How to Give Developer Access to WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Give Developer Access to WordPress

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) available, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. If you have a WordPress website, it’s likely that at some point you’ll need to give a developer access to help you with customization or troubleshooting.

Giving developer access to your WordPress site is not difficult, but it is important to do it correctly to ensure your site’s security and avoid potential problems. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to give a developer access to your WordPress site.

1: Create a New User Account for the Developer

The first step in giving developer access to your WordPress site is to create a new user account specifically for them. This will allow them to log in to your site and make changes without having access to your personal account or any sensitive information.

To create a new user account, log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Users > Add New. Here, you will need to fill out the required fields, including the username, email address, andpassword for the new user.

2: Set the developer’s role

Choose the appropriate user role for the developer based on their responsibilities. If they need full access to the WordPress site, select “Administrator.” If they only need to edit content, select “Editor” or “Author.”Be sure to select the appropriate role for the new user. In most cases, you will want to give the developer the “Administrator” role, which will give them full access to your site.

Once you have filled out all the necessary information, click the “Add New User” button to create the account.

How to Give Developer Access to WordPress


3: Send the Developer Login Information

After you have created the new user account for the developer, you will need to send them the login information. This should include the username and password that you created for them in

step 1. It’s important to send this information securely to protect your site’s security. You can use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to securely share login information, or you can send it through a secure messaging app like Signal or WhatsApp.

Be sure to instruct the developer to log in using the new account you created for them, rather than their own personal account.

4: Provide documentation and resources

To help the developer get started, provide them with documentation and resources that outline your expectations and procedures. This can include style guides, development guidelines, and links to relevant documentation.

5: Limit access to sensitive information

If there are parts of the WordPress site that contain sensitive information (e.g. user data, payment information), you can use a plugin like “User Role Editor” to restrict the developer’s access.

6: Set Up a Staging Site

If you are giving a developer access to your live WordPress site, it’s important to set up a staging site first. A staging site is a copy of your live site that is used for testing and development purposes.

By working on a staging site, the developer can make changes and test them without affecting your live site. This will help to prevent any potential issues or downtime caused by changes made by the developer.

To set up a staging site, you can use a WordPress staging plugin like WP Staging or Duplicator. These plugins will create a copy of your live site that you can work on without affecting the live site.

7: Establish communication channels

Make sure the developer knows who to contact if they have questions or run into issues. Provide them with contact information for your technical team, as well as any relevant Slack channels or project management tools.

8: Install a User Role Editor Plugin

Once the developer has logged in to your WordPress site, you will want to make sure that they have the appropriate access to perform their tasks. This may involve giving them access to specific plugins, themes, or other areas of your site.

To make it easier to manage user roles and permissions, you can install a user role editor plugin. This type of plugin allows you to create custom user roles and define the specific capabilities and permissions for each role.

Some popular user role editor plugins for WordPress include User Role Editor, Members, and Advanced Access Manager.

9: Monitor Developer Activity

It’s important to monitor the developer’s activity on your WordPress site to ensure that they are only making changes that you have authorized. You can do this by using a plugin like WP Activity Log, which will track all changes made to your site and allow you to view the activity log at any time.

If you notice any suspicious activity or unauthorized changes, you can take immediate action to address the issue and protect your site’s security

10: Set deadlines and expectations

Finally, establish clear deadlines and expectations for the developer. This includes the scope of the work they’re responsible for, the timeline for completing it, and any deliverables they need to provide along the way.

Matters to Consider

Here are a few important points to consider when giving a developer access to your WordPress site:

  • Always make sure to choose a reputable and trustworthy developer to work with. Do some research and ask for references before giving someone access to your site.
  • Use strong and unique passwords for all user accounts on your WordPress site, including the new account you create for the developer.
  • Regularly back up your site to prevent any data loss or other issues that may arise during the development process.
  • Keep your WordPress site and all plugins and themes up-to-date to ensure maximum security and functionality.
  • Consider using a secure file transfer protocol (FTP) to transfer files between your site and the developer, especially if you need to share large files.
  • By keeping these additional points in mind, you can further safeguard your WordPress site and ensure successful collaboration with your developer.

Conclusion

Giving a developer access to your WordPress site is an important process that should be done correctly to ensure your site’s security and avoid potential problems. By following these step-by-step instructions, you can create a new user account for the developer, set their role, provide documentation and resources, limit access to sensitive information, set up a staging site, establish communication channels, install a user role editor plugin, monitor developer activity, and set clear deadlines and expectations. By doing so, you can ensure a successful collaboration with the developer and achieve your desired results while keeping your WordPress site safe and secure.

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