Configuring a WordPress multisite network

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Creating and configuring a multisite network

1. In the directory where you installed WordPress, use your preferred text editor to open the wp-config.php file.
2. Just above the / “That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing./ line near the end of the file, paste the following text:

define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);

3. Save your changes to the wp-config.php file.
4. Log in to WordPress as the administrator.
5. Before you can enable multisite, you must temporarily deactivate all of the site’s plugins. On the left sidebar, click Plugins, and then click Installed Plugins:\
6. To select all of the plugins, select the checkbox next to the Plugin heading.
7. In the Bulk actions list box select Deactivate, and then click Apply.
8. On the left sidebar, click Tools, and then click Network Setup:\

9. Under Addresses of Sites in your Network, select Sub-domains or Sub-directories.

10. In the Network Title text box, type a name for the WordPress network.
11. In the Network Admin Email text box, type a valid e-mail address for the WordPress network administrator.
12. Click Install. WordPress generates custom code for your installation to enable the network.
13. You are now ready to enable the network, but before you do this, you should create a backup of the following files:

• wp-config.php
• .htaccess

14. To enable the network, copy the custom code blocks into the wp-config.php and .htaccess files.

15. Save your changes to the wp-config.php and .htaccess files.
16. Log out and then log in again as the WordPress administrator. The new My Sites menu option appears in the top menu bar:\

• Dashboard: This option provides an overview of the network.
• Sites: This option shows each site in your network and enables you to manage them.
• Users: This option enables you to manage users for the network.
• Themes: This option enables you to manage themes for the network.
• Plugins: This option enables you to manage plugins for the network.

  🚧 Important Remember that you disabled all of the plugins in step 7 above during network creation. Make sure you re-enable the plugins that you want to use on the network.

• Settings: This option enables you to change general settings for the network.

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Disabling a multisite network

1. In the directory where you installed WordPress, use your preferred text editor to open the wp-config.php file.
2. Locate the multisite section in the wp-config.php file:

/* Multisite */
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );
define( 'MULTISITE', true );
define( 'SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false );
define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'example.com' );
define( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/example/' );
define( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );

3. Change the first two lines in the multisite section to false:

define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', false );
define( 'MULTISITE', false );

4. Comment out or delete the remaining lines in the multisite section:

/*
define( 'SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false );
define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'example.com' );
define( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/example/' );
define( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
*/

5. Save your changes to the wp-config.php file. WordPress multisite is now disabled.

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More information

• For more information about how to create a multisite network in WordPress, please visit https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/multisite/create-network/.
• For more information about network administration in WordPress, please visit https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/multisite/admin/.

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