How to Remove the Powered by WordPress Footer Links
By Naveed Ahmed, WordPress expert with 15 years of experience.
Want to give your WordPress website a more polished and professional look? Removing the default “Powered by WordPress” footer links can significantly contribute to achieving that goal. While WordPress is a fantastic platform, displaying the default credit can sometimes detract from your brand’s unique identity and make your website feel less personalized.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through various methods to effectively remove these footer links, covering everything from simple theme settings to code manipulation. I’ll also delve into the legal implications of removing these links, so you can rest assured that you’re following best practices.
Why Remove the WordPress Footer Credits?
Most WordPress themes include a “Proudly powered by WordPress” disclaimer in the footer. This disclaimer is a hyperlink that directs visitors to the official WordPress.org website.
While acknowledging the platform’s role, this disclaimer can sometimes be detrimental to your website’s overall presentation and branding:
- Less Professional Appearance: The default disclaimer can make your site look less polished and professional, especially if you’re running a business website. It may not align with your brand’s visual identity.
- Security Concerns: Displaying the “Powered by WordPress” link reveals to potential hackers that you’re using WordPress. This knowledge could be exploited to target your website with vulnerabilities.
- External Link: The link directs visitors away from your website, potentially reducing your pageviews and increasing your bounce rate. You want to keep visitors engaged on your site, not lead them to other platforms.
Is It Legal to Remove WordPress Footer Credit Links?
The good news is that removing the footer credit links on your WordPress site is perfectly legal. WordPress is open-source software released under the GPL (GNU General Public License).
The GPL license grants you the right to use, modify, and distribute WordPress freely, including the ability to customize the footer to your liking.
Every WordPress plugin or theme downloaded from the official WordPress directory is also released under the GPL license, ensuring your right to modify them. Even most commercial plugins and themes operate under this license, giving you freedom to customize.
Methods to Remove the Powered by WordPress Footer Links
Here are the most effective methods to remove the “Powered by WordPress” footer links:
Method 1: Using the Theme Settings (Quick and Easy)
Many WordPress themes, particularly those designed with user customization in mind, provide an option to edit or remove the footer credits directly in their theme settings. This is the most convenient and beginner-friendly approach.
- Go to Appearance » Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
- The theme customizer will open, where you can explore settings for customizing your website’s appearance. Look for sections related to the footer.
- For example, the Astra theme has a section named “Footer Builder.” If you’re using Astra, click on the “Footer” section and choose “Copyright.” You’ll see an editor to change the footer text or remove it entirely.
- Once you’ve made your changes, remember to click “Publish” to save them and apply them to your live site.
Method 2: Using the Full Site Editor (Works With Block-Based Themes)
If you’re using a block-enabled WordPress theme, the Full Site Editor (FSE) offers a straightforward way to remove the footer disclaimer. This method works well for themes that support the Full Site Editor and offers a streamlined experience for removing the credit across your entire site.
- Go to Appearance » Editor in your WordPress dashboard.
- The Full Site Editor will open, showcasing your theme’s home template. In the left-hand menu, select “Patterns.”
- This will display a list of patterns and template parts that compose your theme. Under “Template Parts,” click on “Footer.”
- A thumbnail of your website’s footer will appear. Click the preview to see the footer content.
- You’ll now see a preview of your theme’s template. Click the pencil icon next to the footer thumbnail to edit it.
- Select the “Powered by” disclaimer within the footer preview.
- You can now replace the disclaimer with your own content or delete it completely.
- When you’re satisfied with the changes, click “Save.” Visit your website to see the changes applied live.
Method 3: How To Remove the ‘Powered by’ Disclaimer Using a Page Builder
For more control over the footer’s appearance and content, you can use a page builder like SeedProd to replace the “Powered by” text with a completely customized footer. This approach offers greater flexibility and allows you to incorporate important information, such as your email address, phone number, social media links, or links to your affiliate marketing partners.
- Install and Activate SeedProd: Install and activate the SeedProd plugin. For guidance, refer to our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
- SeedProd Theme Builder: Once activated, go to SeedProd » Theme Builder and click “Add New Theme Template.”
- Footer Template: In the popup, give the new template a name and select “Footer” from the “Type” dropdown.
- Conditions: SeedProd applies the new footer globally by default. You can use the “Conditions” settings to limit it to specific pages or posts, such as excluding it from landing pages.
- Save and Build: Click “Save” to access the SeedProd page builder interface. Start by clicking the “Add Columns” icon to choose the layout for your footer. We recommend a three-column layout for a balanced appearance.
- Customize Background: Edit the footer’s background to match your theme, branding, or logo. Adjust the background color or add a background image using the “Background Color” and “Use Your Own Image” or “Use a Stock Image” options.
- Add Content: Drag blocks from the left-hand menu and drop them into your footer to add content, such as text, images, buttons, or other elements. Customize the block settings in the left-hand menu.
