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Guide to setting up and managing a WordPress Multisite Network

  • ninegravity1
  • Sep 4, 2024
  • 3 min read

A WordPress Multisite network is the right place to manage separate websites under one dashboard. Many blog owners, schools, and businesses follow this approach. Welcome to the detailed guide about enabling Multisite in WordPress!


Introduction to WordPress Multisite

Thanks to WordPress’s Multisite network, you can manage multiple WordPress blogs or websites from a single installation. 


Users can have a singular username and password while providing access to others to create their blogs or sites on their custom domain. 


Its advanced settings allow room for customization of each blog/site. So now you can create pages instantly and efficiently without managing multiple dashboards. 


Using Multisite for Client Projects

You can use a WordPress Multisite Network for sites with similar structures and content requirements. For example, businesses with multiple branches or landing pages for different ventures can work great on the network.


Government and non-profit organizations can use the network for different departments, regions, and locations. Schools often use it to allow students to create their own websites or school servers and manage different departments.


Blog owners find this feature handy for experimenting and publishing many ideas under the same admin dashboard.


Digital sites that work on shared themes and plugins like magazines also find it easier to establish themselves on the WordPress Multisite Network.


Benefits of Using Multisite Network on WordPress

  • WordPress Multisite is a boon for network administrators. They seamlessly manage multiple websites from a single dashboard.

  • Multiple WP admins can access the same domain and still have a personal website customized to their needs and desires.

  • Download one plugin or theme and apply the effect on all the sites or a selected few without performing manual action.

  • Update WordPress, its plugins, and/or themes simultaneously for all the blogs/sites using the network admin panel.


Enabling Multisite in WordPress (Set-Up Process)

Every WordPress installation has an option to switch to the Multisite network.


  • Follow the standard procedure for installing and setting up WordPress.

  • Enable the Multisite feature on the new installation or add it to your WP interface.


    (Do not forget to create a WordPress backup of your site before enabling the feature on an existing interface)

  • Connect the FTP client or cPanel file manager to your site.

  • Open the wp-config.php file for editing.

  • You will see the line /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */

  • Add the following code before that line:

/* Multisite */
define( 'WP_ALLOW_Multisite', true );

  • Your wp-config.php file is ready to be uploaded to the server


Setting Up Multisite in WordPress

The above code will enable the Multisite network in your WordPress interface. However, you still need to complete the set-up process.


  • Deactivate all your plugins if you use the network on an existing WordPress site.

Plugins > Installed Plugins > Select all the plugins > Bulk Actions > Deactivate > Apply


  • Go to the Tools Page > Network Setup to configure the Multisite network.

  • Don’t worry! Apache’s mod_rewrite module has already been installed and enabled for all the WP hosting providers.

  • Specify which domain structure you will use for your sites in the network.

  • Provide a title for your network and verify if the email in the Network Admin Email is correct.

  • Select the Install option.

  • Use the FTP client or the File Manager in the cPanel to copy and paste WordPress’s code to add to your wp-config.php and .htaccess files, respectively.

  • Just below the previous code in the wp-config.php file, add the code shown to you.

  • Then, edit the .htaccess files to delete the existing WP rules and add the new code for the Multisite network.

  • Save the changes and re-upload the edited files to the server.

  • To access the Multisite network, log in again to your WordPress site.


Configuring Network Settings

To configure your Multisite network settings:

  • Log into the WP admin area.

  • Switch to the network dashboard settings.

  • (for changing network settings, configuring required setups, and adding new sites).

  • Navigate to the Multisite network dashboard by going to My Sites > Network Admin > Dashboard.

  • You can use the Right Now widget for creating new sites and adding new users.

  • Go to the admin sidebar > Settings and configure network settings.

  • The site title and admin email address will automatically fill in the information based on the data you entered during the setup process.


 
 
 

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