Change a page's URL (permalink) in WordPress

  • permalinks
  • url-slug
  • seo
  • site-editing

Updated

To change a permalink in WordPress, edit the page's slug. WordPress builds each page or post URL from its title, and you can change the slug before or after you publish.

What is a URL slug?

The slug is the last part of a page address. In yoursite.com/services, the slug is services.

Keep slugs short and lowercase, with hyphens between words (summer-events).

How do I change a page's URL?

  1. Open the page or post in the block editor.
  2. In the sidebar, open the Page (or Post) tab, not the Block tab.
  3. Find Permalink (sometimes labeled URL).
  4. Click the slug field and type the new value, using only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens.
  5. Click Update or Publish.

The permalink preview updates to the new address once you save.

Will changing a URL break links?

  • Anyone with the old link (bookmarks, other sites, Google) will hit a 404 unless you add a 301 redirect from the old slug. See Set up a 301 redirect in WordPress. WordPress remembers the old address of a published post and redirects it for you, but not for pages.
  • Use real words, not numbers: /about reads better than /page-42.
  • Settings → Permalinks controls the URL pattern for the whole site. It's separate from one page's slug. If many URLs broke after a move or new plugin, see Fix 404 errors by refreshing permalinks.