meta box. You have to choose the new author by clicking on the drop-down menu that is next to the Author option.
After this, click on the update button and save your changes.
With these multiple methods, it is now easy to remove/change the author name and also to change multiple author names. You can use any of these methods suitable for you. We hope that you leaned on us to successfully change the author name for multiple posts.
Final thoughts
We hope that this article helped you in removing and changing the Author name from WordPress Posts completely. As you can easily remove and also change it to another name for individual and multiple posts if you follow the above-given methods thoroughly.
In case of any help related to WordPress talk to our WordPress Technical Support Team for getting instant help, dial +1-855-945-3219 (Toll-Free).
Thanks!