L1.5 – Basic WordPress Settings

Module : 01 – Introduction to WordPress

Lesson < : Lesson 1.4 — Installing WordPress
Lesson > : Lesson 1.6 — Understanding the WordPress Dashboard

General Settings
Writing Settings
Reading Settings
Discussion Settings
Media Settings
Permalink Settings
Summary

1. General Settings

The General Settings section allows you to configure the basic identity and behavior of your website, including the site title, tagline, and timezone.

Site Title – The main name of your website
Tagline – A brief description or slogan
WordPress Address (URL) – The location of your WordPress files
Site Address (URL) – The public website address
Administration Email – Used for notifications and password resets
Time Zone – Important for scheduling posts
Date and Time Format – Controls how dates are displayed

These settings should be configured immediately after installation.

2. Writing Settings

The Writing Settings section defines how WordPress handles content creation. It includes options for default post categories and formatting tools.

Default Post Category – Automatically assigns new posts to a selected category
Default Post Format – Controls the style of posts (usually set to Standard)
Post via Email – Allows publishing content through email (rarely used today)

Most users only need to set the default post category.

3. Reading Settings

The Reading Settings determine how your homepage displays content and how many posts appear on blog pages.

Your Homepage Displays – Choose between a static page or a list of blog posts
Blog Pages Show at Most – Controls number of posts per page
Syndication Feeds – Determines how many items appear in RSS feeds
Search Engine Visibility – Option to discourage search engines from indexing the site

The homepage display option is important for building custom homepages using page builders or block patterns.

4. Discussion Settings

The Discussion Settings control how comments work on your website. These options help manage interaction and minimize spam.

Allow People to Submit Comments – Enables or disables comments site-wide
Comment Moderation – Holds comments for review
Comment Blacklist – Filters unwanted content
Avatar Settings – Controls profile images shown with comments

Many professional sites disable comments entirely, depending on the site’s purpose.

5. Media Settings

The Media Settings define the default sizes for images you upload, such as thumbnail, medium, and large sizes.

Thumbnail Size
Medium Size
Large Size
Organize Uploads into Month-Year Folders

These settings are useful if you want consistent sizing for images across your site.

6. Permalink Settings

Permalink settings define the structure of your URLs. Choosing the correct format is important for navigation and search engine optimization.

Plain – Default but not recommended
Day and Name
Month and Name
Numeric
Post Name – Recommended for most websites
Custom Structure – Advanced option for specific needs

Using the Post Name structure is widely accepted as the best option for both users and search engines.

7. Summary

General settings define your website identity and timezone
Writing settings help configure post defaults
Reading settings manage homepage display and blog layout
Discussion settings control comments and moderation
Media settings define default image sizes
Permalink settings determine URL structure and should be set to Post Name