- Arrange and Save: Arrange the blocks as needed, ensuring a visually appealing and informative footer. Click “Save” to save your design.
- Publish and Activate: Click “Publish” to complete your design. To make the new footer live on your website, you’ll need to finish building your WordPress theme with SeedProd. Refer to our guide on how to create a custom WordPress theme for detailed instructions.
- Enable SeedProd Theme: After building your theme, navigate to SeedProd » Theme Builder and enable the “Enable SeedProd Theme” switch.
- View Changes: Visit your website to see your new custom footer in action.
Method 4: Removing the WordPress Disclaimer Using Code
If none of the previous methods work for your theme, you can directly edit the footer.php file. While this method requires basic coding knowledge, it provides complete control over the footer content.
Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes to avoid data loss.
The best practice is to create a child theme. This allows you to modify your theme without losing customization when you update the theme.
- Connect to Your Site via FTP: Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your WordPress site. Alternatively, use a file manager provided by your hosting company.
- Locate the footer.php File: Once connected, navigate to the /wp-content/themes/ directory and open the folder for your current theme or child theme. Find the footer.php file and open it in a text editor like Notepad.
- Find the “Powered by” Code: Locate the code section containing the “powered by” text. For example, in the Twenty Twenty-One theme, the code looks like this:
“`html
<?php
printf(
/* translators: %s: WordPress. */
esc_html__( 'Proudly powered by %s.', 'twentytwentyone' ),
'WordPress‘
);
?>
“` - Edit or Delete: You can either delete this code entirely or modify it to suit your needs, such as replacing the disclaimer with your own copyright notice.
- Save and Upload: Save the changes to the footer.php file and upload it to your server using the FTP client. Refresh your website to see the changes reflected in the footer.
Warning! Avoid the CSS Method at All Costs!
Some resources may suggest using CSS to hide the footer credit links with the `display: none` property. While this appears simple, it’s a bad practice that can negatively impact your WordPress SEO.
Spammers often employ this technique to hide links from visitors but still display them to Google, hoping to manipulate search engine rankings. Using CSS to hide footer links can be interpreted as spam by Google, leading to penalties such as:
- Lower Search Engine Rankings: Google may flag your website as spam, causing your site’s ranking to drop significantly.
- De-indexing: In severe cases, Google might remove your website from its index, preventing it from appearing in search results.
Always prioritize ethical and SEO-friendly methods to remove footer links. If you need help with more complex modifications, consider hiring a WordPress developer or choosing a theme that provides built-in options for footer customization.
Conclusion
Removing the “Powered by WordPress” footer links can enhance your website’s branding, professionalism, and security. By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can customize your footer to your liking, ensuring it reflects your unique brand identity.
Always back up your website before making any code changes. Remember that the GPL license grants you the freedom to customize WordPress; take advantage of this flexibility to create a truly personalized and professional website.
FAQs
How do I remove the footer credits from my website?
You can remove the footer credits by using the theme settings, Full Site Editor, a page builder like SeedProd, or by editing the footer.php file. The best method depends on your theme and your level of coding comfort.
Is it legal to remove the “Powered by WordPress” link?
Yes, removing the “Powered by WordPress” link is perfectly legal. WordPress is released under the GPL license, which allows you to modify and distribute the software freely.
Why should I remove the footer credits?
Removing the footer credits can make your website look more professional and personalized. It also helps to protect your website from potential security vulnerabilities and keeps visitors on your site longer.
What if my theme doesn’t have a built-in option to remove the footer credits?
If your theme doesn’t have a built-in option, you can edit the footer.php file, use a page builder like SeedProd, or contact your theme’s developer for assistance.
Will removing the footer credits affect my website’s SEO?
No, removing the footer credits should not have a negative impact on your website’s SEO. Just avoid using CSS to hide the links, as this can be seen as spam by Google.
Is it safe to edit the footer.php file?
It’s generally safe to edit the footer.php file, but always back up your website before making any changes. You can also create a child theme to avoid losing your customizations when you update your theme.
What if I’m not comfortable with coding?
If you’re not comfortable with coding, you can use a page builder like SeedProd or contact your theme’s developer for assistance. You can also ask a WordPress developer to help you remove the footer credits.
Can I add my own copyright notice to the footer?
Yes, you can add your own copyright notice to the footer by editing the footer.php file or using a page builder. Make sure to include the year and your name or company name.
How do I know if my theme has a built-in option to remove the footer credits?
The best way to find out is to check your theme’s documentation or to go to Appearance » Customize in your WordPress dashboard and look for settings related to the footer.
What if I want to remove the credits from a specific page?
You can use a page builder like SeedProd or create a custom template for that specific page to remove the credits. Alternatively, you can use conditional statements in the footer.php file to only display the credits on certain pages.
If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.